Kombu, a kelp seaweed with a robust flavor, thrives off the coasts of China, Japan and Korea. Because fresh kombu has a short shelf life, this seaweed is most often sold dried. One of this seaweed's most common uses is in a Japanese multipurpose stock, called dashi, which is used to create sauces, soups and stews. You also have other options for eating kombu.
Eating Raw Kombu
Rinse the kombu thoroughly under running water. If it is dried, soak it in a container of water for 10 to 15 minutes to rehydrate it.
Remove the kombu from the water with a large spoon, and place it on a clean cutting surface. Pour the water into a jar with a lid and refrigerate for up to three days. It can be used as a soup stock.
Cut the kombu it into thin, bite-size strips with a knife. Add the desired amount of strips to your favorite salad or use them as a garnish for a soup.
Cooking Kombu
Rinse the kombu thoroughly under running water and place it on a clean cutting surface.
Chop the kombu into bite-size pieces.
Add the kombu to a stir-fry of onions and peppers. Stir fry until tender and then eat with rice. Or, add 2 teaspoons of chopped kombu to a pot of raw beans and water on the stovetop. After approximately two hours the kombu will break apart and mostly disintegrate into the water. Remove the remaining pieces of kombu with a spoon or eat them as you eat the beans.
Using Kombu as a Condiment
Rinse the kombu under running water, pat it dry and place it on a cutting surface.
Chop the kombu into small pieces and place them in a dry skillet over medium heat. Stir the pieces of kombu with a spoon until they become crisp.
Transfer the crispy kombu pieces to a mortar and grind them into a fine powder with a pestle.
Sprinkle the powder over food, such as rice or vegetables, as a seasoning.
Tip
If you're adding dried kombu to soups or stews or other dishes with plenty of liquid, you don't have to soak it first. Dried seaweed greatly increases in size when soaked. Take this into account when preparing it. Soaked kombu may be wrapped around vegetables as an appetizer. Fresh kombu can be pickled. If dried kombu has a salty white coating, wipe it off before you cook it.
References
- The Kitchn: Ingredient Spotlight: Kombu
- Whole Food Facts; Evelyn Roehl
Writer Bio
Based in Texas, Cynthia Measom has been writing various parenting, business and finance and education articles since 2011. Her articles have appeared on websites such as The Bump and Motley Fool. Measom received a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Texas at Austin.