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A fluid gel is a substance that is somewhere between a solid, and a liquid. When at rest the gel takes the form of a solid but during the shearing process becomes a liquid. I like to place it in the category of ‘pudding’ but it can vary in texture from thick to thin.

Using fluid gels can give you a totally new perspective on creativity, when it comes to conceptualizing a dish. Given the wide variety of mediums, you could make a fluid gel out of almost any liquid except for dairy or protein based products. And, you can use them as a standalone sauce, an accompanying sauce or even a platform for a dish. Salad dressings, fish and meat glazes, fruit glaze, dipping sauces ..you get the idea.

We like to use fluid gels in a variety of ways but most of them are dish enhancers, for instance, the tomato water/yuzu fluid gel has the bright flavors of tomatos and yuzu but isn’t all the fuss of runny water-like liquid. It has body and can stand up on its own and is the perfect complement to a summer tomato salad. It also has potential for many protein dishes such as fish or meat.

You can also change the ratio if ingredients to make heat stable gels that sustain their body even under the pressures of high heat. This changes the game a bit and offers a whole other realm of possibilities. And don’t rule out desserts, this is where the fluid gel was first made popular. Fluid gels and desserts go hand in hand with one another. Strawberries, melon, stone fruit. These are all prime examples of a sweet take on this technique.

So here is a basic fluid gel you can try at home.

You’ll  need :

400g of any liquid (non-dairy or protein based)

4g of agar agar

A blender

And a fine mesh strainer such as a chinois.

  1. In the blender, blend the liquid and slowly add the agar.
  2.  Increase the speed and blend for 2 mins.
  3. Place the contents in a small sauce pot and bring to a boil, making sure to stir continuously
  4. Place in flat pan over a bed of ice and let it cool completely.
  5. Once cool, return the gel to the blender and shear until smooth .
  6. Push the fluid gel through a fine mesh strainer and Voila! Fluid gel.

 

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