Wakame, also known as Undaria pinnatifida, is a sea vegetable, or edible seaweed. It has a subtly sweet flavour and is most often served in soups and salads. It is a thin and stringy seaweed, deep green in color, and is common in Japanese and other Asian cuisines.
Wakame shares many of the nutritional benefits of its close relative kombu (kelp), although it contains less iodine, but it is high in calcium and magnesium, which keep the bones in good form. In addition, the complex of vitamins and minerals all together make it a great ingredient for starting a healthy diet.
Wakame, like kombu (kelp), has the ability to soften the fibres of foods it is cooked with. Simply soak, cut into suitably sized pieces and add to your favourite dishes. It is especially delicious sautéed with onions or served with blanched greens. It combines well with fish baked in foil and is delicious added to a cucumber and citrus salad with a vinegar dressing.
