Coffee jelly

This heat wave has put me right off hot drinks. If I don’t have a coffee by 9am, that’s my caffeine fix out for the day. Maybe that’s what made me think of coffee jelly – one of many culinary novelties I experienced while living in Japan.

I’m not tucking into coffee jelly all day long, but it makes a great summer dessert…

There are lots of recipes for coffee jelly online, all of a muchness. I’ve been making it the way I remember it being served – cut into squares and topped with cream (or whipped cream) – but it could be poured into cups or glasses to set.

I’ve used both vegetarian and non-vegetarian gelatine for this, and they behave differently. It’s important not to boil traditional gelatine, so it is added to the liquid after it’s been heated.

The vegetarian gelatine I use does need to be boiled, so I add the gelatine with the sugar and heat it all together. Just check the instructions for the setting agent you’re using to ensure a good set.

I use a rectangular plastic container (about 15x20cm) with a lid to set the jelly, but go with what you’ve got.

Coffee jelly

(serves 4)

• 2 cups (500ml) strong black coffee
• 3 Tb sugar
• 1 sachet gelatine powder (or enough to set two pints of liquid)
• Cream or whipped cream, to serve

With regular gelatine:

1. In a small pot over a medium flame, add the coffee and sugar, and stir until the sugar is dissolved.
2. Add 1/4 cup of warm water to a small bowl. Sprinkle over the gelatine powder and stir to dissolve.
3. Stir the gelatine mixture into the warm coffee, then pour into a plastic box with a lid.
4. Transfer to the fridge and leave to set until firm.
5. Cut into cubes, and serve topped with cream or whipped cream, if desired.

With vegetarian gelatine:

1. In a small pot over a medium flame, add the coffee, sugar and vegetarian gelatine, and bring to a boil.
2. Simmer for a couple of minutes (or whatever is recommended for your setting agent) then remove from the heat.
3. Pour into a plastic box with a lid.
4. Transfer to the fridge and leave to set until firm.
5. Cut into cubes, and serve topped with cream or whipped cream, if desired.

Tags: coffee, gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian