Grass Jelly (涼粉)
Grass jelly is very common and classic summer dessert among Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, mainland China and south east Asia. In Cantonese grass jelly called leung fan (涼粉). On the other hand, in Taiwan grass jelly known as xian cao (仙草). Sometimes, grass jelly add to boba drinks and shaved ice. Often, grass jelly is cut into cubes and serve with syrup or condensed milk, milk. And, some like to add fruits as well. This grass jelly recipe that I am going to share how to make grass jelly from scratch.
What is grass jelly?
Grass jelly is made from dried and oxidized platostoma palustre plant (Mesona chinensis). Also, they are a member of the mint family. If you are in Asia, often you can purchase them in Chinese herbal medicine store. Moreover, it is made by boiling the oxidized stalks and leaves of platostoma palustre with potassium carbonate or baking soda. Then, thicken it with little corn starch or potato starch. After cooling off, it forms a jelly-like. Moreover, grass jelly has it’s fragrance and slightly herbal taste. In Chinese herbal medicine, grass jelly is great to consume in hot summer because it has cooling properties.
Cooking tips for grass jelly:
First of all, wash and rinse the dried platostoma palustre in order to remove dust and sand. Secondly, pour water and baking soda into a big pot. Then, add washed mesona chinensis and boiled it. When it’s boiling, turn the fire to small and simmer for 30 minutes. Normally, it takes around 5 hours to boil them if you do not add any baking soda. By adding baking soda or potassium carbonate, it speeds up the process for around 30 minutes.
To prevent overflowing, in the pot I put a plate on top of the plants . Besides, you may noticed some white stuff are floating on top. Don’t remove them, it’s from the plants and it helps to hold the grass jelly better. Also, after boiling the plants wait until it cool off. Then, use hands to rub the plants and mix the liquid, so more slimy thing will come out from the plants. In addition, I use a strainer bag to remove big pieces of plants. After, I use a fine strainer twice to remove small pieces of the plants. As the result, the liquid is around 4 cups.
Next, in a small container mix water and corn starch or potato starch to thicken the liquid. Potato starch has better texture; however, corn starch works well. After all, let the the grass jelly cool off and refrigerate it for few hours, it will form jelly like. Lastly, cut grass jelly into cubes and serve them with syrup or condensed milk and milk. You can even add fruits such as mango, strawberry and kiwi. Hope you enjoy this homemade grass jelly recipe.
Ingredients:
Dried platostoma palustre plants (涼粉草) 40 g (around 3 cups)
Water 8 cups
Baking soda 1/2 teaspoon
Thicken liquid:
Corn starch or potato starch 4.5 tablespoon
Water 4 tablespoons
1. Weight the dried platostoma palustre plant 40 g which is around 3 cups
2. Wash and rinse the dried platostoma palustre plant to remove dust and sand
3. In a big pot, add 8 cups water, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, washed platostoma palustre plant and boil them in high fire. When it’s boiling, turn the fire to small and simmer for 30 minutes.
4. After, let it’s cool off, use hands to rub the plants to get more slimy thing out and mix with the liquid.
5. Then, use a strainer bag to remove the big pieces of the plant.
6. After that, use a fine strainer to remove smaller pieces of the plant. Remember to do this step twice.
7. The result of liquid is around 4 cups. Next, in a small container mix 4 tablespoons of water and 4.5 tablespoons of corn starch or potato starch to thicken the liquid. Potato starch has better texture; however, corn starch works well.
8. Pour the thicken mixture into a container and refrigerate for 3-6 hours
9. Cut the grass jelly into cubes
10. Serve with syrup
11. Or, serve it with condense milk, milk, coconut milk and fruits.
Enjoy this grass jelly recipe!
More Dessert Recipes You May Also Like:
- THAI STYLE MANGO STICKY RICE
- SWEET RED BEAN SOUP
- BLACK SESAME PASTE OR SOUP
- TOFU PUDDING
- MANGO POPSICLES
- CARAMEL POPCORN
- FRESH STRAWBERRIES MUFFINS
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Grass Jelly (涼粉)
Ingredients
- 40 g Dried platostoma palustre plants (涼粉草) (around 3 cups)
- 8 cups
Water
- 1/2 teaspoon Baking soda
THICKEN LIQUID
- 4.5 tablespoons Corn starch or potato starch
- 4 tablespoons Water
Instructions
- Weight the dried platostoma palustre plant 40 g which is around 3 cups
- Wash and rinse the dried platostoma palustre plant to remove dust and sand
- In a big pot, add 8 cups water, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, washed platostoma palustre plant and boil them in high fire. When it’s boiling, turn the fire to small and simmer for 30 minutes.
- After, let it’s cool off, use hands to rub the plants to get more slimy thing out and mix with the liquid.
- Then, use a strainer bag to remove the big pieces of the plant.
- After that, use a fine strainer to remove smaller pieces of the plant. Remember to do this step twice.
- The result of liquid is around 4 cups. Next, in a small container mix 4 tablespoons of water and 4.5 tablespoons of corn starch or potato starch to thicken the liquid. Potato starch has better texture; however, corn starch works well.
- Pour the thicken mixture into a container and refrigerate for 3-6 hours
- Cut the grass jelly into cubes
- Serve grass jelly with syrup
- Or, serve it with condense milk, milk, coconut milk and fruits.
Notes
