Kitchen Recipe Collection
Almond Jelly (Xing Ren Tofu)
Despite its name, this contains no tofu. A stark white, incredibly soft, trembling milk jelly flavored with intense almond extract, usually served cold with a fruit cocktail syrup.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Total
- 15 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- easy
- Cuisine
- Chinese
Ingredients
Scaled for 6 servings
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 packet (2.5 tsp) unflavored gelatin powder (or 1 tsp agar powder)
- 1 tsp pure almond extract
- Topping: 1 can of fruit cocktail in light syrup (lychee, longan, or mixed fruit)
Equipment
- Saucepan
- 8x8 square glass dish
Instructions
- 1
Bloom Gelatin
Sprinkle the gelatin powder evenly over the 1 cup of cold water in a bowl. Let it sit for 5 minutes to bloom (it will swell and turn solid).
- 2
Heat Milk
In a saucepan, gently heat the milk and sugar over medium-low heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Do not let it boil.
- 3
Dissolve Gelatin
Turn off the heat. Add the bloomed gelatin mass into the hot milk. Stir continuously until the gelatin is completely melted and dissolved.
- 4
Add Flavor
Stir in the almond extract. (Do this off the heat so the volatile flavor compounds don't evaporate).
- 5
Mold
Pour the mixture into an 8x8 inch square glass dish.
- 6
Chill
Place in the refrigerator and chill for at least 4 hours until completely set.
- 7
Cut
Use a knife to cut the firm white jelly into a diamond or cube pattern directly in the dish.
- 8
Serve
Spoon the jelly cubes into small serving bowls. Pour the canned fruit cocktail, along with its sweet syrup, generously over the top.
Cooking Tips
- The traditional name 'Almond Tofu' refers solely to its stark white color and soft, trembling texture, not its ingredients.
- If using agar instead of gelatin, the texture will be slightly more brittle and less bouncy, and the agar must be boiled to activate.
Variations
- Fresh Fruit: Instead of canned cocktail, serve with fresh diced mango, strawberries, and a simple sugar syrup.
Nutrition Estimate
120 calories · 4g protein · 18g carbs · 3g fat · 1g fiber per serving
