When most individuals consider seafood, the primary pictures that spring to thoughts are probably of animals, like lobsters, fish, or shrimp, for instance. However really, seafood doesn’t should contain sea creatures in any respect. Our oceans are additionally house to nutritious greens, considered one of which is kelp, a kind of lengthy, brown seaweed.
Kelp is extremely versatile; it may be eaten uncooked, roasted, pickled, or steamed in varied dishes, however some of the widespread methods to eat it’s in noodle kind. Right here’s what you’ll want to find out about kelp noodles, from what they’re to how they style to easy methods to cook dinner with them—plus, a couple of scrumptious vegan recipe concepts.
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What are kelp noodles?
Kelp noodles had been first developed in Korea, the place they’re referred to as cheon sa chae. Whereas they type of appear to be glass noodles (also referred to as cellophane noodles) as a result of they’re usually semi-transparent in look, they’re processed fully otherwise.
Glass noodles are made with starch and water, however kelp noodles are made with dried, peeled, and floor strips of kelp. These are then blended with water and sodium alginate—a kind of salt naturally current within the cell partitions of kelp. The result’s a flexible, gluten-free, and easy noodle that can be utilized in stir-fries, salads, curries, and extra.
Do kelp noodles style fishy?
Kelp naturally grows on the world’s coastlines, and in its least processed kind, it does style a bit “fishy” (and that is smart as a result of it has lived and grown in the identical atmosphere as fish). However, for those who’re not a fan of fishy flavors, don’t be postpone by kelp noodles. It’s because, when it’s processed into noodle kind, kelp isn’t actually fishy in any respect. The truth is, kelp noodles even have an extremely delicate, impartial style, and they’re extra about including texture to a dish relatively than boosting its taste profile. Though that stated, they’re excellent at absorbing flavors from the opposite substances you cook dinner them with.
Are kelp noodles good for you?
Whereas kelp noodles are excessive in sodium alginate (which has little or no dietary worth), they’re nonetheless a supply of vitamins, like calcium, iron, iodine, and vitamin Okay. Plus, they comprise antioxidants, they’re low in energy, and so they’re additionally a good supply of dietary fiber.
Easy methods to cook dinner with kelp noodles
There are a lot of methods to arrange kelp noodles. The truth is, in order for you a really low-effort dish, you don’t even should cook dinner them in any respect, as they are often safely consumed uncooked. However for those who want your meals scorching, then among the best methods to cook dinner kelp noodles is by stir-frying them, however you too can add them to broths.
Vegan recipes with kelp noodles
Wish to give kelp noodles a strive, however undecided the place to begin? You’ve come to the appropriate place. We’ve compiled a few of our favourite vegan kelp noodle recipes under.
Sepsenahki Aahkhu
1Pesto Kelp Noodles
Pasta and pesto is a tried, examined, and much-loved mixture. However for those who fancy giving this trustworthy dish an improve, swap Italian pasta for easy, silky kelp noodles, which is able to soak up the flavors of do-it-yourself pesto superbly. For further tangy, salty taste, combine in a beneficiant serving to of capers.
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The Plant Collective
2 Kelp Noodle Lo Mein
Developed in China, lo mein is often made with tossed egg noodles. However if you wish to swap in a vegan, gluten-free choice, kelp noodles make an incredible different. This dish, which you’ll be able to pack with all of your favourite stir-fried greens, is fast to make, simply as tasty as takeout, and nutritious.
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The Spruce Eats
3 Spicy Tahini Kelp Noodles
Because of their delicate, impartial style, kelp noodles are arguably at their greatest once they’re paired with a daring, flavorful sauce. This recipe requires a mixture of creamy, thick tahini, which is blended along with peanut butter, ginger, and chili garlic for an ultra-satisfying midweek meal with simply the correct quantity of kick.
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Glue & Glitter
4 Sesame-Shiitake Kelp Noodles
When you’ve run out of distinctive and engaging lunch concepts, this recipe for sesame-shiitake kelp noodles, topped with a creamy peanut sauce, is properly value a strive. The tasty dish, which additionally options succulent sautéed mushrooms, comes collectively in round 20 minutes.
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Easy Vegan Weblog
5 Kelp Noodle Salad
Arguably, salad has an unfair status for being boring. However this recipe proves it’s something however. Not solely is it bursting with taste, but it surely’s tremendous fast to throw collectively (significantly, you simply want a spare 10 minutes) and simple, too. You don’t even have to fry the noodles, simply rinse and soak in scorching water with baking soda and lemon juice. Or for those who want, you’ll be able to add them in completely uncooked.
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Liv Kaplan
6 Kelp Noodle Pad Thai
Pad Thai is considered one of Thai delicacies’s most-loved dishes. Whereas it’s often made with rice noodles, you’ll be able to simply swap these out for kelp for those who want. It’s additionally usually topped with peanuts, however for those who fancy a change, this dish suggests swapping these out for pili nuts (that are one other kind of nutrient-packed tree nut).
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The All Pure Vegan
7 Crimson Curry Peanut Kelp Noodle Salad
Aromatic, flavorful Thai crimson curry additionally pairs superbly with kelp noodles. On this recipe, the noodles and greens (like broccoli and bell pepper) are left uncooked, earlier than they’re dressed with crimson curry paste, miso, spices, and peanut butter, and topped with an additional serving of chopped peanuts.
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and author primarily based in sunny Southsea on England’s southern coast.
