We know seaweed is really good for you. It’s packed with the minerals and vitamins our bodies need, but you may be wondering how to actually get it into your family’s meals. The good news is that seaweed can be used in all sorts of recipes — including these 7 mouthwatering family recipes using seaweed, a secret healthy ingredient, shared with us by Margaret from the Connemara Seaweed Company.
Cooking and baking with seaweed is easier than you’d think. It can be worked into almost anything you eat — even sweet treats, yes you heard right.
Adding seaweed to bread, for example, makes it softer and helps it last longer, as seaweed is a natural preservative — which helps cut down on food waste too.
The best way to cook with seaweed is to keep the recipes simple: use just a few ingredients and keep cooking or baking time to a minimum, without letting the taste or quality of ingredients slip.
7 Mouthwatering Recipes Using Seaweed
#1. Salmon with Kelp Butter, Baby Potatoes with Mixed Vegetable
Salmon is high in protein and unsaturated omega-3 fatty acids, and contains virtually no carbohydrates. Just a 4oz serving of fresh salmon provides your full day’s requirement of Vitamin D. Salmon is also a great source of B12, niacin, selenium, B6 and magnesium, while the seaweed in this dish adds iodine for thyroid support.
Try this delicious Salmon with Kelp Butter recipe.
#2. Roasted Red Pepper and Red Lentil Soup
A hearty, wholesome, warming, comforting soup for all the family. It’s quick and easy to make and is a great choice for an after-school lunch, served with brown bread.
Try this tasty Roasted Red Pepper and Red Lentil Soup recipe.
#3. Butter Bean, Chickpea, Squash & Seaweed Ragu
A healthy, warming Thai-influenced vegetarian ragu that’s sure to keep all the family happy on a cold autumn or winter evening. It’s easy to make, and the seaweed in this recipe helps support a healthy heart and has anti-inflammatory properties.
Try this hearty Butter Bean, Chickpea, Squash & Seaweed Ragu recipe.
#4. Taste of the Sea Seaweed Smoothie
This is a super-quick way to work seaweed into your diet, and a great way to start your day. The addition of apple cider vinegar in the smoothie supports blood pressure, helps lower cholesterol, and improves skin health.
Try this superfood Seaweed Smoothie recipe.
#5. Carrigeen Moss Cough and Chest Tonic
This tonic is one of the Connemara Seaweed Company’s most popular recipes. It can be taken daily as a general tonic, or twice daily as a natural preventative.
If you feel a cough coming on, you can take it up to 4 times a day, and it stays fresh in the fridge for 5 days.
Try this Carrigeen Moss Cough and Chest Tonic recipe.
#6. Double Chocolate Brownie with Seaweed
When you think of brownies, seaweed might not be the first thing that comes to mind — but these double chocolate brownies really do benefit from the addition of a little dillisk and Connemara seaweed seasoning.
Try this Double Chocolate Brownie with Seaweed recipe.
#7. Dillisk, Lemon and Coconut Loaf with Raspberry and Dillisk Chia Seed Jam
This chia seed jam is delicious and so easy to make — and it’s a great way to get the kids involved in the kitchen too!
Try this Dillisk, Lemon and Coconut Loaf with Raspberry and Dillisk Chia Seed Jam recipe.
All of these recipes have been brought to you by the Connemara Seaweed Company, who hand-harvest their seaweed on the West Coast of Ireland and turn it into delicious products to accompany and enhance both sweet and savoury recipes.
See their whole product range for more delicious seaweed recipes the whole family will enjoy, or check out their beauty range, also made from natural seaweed.
FAQs About Cooking with Seaweed
Is seaweed safe for kids to eat?
Seaweed used in small amounts as a seasoning or ingredient, as in these recipes, is a normal part of a varied family diet. As with any new ingredient, introduce it gradually and keep an eye out for any reactions.
What does seaweed taste like in recipes like these?
Used in small quantities — as a seasoning, in a smoothie, or baked into brownies or bread — seaweed adds a subtle savoury depth rather than an overpowering “sea” flavour. It blends well into both sweet and savoury dishes.
Where can I buy the seaweed used in these recipes?
These recipes use products from the Connemara Seaweed Company, who hand-harvest seaweed on Ireland’s West Coast and sell a range of food and beauty products made from it.
Can seaweed really help bread last longer?
Yes — seaweed acts as a natural preservative, which is why adding it to bread can help keep it soft for longer and reduce food waste at home.
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You may also enjoy:
- 9 Easy to Cook Fish Recipes the Whole Family will Love
- 50 Interesting Things to Do at the Beach with Kids
Try These Recipes Yourself
Fancy giving one of these a go this week? Save this article so you can come back to it next time you’re planning meals, and browse the Connemara Seaweed Company’s full recipe collection for more ideas to try with the family.
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Over to you now — have you tried any of these mouthwatering recipes using seaweed yet? Let us know in the comments below.
