November 10, 2010

Sushi Restaurant Favorite: Seaweed Salad

I fell in love with seaweed salad this summer after trying it for the first time at a Thai restaurant. It was served in a martini glass and included flower shaped cucumbers, delicate carrot curls and neon green seaweed. Since then, I order it whenever I spot it on a restaurant menu. Months later, after justifying the $6 price tag of wakame, I figured it was about time that I recreated it at home.



Seaweed salad
Ingredients

- 1/2 cup wakame
- 2 small cucumbers, or 1 large
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds

- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp tamari or soy sauce
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp chili flakes
- Kelp granules (optional), for garnish
- Sesame seeds, for garnish

Instructions
- Whisk together dressing ingredients and set aside.
- Soak wakame in a large bowl with an ample amount of water for 5 minutes. It will more than double in size, so make sure to add enough liquid. Drain and squeeze the excess liquid. Toss in half the dressing and set aside.
- Peel cucumbers if desired (I peeled alternate strips for fun) and thinly slice. Add remaining dressing and toss to coat. Top with wakame and sprinkle with kelp and sesame seeds. Refrigerate until serving.

Serves 1-2




Don't make this expecting the vibrant green found in sushi bars. The reason those are so bright is because they're usually altered to look that way to be more aesthetically pleasing. I prefer the dark forest green of true wakame. It's deep, rich and beautifully natural.

Now, if only I could master sushi making.

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8 comments:

  1. OMG I love wakame salad. There is a place in Perdido Key, FL that has a good one that just happens to be across the street from the condo we stay at - very convenient ;-)

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  2. this looks GREAT !! wakame salad and wakame rolls are one of my favorites... SO good.

    I like the dark green too :)

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  3. @Heather (Where's the Beach)

    I would probably end up eating my weight in seaweed if I had such close access to good wakame salad.

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  4. @Kristina @ spabettie

    I've never had a wakame roll, but now I'm intrigued! It has been too long since I've had sushi.

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  5. Ah man, AMAZING! I remember my mother swearing up and down that she'd never eat that (and I quote) gross slimy green booger ribbon thing) but I ended up getting her hooked on it...it's one of the best things about going out for sushi!

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  6. Oh, how I love seaweed salad with all my heart and soul! I've yet to make a proper Japanese-style version though. I only have arame at home... do you think that could work with your recipe? :)

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  7. @Faith @ lovelyascharged

    Haha, I'd love it if my mom tried seaweed. I was shocked enough when she tried Indian food and actually kind of liked it.

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