This fresh strawberry jelly recipe using only 3 ingredients  is really very quick and easy and is made without using gelatin or any artificial color or refined sugar

Yes, making strawberry jelly just requires 10 to 15 minutes and you can have vegan strawberry jelly after an hour, which is the setting time.

Fresh Strawberry Jelly Recipe

 

 Strawberry Jelly with fresh strawberries

I was on cloud nine when I first made this strawberry jelly using fresh strawberries. The color, texture, taste of this homemade strawberry jelly is simply out of the world. Believe me, you too will be mesmerized when you will make this sumptuous strawberry jelly in your kitchen. Looks exactly like the jelly made from readymade packets but way healthier than that.

I have always been in love with jelly. There was a time when making jelly, though with readymade packets only, required a setting time of 4 to 6 hours and that too in the refrigerator only.

And then came into the market a new jelly which set perfectly at room temperature without any refrigeration. We were really amazed by this new way of setting jelly. Neither I knew that the one set in the refrigerator was with gelatin nor that Agar helped in setting it at room temperature! Jelly was just jelly!

And now is the time when I make jelly using fresh juices that too with agar.

When you have fresh strawberries, then do not forget to try these easy strawberry delicacies:

 

3 Ingredients Recipe

Any idea what those 3 ingredients are? Of course, one is strawberries-only. And second, has to be sugar.  There is a twist in this also. I use brown sugar instead of refined sugar.  And the third ingredient? Any guesses? No, it's not gelatin. No, it's also not cornflour. Then?

 

 Jelly Using Agar!

Yes, the third miraculous ingredient is ''agar'' also known as China grass or kanten. There was a time when agar was no less than a terror for me. At the beginning (of my cooking journey), agar was available only in the form of strands and i confess that I failed umpteen times. But now with practice and after gathering a lot of information about it, I have tamed it and have developed the art of using it successfully. Also, its availability in powder form has eased its usage manifold. So, before you proceed towards the recipe, I want you to know a little about agar. Trust me, it's really necessary, so do not skip it.

 

Few Points Regarding Agar

  • Agar is also known as agar-agar or china grass or kanten.
  • Unlike gelatin, Agar is a vegetarian product and is also known as ' vegetarian gelatin'
  • Agar is derived from algae and is used to gel many food products, such as puddings, desserts, jelly candy, soups, sauces, and more.
  • Being plant-based, agar is 80% fibre without any fat or protein.
  • It comes in different forms, namely, strands, grass, powder, etc.
  • Agar is stronger than gelatin. Unlike gelatin, agar sets beautifully at room temperature also. Thus refrigeration is not required.
  • Since it has a high melting point, therefore, it is first added to a liquid and then needs to be boiled for 2 to 3 minutes to activate it. If added without boiling then the jelly or pannacotta will not set.
  • Sets at room temperature. But return to its liquid state when reheated
  • The correct proportion of agar is very important. If added less, the pudding will not set. If added more then the pudding will be hard. 
  • You can read more about agar here.

Important: Ensure that the agar you are using is of good quality and also not expired. I used this brand of Agar. I liked it as it comes in small packets of 10 g and thus gets used up in one or two times only. You can buy this from here.

Agar Powder for making Jelly

 

How To Make 

  • To make strawberry juice, boil strawberries in water, and after about 4 to 5 minutes, these will get mushy and the goodness of this fruit gets transferred in the water. Strain it and strawberry juice is ready!
  • As the strawberries we get are not very sweet, so sugar needs to be added to this. I was very reluctant in using brown sugar as I thought that it might not give a lovely red color to the jelly. But to my surprise, It did a wonderful job by darkening the color of the juice.
  • I also added very little beetroot to get the vibrant red color but its entirely optional. If you are thinking that the jelly would taste of beet then let me tell you that it's not at all so. We add very little beet, just 1 teaspoon in 200 g strawberries! So, you can very well visualize.

 

 

 Step By Step Recipe

  • Roughly chop washed and hulled strawberries.
  • Add water to chopped strawberries and boil it for 3 to 4 minutes.

Boiling Strawberries Releasing juices

  • Add agar powder, brown sugar, and grated beetroot. Add only agar powder like this. If you have strands or grass then the method would be different.

Add Agar like this only in powder form

  • Mash it with a ladle or potato masher to extract its juice fully.

Making Strawberry Jelly

  • Boil it for one more minute.
  • Do the plate test. For this, put one teaspoon of this liquid into a plate. If it sets after 5 minutes then that means that you can set the entire quantity. otherwise, add a little more agar in it, give a boil, and then set.
  • Pass it through a strainer and set it in the desired mold. You can use any bowl or fancy molds. If using a glass/steel bowl, then rinse it in freshwater first. But do not wipe it. Pour the liquid jelly in the wet bowl only.
  • Once cools down a little, then either leave it at the kitchen counter only or keep it in the refrigerator.

Setting Jelly in Bowl

 Strawberry Jelly In Heart Shape Molds

Tip: Thicker the jelly, the more time it will take in the setting. Like, hearts set much faster than the jelly in the bowl.

  • To demold, run a knife around the set jelly. Keep[ the base of the bowl on a plate filled with water and then invert it. The silky smooth jelly will slide out.

 

I used these heartshaped strawberry jellies to beautify my Strawberry cake

Naked Strawberry Cake

FAQ's 

Q) Can I make Strawberry Jelly With Pureed Strawberries?

A) The simple one-word answer is 'No'. Jelly is clear and is made with juices rather than pulp. For this reason, though the puree will set too but to give it a jelly-like appearance and looks, use strawberry juice only.

Q) What to do if homemade jelly doesn't set?

A) Despite taking all the precautions if still, you don't get jiggly wobbly jelly, then? Nothing to worry as nothing is wasted!  Dissolve some more agar in water. Heat the semi-set or no-set jelly, in any case, it will return to its liquid state. Add dissolved agar, boil it for a minute or so and that's it! Remember I mentioned that it returns to its liquid state when reheated?

Q) How to make Strawberry Jelly using Agar strands?

A) If you are using agar strands or grass then take 5 g and soak it in water for 10 minutes. Once softened, boil it for 3to 4 minutes till the agar strands are fully dissolved and water becomes opaque. Add this liquid to boiling strawberries and proceed thereafter as given above.

Q) Can I make Strawberry Jelly using frozen strawberries?

A) We can make strawberry jelly in the season of strawberries. But when strawberries are not in season then? Then use frozen strawberries that are stored in your refrigerator. How to store strawberries? There are 3 methods to do so. For the purpose of making jelly, use strawberries that are stored whole or as chopped. Do not use the pureed strawberries as the texture will differ completely in that case.

I used this Agar powder. If interested in buying this please click here.

P.S. This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission through this, without putting any extra cost to you,  which is needed to cover the costs of running this blog.

 

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Fresh Strawberry Jelly Recipe

Make healthy and vegan strawberry jelly using fresh strawberries.

My Cup measures 240 ml

  • 200 g Fresh Strawberries
  • 1.5 Cup (350 ml) Water
  • 4 Tbsp Brown Sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Grated Beetroot
  • 1 tsp Agar Powder
  1. Roughly chop washed and hulled strawberries.

  2. Add water to chopped strawberries and boil it for 3 to 4 minutes.

  3. Add brown sugar, agar powder and grated beetroot.

  4. Mash it with ladle to extract its juice fully.

  5. Boil it for one more minute.

  6. Do the plate test. For this, put 1 teaspoon of this liquid into a plate. If it sets after 4 to 5 minutes then fine otherwise add little more agar.

  7. Pass it through a strainer and set in the desired moulds. If using a glass or steel bowl then rinse it in fresh water firstand do not wipe. Pour the jelly liquid. This is done so that the jelly then slides out easily later on.

  8. Once cools down then either leave it at the kitchen counter only or keep in the refrigerator.

  9. To demould, run a knife around the set jelly and kkep the bowl in a plate filled with water for a minute or so. Invert itband the silky smooth jelly will slide out.

  1. You may use fresh or frozen whole strawberries.
  2. The quantity of water may vary between 300 to 350 ml.
  3. Use of beetroot is optional and is added to impart a dark red color to the jelly.
  4. The quantity of beetroot may vary depending upon the color of strawberries.
  5. Brown sugar can be substituted with white sugar or any other sweetener.
  6. The quantity of sugar may vary depending upon the tartness or sweetness of strawberries.
  7. Add agar powder only to the boiling strawberries. If using agar in the form of strands or grass then you need to dissolve it first in regular water.
  8. After adding agar powder, do boil the liquid for a minute or so as agar activates only when it is boiled.
  9. A plate test is done just to be sure that the jelly would set. 
Dessert
Homemade Strawberry Jelly, Make Jelly At Home