How to make super light homemade gelatin: an ideal dessert if you want to lose weight

What is gelatin?

Gelatin is an odorless, colorless and tasteless substance that gives a lot of play in the kitchen. It offers the possibility of giving different degrees of consistency and firmness to liquids and, therefore, it is used both to thicken creams and make toppings, as well as to make mousses, semi-cold drinks and jellies, such as the one presented below.

Our super light homemade gelatin is not only very nutritious, but also very light and, therefore, suitable for weight loss. And it also fits perfectly in the breakfasts, snacks and easy desserts on our healthy weekly menus, which are designed for the whole family.

Ingredients to make homemade gelatin

To make 2 servings of homemade gelatin, you need:

3 gelatin leaves - 150 milliliters of natural fruit juice (not from the packaging) - 2 teaspoons of date paste to sweeten (at the end of the step by step, we will tell you how to make it at home).

The golden rule for calculating proportions

Always calculate two sheets of gelatin, 2 g each, for every 100 ml of liquid and you will never fail.

Soak the gelatin and heat the juice

On the one hand, place the gelatin sheets in a container with plenty of water and let them soak for 5 to 10 minutes to hydrate. And on the other hand, while the gelatin is soaking, heat the fruit juice in a saucepan along with the date paste (as a general rule, a teaspoon per serving, but it can be a little more or less according to your taste) .

Add the gelatin, mix and distribute

When the date paste and juice mixture begins to boil, remove it from the heat, drain the gelatin and add it to the saucepan. Mix well with the help of manual or electric stirrers so that the gelatin dissolves completely. Distribute the resulting homemade gelatin in the containers you have chosen (glasses, glasses …), and wait for it to cool.

Cool, unmold and serve

Once cold, put the containers with the homemade gelatin in the fridge so that it gels, that is, it takes consistency and firmness. After about 3 hours or so, you can take it out, unmold and serve. To decorate, you can put some fresh mint leaves.

Homemade jelly with fruit

If you want it to be much tastier, before distributing the homemade gelatin in the containers, you can fill them with small cubes of fresh fruit; and then finish filling with the gelatin.

Different types of gelatin

However, before getting down to business, keep in mind that there are several types of gelatin depending on its presentation, powder or sheets, and its origin, animal or vegetable.

Animal jelly

It can be found both in powder and in sheets, which is the most common presentation and the one we have used to make homemade gelatin.

It has about 90% protein and a high content of amino acids, which makes it an extremely nutritious product.
The gelatin sheets must be hydrated by soaking it in cold water before draining it and then dissolving it in a hot liquid. But it is important that said liquid does not boil, because gelatin loses its gelling power.
The powdered gelatin of animal origin must also be hydrated cold and then mixed with the liquid hot, but without boiling.

Vegetable gelatin

Also known as agar-agar, it is a thickener that is extracted from a type of algae and, due to its origin, is ideal for vegetarian diets.

Its caloric intake is practically zero and it has a high fiber content, which provides benefits to intestinal transit and gives it a satiating effect.
Its gelling power is almost ten times higher than that of animal gelatin, but in its case it has to be dissolved in a cold or warm liquid, and then brought to a boil so that it acquires its gelling capacity.
It is ideal for creams, sauces and juices.

Be careful when choosing

Some tropical fruits, such as pineapple, have an enzyme that cancels the gelling power of animal gelatin protein, which is why, in these cases, plant-based gelatin must be used.

Sweeten the gelatin with date paste

And to avoid having to resort to sugar, one of the substances responsible for making food hook and fattening more than necessary, you can sweeten homemade gelatin or other desserts with date paste.