What Is Seaweed and How Can I Use It?

Seaweed is easier to cook with than it looks. Here's how to choose, use, and store it, what to substitute, and 15 recipes to get you started.

In Chinese:: 海草
British (UK) term:: Seaweed
en français:: algue
en español:: algas marinas

Recipes using seaweed

There are 15 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Cottage Cheese with Seaweed

A nice and healthy breakfast. Very good with a double mug of cocoa.

Sea Weed, Bell Pepper Salad with Garlic-Sesame Dressing

Another dish from my childhood memories, and it's my all-time favorite dish that my mom used to make very often. All the ingredients are inexpensive, but the salad tastes so refreshing and flavorful.

Spicy Soba Noodle Salad

A little bit of heat with a tangy sweet and sour taste. This cucumber soba salad for sure refreshes your taste buds while satisfies your tummy.

Soy Bean Salad with Brown Rice Noodles

A tasty yet light salad is made with brown rice noodles, soy beans, carrot, bell pepper, red onion, sea weed, and a sour-sweet dressing.

Amazing New England Clam Bake

Traditional New England clam bake with lobsters, clams, corn, potatoes, and shrimp steamed over hot rocks under fresh seaweed. The classic beach-fire feast for a crowd of 24.

Bucket of Grilled Crawfish

Beach-style steamed crawfish layer fresh crawfish, red bliss potatoes, sweet corn, and lemon over hot seaweed. A New England-meets-Cajun shore feast.

Oysters & Caviar

Oysters on the half shell topped with black caviar, scallion rings, and lemon. Served on seaweed for a luxe raw appetizer that pairs with Champagne.

Lentil & Tomato Soup

Blended lentil and tomato soup with rosemary, cumin, miso, and arame seaweed for umami depth. A vegan, high-fiber soup that simmers in just 20 minutes.

Authentic Hot & Sour Soup

Authentic hot and sour soup with shredded pork, wood ear mushrooms, seaweed, and bean curd in a tangy black-pepper-and-vinegar broth. The Sichuan-style takeout classic, made from scratch.

Seaweed Italiano

Italian-style tomato sauce simmered with kelp seaweed (alaria or laminaria), garlic, oregano, and Worcestershire. A mineral-rich, umami-packed sauce for spaghetti, meatballs, or browned meat.

Lentil & Tomato Soup

Lentil and tomato soup with rosemary, miso, and a pinch of arame seaweed blended smooth. A vegan soup with hidden umami depth from miso and seaweed that keeps you guessing.

Toriwasa (Chicken & Parsely with Horesradish Sauce)

Toriwasa is a Japanese izakaya classic: sake-poached chicken shredded thin and tossed with blanched parsley in a sharp wasabi-soy dressing, finished with shredded nori. Light, clean, and full of bite.

Nori Rice Balls

Japanese nori rice balls (onigiri) with brown rice, steamed carrot sticks, and tangy umeboshi paste, served with a ginger-soy dipping sauce. A simple vegan snack or lunch.