Improve Your Natural Food Diet with Edible Seaweeds
By Courtney Clay
Are you ready to learn more about edible seaweeds? Discover more fascinating facts about these nutrient-rich ocean veggies. Meet a new seaweed friend: Nori, of sushi wrap fame! Learn how to get your children super enthusiastic about this mineral- and protein-rich seaweed, and a delicious nori snack recipe your whole family will rave about!
Sea Veggie Tidbits
Did you know there are over 20 different types of edible ocean vegetables? Seaweeds are used extensively as part of a natural food diet by coastal cultures around the world. They can be wild-harvested, or cultivated in a supportive marine environment. Seaweeds in general contain significant amounts of protein, calcium, iron, iodine & many other essential trace minerals and vitamins.
Seaweeds come in greens, browns & reds. Many of the common edible varieties belong to the red marine algae group, including dulse, irish moss, agar, and the featured food of this article, nori!
Meet Nori & Laver
Nori & Laver are both names for various edible species of the genus Porphyra. It is known as nori in Japan, where it is most popular as a wrap for sushi and as a soup thickener. It is called laver in European countries. Laver is generally sold as whole seaweed fronds, while nori comes in thin sheets. Nori is the most famous seaweed in the United States, where even people who know practically nothing about seaweed consume it with sushi!
It has the highest protein content of any seaweed, and contains beta carotene, vitamins B1 & B2, folate, vitamin C, EPA, calcium, iron, iodine & fiber. In Japan, it is a known remedy for radiation poisoning. It is good for skin health and beauty.
Nori is sold in large, thin, dried sheets, ¨made through a similar process as Japanese paper!” This “edible paper” is delightful for children. ¨See, you really can combine healthy eating with arts & crafts, and actually play with your food!” Children can help cut it into fun shapes, or make masks, then eat them when they’re done. This fun twist that is unique to nori has inspired my young son to eat so much of this protein- and mineral-rich seaweed; so good for his growing body!
How To Eat Nori + A Yummy Recipe!
Easy & delicious ways to eat nori:
- Make your own simple vegetarian sushi! Cover an open sheet of nori with rice, then add shredded carrots, thinly sliced avocado, and sauerkraut or kim-chi. Roll it up and dip into sesame oil and ginger sauce.
- Cut nori into small strips and sprinkle on top of salads or as a soup garnish.
- Make savory dehydrated snacks! See the recipe below for Nori Wraps.
Nori Wraps
First make the filling. Add these ingredients to your food processor:
- 2 cups sunflower and/or pumpkin seeds (soaked for 6+ hours, then rinsed well)
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
- 2 Tbs tamari
- 2 Tbs raw honey
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dulse or kelp powder/flakes (optional)
- 1/2 tsp cayenne (optional)
- 1/2 tsp shilajit (optional)
Process the mixture until everything is blended well and the seeds are broken down (you may have to scrape it off the sides with a spoon occasionally). Cut, or fold and carefully tear, nori sheets into halves or thirds. Spread some of the mixture thinly onto each nori piece, leaving 1/8th inch on each long edge.
Starting on one end of the long side, roll the nori up, until the nori sheet completely surrounds and holds in the filling. Place on dehydrator trays. Dehydrate for 12-24 hours at 115 degrees. If you don’t have a dehydrator, you can put these in the oven at the lowest setting.
Want to Learn More?
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Meet Courtney Clay
Courtney Clay is an ecstatic woman, a truth finder, nature lover, adoring mama, wild food forager, raw chocolatier, and superfood & superherb elixir alchemist. Through the past 10 years, her communion with nature and fresh raw food has awakened her natural state of ecstasy, aliveness, passion, awe, and attunement to the subtleties of life. She is blessed to be the mother of a vibrant little boy named Cedar, and wife of her beloved Isaac. She writes a blog called Ecstatic Woman, on exploring life’s natural ecstasy through nature connection, ecstatic foods, conscious parenting and empowered living. http://ecstaticwoman.com/