KELP VIRGIN.

I made seaweed salad for the first time today. It was insane. I bought a pack from china town the other day, and thought I'd give it a try. I soaked it for about thirty minutes, and yes...I played around with it. It had such a WEIRD texture. It was slimy, and rubbery. I felt like I actually resurrected a giant sea monster in my kitchen. I kept pulling and lifting and these long kelp strands were just taking over my sink. It didn't smell as bad as I thought it would, and taste-wise I have to get used to it but with the list of benefits running through my mind, it wasn't so hard to eat!

Recipe

about 2 arm's length kelp strands (PEOPLE, this was one pre-packaged strand cut in half lol)

cucumber + carrot julienned or made into ribbons with a carrot peeler

1-2T maple syrup/honey/agave/molasses

1 tsp. ginger powder

2T sesame oil

2-3T soy sauce/Nama Shoyu

sesame seeds for garnish

Soak the seaweed, make sure it is rinsed from its salt, sand, and grit. Snip off tougher parts, found usually on the ends. Pat strands dry, take kitchen scissors and cut into strips, or try rolling a strand and cutting in chiffonade way with a big kitchen knife (DON'T. cut yourself)

Benefits (a smidge from the long list of benefits)

• trace minerals
• protein
• rich source of iron, iodine
• helps to detoxify and clear mind and body

SO. Bottom line, buy your seaweed, soak, snip it, (GROW A MONSTER), then show it whose boss and eat it!