Pearls with balsamico & agar agar

Recipe:

2g agar agar 

85ml balsamic vinegar 

130ml oil ( olive oil for extra deep flavours )

Fill the freezer-friendly tall glass or container with the oil and freez for 30min. Don't freeze it for to long or the oil will solidify. 

-but need to be cold enough that the balsamic vinegar will transforms into pears before reaching bottom of the glass.

When the oil is almost chilled and ready add the balsamic vinegar and agar to a pot stirring well. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat stirring to make sure the agar-agar is fully dissolved within the vinegar.

Once the mixture boils then remove it from the heat and allow it to cool for a few minutes. 

Remove the oil from the freezer and fill your pipette or squizze bottle with the balsamic mixture. With steady pressure, slowly drop droplets of the vinegar into the cold oil and you should see it turn to pearls in front of your eyes.

Continue to go this until you've used all your balsamic. Don't worry about making some larger then others - this is normal. You can always carefully sort them later.

Once you've used all the vinegar, drain them from the oil. I do this by pouring the oil through a sieve into another clean container. Alternatively, you can use a small, slotted teaspoon.

You can then transfer them to a small container of water to 'rinse them before using them-or leave the oil on them, after all, oil and vinegar are wonderful accompaniments for all kind of appetizers or salads.  If they are clumped up in the water,  don't worry, just give them a litter stir and they should come apart without bursting.

Tips: IF THE DROPLETS DON'T FORM OR ARE DEFORMED WHEN DROPPING into the oil you've hit one of the problems.

1) The agar wasn't fully dissolved in the vinegar 

2) Or either the balsamic wasn't allowed to cool down enough or the oil from the freezer wasn't cold enough. Either of these being off means that the pearls don't have time to form before vinegar hits the bottom of the glass. 

If you plan on doing a large batch of pearls, rest the container of oil within an ice bath, to keep cool.