Explore the varieties of edible seaweed used in Japanese cooking, the health benefits and how to cook with these sea vegetables.
Hailed as the superfood of Japanese cuisine, seaweeds have long been an indispensable part of Japanese diet and other East Asian cultures like China, Korea and Taiwan.
日本的营养特性和烹饪价值都消耗海藻。今天，我们将探索日本烹饪中使用的可食用海藻的品种，它们的显着健康益处以及如何将这些海蔬菜融入饮食中。
What IsSeaweed?
Seaweed, or marine plants and algae, are plant-like organisms that grow in the ocean, rivers, lakes and other water bodies.
可食用的海藻也被称为海蔬菜，在这些海蔬菜中，它们在传统医学，耕种和健康饮食中都用于各种文化，从亚洲到西方世界，例如Scotland, Ireland and Iceland.
什么是不同类型的海藻？
As vast as the ocean, the varieties of seaweed reflect its complex biodiversity with over 10,000 species. They are often categorized based on their cell structures, pigments, ecology and uses. The 3 common varieties are: red algae (nori and dulse), brown algae (wakame, kelp, kombu), and green algae (spirulina and chlorella).
可食用的海藻通常在日本美食中使用
Seaweeds are an integral part of the Japanese diet and you can find different varieties of seaweeds being used in cooking. From eating fresh to adding it to salads to using as a natural flavoring, the roles of seaweeds are just as multi-faceted. Here we feature5 most common seaweeds in the Japanese cuisine:
Nori 海苔
诺里（Nori）出现在薄薄的深绿色床单中，是全球最著名，最受欢迎的海藻。Nori主要用作包裹寿司的成分，是通过切成藻类和干燥的海藻制成的，然后将其压成薄层 - 这是制作过程中采用的一种方法。
Aside fromsushi和onigiri rice balls, nori is also used as delicious garnish for noodles, rice bowls (donburi) and soups. When chopped into small fine pieces, nori is mixed in with ingredients such as sesame seeds, chili pepper, salt and sugar as a table seasoning.
You can find nori being sold toasted or non-toasted. Nori snack (a.k.a nori chips or seaweed snacks) is another popular product of toasted nori that are simply roasted and seasoned with salt and enjoyed as a delicious savory snack. In Japan, nori no tsukudani (海苔の佃煮) is another classic way to enjoy the seaweed, where it is flavored with soy sauce, dashi, sake and mirin and made into a paste-like accompaniment for steamed rice.
Delicious Recipes with Nori
Kombu Kelp 昆布
Dark green with thick leather-like texture, Kombu, also known as kelp, is the quintessential ingredient in Japanese pantry.Japanese kombu is cultivated mainly in Hokkaido (北海道) which has long-standing methods of kelp harvesting.有超过十种海带海带,each has its own characteristic of taste and flavor. The highest quality kombu kelp is Ma-Kombu, which are shaped like thick wide leaves. Known for its refined sweetness and deep flavor, this kombu is a chef’s choice for producing clear, delicious stock.
In Japanese cuisine, kombu is used most extensively in makingdashi, the umami-packed Japanese soup stock. The high glutamate content presented in kombu makes it a sought-after natural flavor enhancer.Most kombu are sold in dried form. You can also find kombu pickled in vinegar or eaten fresh in sashimi.
For those who consume large amount of beans, you can add strips of kombu into dried beans as you cook. This magical ingredient will help to tenderize the beans and reduce the gas-producing properties. A great solution for bean eaters!
Delicious Recipes with Kombu
- How to Make Kombu Dashi (Vegetarian Dashi)
- KOMBU TSUKUDANI（himmered Kombu）
- 热豆腐（Yudofu）
- Kenchinjiru(蔬菜汤)
- 蛤soso汤
Wakame わかめ
Grown in cool and mineral rich arctic currents, wakame have been harvested in Japan for generations since the Nara period.The taste is briny and salty, much like a mild anchovy with a subtle sweet flavor. It has a unique tenderness that comes with a light crunch.
Wakame is commonly used in soups like miso soup and salads like tofu salad, as well as a side dish to vegetables, like cucumber. To prepare, the leaves should be cut into small pieces as they will expand during cooking.
Wakame is low in calorie and known for its ability to aid in weight loss and to boost energy levels. You will find dishes featuring wakame are typically dressed with simple vinegar and soy sauce.One of the most trendy wakame dishes is Goma Wakame, where the seaweed salad is lightly dressed with roasted sesame seeds, soy sauce and vinegar.
Delicious Recipes with Wakame
Hijiki ひじき
A brown variety of seaweed, hijiki grows wild on the rocky coastlines of Japan, China, and Korea.Hijiki may be a lesser known seaweed of Japanese cuisine, but it is a favorite sea vegetable prepared at Japanese homes. Aside from its many health benefits, Japanese strongly believes that consuming moderate amounts of hijiki can give you beautiful, black lustrous hair.
Comes in sprig-like dried form, hijiki almost resembles of dried black tea leaves. To prepare for cooking, the seaweed needs to be first rehydrated then cooked with soy sauce, sugar or other seasonings.
Delicious Recipe with Hijiki
Mozuku もずく
This seaweed is one of the secret ingredients of longevity of Okinawans,along with other superfoods such as tofu, turmeric, local greens, and goya (bitter gourd). Surrounded by shallow clean water and temperate climate,冲绳是日本最大的生产商mozuku where it accounts for over 90% of output nationwide. The harvest season is from March to May andit is almost entirely farmed by the locals, and then distributed to the mainland of Japan.
Mozukuhas a unique, slimy and long stringy texture. While the most common way to eat mozuku is from the packages that have been dressed with vinegar seasoning, the seaweed is more versatile than one can imagine. Some creative home chefs in Okinawa even use mozuku in dishes such as crispy tempura, gyoza, chilled soup, stir fry, omelette and so on.
To learn more about mozuku and its relationship with the Okinawan people, you can read thisarticlepublished by the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology.
Health Benefits of Seaweed
海藻的独特健康特性因对日本人民的整体健康状况的贡献而认可，随着植物而异。根据医生Seibin和Teruko Arasaki的说法，日本科学家和authors ofVegetables from the Sea, report that all of the minerals required by human beings are present in sufficient amounts in sea vegetables.In general, the health benefits of seaweeds include the following:
Antioxidants
许多研究表明，海藻是抗氧化剂的非凡来源，这对于预防炎症至关重要。在日本医疗领域，建议将海藻纳入饮食中，以帮助防止慢性疾病，例如癌症，中风，关节炎和与生活方式有关的疾病，例如肥胖和高血压。
A paper published by Dr Jane Teas of Harvard University shows that kelp consumption might be a factor in the lower rates of breast cancer in Japan.
维生素和矿物质
富含维生素A，C，E和K的海藻获得了改善皮肤和头发健康的认可。它们的维生素D也很高，这有助于吸收健康骨骼的钙。
Amongst the vegetables, seaweeds are an incredible source of minerals, most notably calcium, copper, zinc, magnesium and iron. For example, hijiki alone contains far more calcium than milk.
Iodine
Another outstanding health benefit of seaweed is iodine. Iodine plays a major role for strong metabolism of cells, which is essential to convert food into energy. It is also needed to maintain a healthy thyroid and the balance of our hormones.
DHA and EPA omega-3 fatty acids
For vegetarians and vegans, seaweeds provide a great source of omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA, which are often missing in other plant foods. Omega-3 fatty acids offers the best support for cardiovascular and cognitive health.
Good-for-Your Gut Probiotics and Fibre
A terrific source of probiotics and dietary fibre, seaweeds can aid digestion and weight loss since they are low in calorie. Its complex enzymes and carbohydrates can help to breakdown sugars that are normally indigestible to the human gut.
Where Can You Buy Seaweeds from
If you live near a Japanese grocery or a well Asian market, you should be able to find assorted seaweeds mentioned above. Most of the natural food stores also carry them these days. With the gaining popularity, you can even find packages of seaweeds sold at Whole Foods or online from a number of sources such as Amazon or iHerb.
Enjoy in Moderation
尽管事实证明，海藻对我们的健康的好处很丰富，但在食用海藻方面存在一些潜在的问题。由于碘的高水平，患有甲状腺疾病或易感性的患者应谨慎享受海藻。如果建议您进行低钠饮食，you want to be careful with certain types of seaweeds which may have higher level of sodium.
To reap the benefits of these sea vegetables,seaweed should be enjoyed in moderation along with a well-balanced diet just like the Japanese belief that moderate eating keeps the doctor away.
Did You Enjoy Learning about Seaweed?
We hope you get to incorporate more seaweeds into your daily diet andenjoy a strong, healthy life.
