Exotic Seaweed Salad

Sea vegetables are some of the most powerful detoxing foods on the planet. Traditionally used for thousands of years in Japan, they are believed to promote a long and healthy life. There are many different varieties of edible seaweed and, although they each have unique nutritional profiles, they share many of the same healing properties.

Seaweed for Weight Loss and Healing

In addition to being so cleansing and healing, sea vegetables are also extremely nutritious. They are exceptionally rich in vitamins, minerals and rare trace minerals. All sea vegetables are excellent sources of iodine, calcium and iron. According to Paul Pitchford in Healing with Whole Foods, “hijiki, arame, and wakame each contain more than ten times the calcium of milk.”

The Ultimate Beauty Food

This seaweed salad calls for dried seaweed. Both varieties can be found in the Asian section of your local grocery store or in an Asian market. The dry seaweed has to be “freshened” by soaking it in hot water. What happens next is like a crazy magic trick! The small amounts of dried seaweed you put in the hot water will expand into generous portions of delicious, soft, moist seaweed. Enjoy the phenomenon and the scrumptious salad that follows!

Ingredients:

(use organic whenever possible)

2-4 leaves of romaine lettuce

2 teaspoon dried wakame (crushed)

1 tablespoon dried arame (crushed)

½ teaspoon sesame seeds

1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil (of more to taste)

¼ teaspoon ume plum vinegar (umeboshi) - or more to taste

a pinch of red chili flakes or paste (or more)

1. Heat 2 cups of water in a saucepan until boiling.
2. Remove from heat and add both types of seaweed. Let sit for 5-10 minutes, until the seaweed becomes fully hydrated and soft.
3. Chop romaine into bite sized pieces and place in serving bowls.
4. Strain seaweed and squeeze out extra moisture.
5. Put seaweed in a mixing bowl and dress with sesame seeds, oil, vinegar and red chili.
6. Stir to evenly distribute flavor and serve over romaine.

Serves 2