Is seaweed in Chinese restaurants cabbage?

Asked by: Leon Sellers

The dish often served in western Chinese restaurants as ‘Crispy Seaweed’ is not seaweed but cabbage that has been dried and then fried.

Do Chinese restaurants use cabbage instead of seaweed?

Crispy seaweed cabbage is common, but people also use kale or bok choy. It is also sometimes served with a sweet chilli dip. So, despite it being called ‘seaweed’, no ocean plants are used to make this tasty dish! It’s a well-kept secret among restauranteurs.

What do Chinese restaurants put on seaweed?

Crispy seaweed, despite the name, is in fact deep-fried spring greens. A popular Chinese dish, crispy seaweed can be finished with sesame seeds, Chinese five-spice powder, chilli, or simply sprinkled with salt and served with a sweet chilli dip.

Is seaweed you eat cabbage?

Seaweed has been a part of national cuisine in China, Japan, and Korea since prehistoric times. Often served in western Chinese restaurants, ‘Crispy Seaweed’ is not actually seaweed but instead cabbage that has been dried and then fried.

Is there seaweed in Chinese food?

As an ingredient, seaweed (海带, hǎi dài, sometimes known as kelp) has been eaten in China since prehistoric times and is one of the foods to which Chinese people attribute their first-rate health and longevity. We add seaweed to various dishes to add texture, flavor, and nutrition.

What is the brown stuff on Chinese seaweed?

It’s a blend of shrimp powder, salt and sugar. The Chinese will often add a bit of five spice powder and MSG, which I think has been unfairly demonised, yet tastes great with Chinese food. I used to use bags of msg, but the wife reacts badly to it, so I use castor sugar nowadays. kennyh likes this.

What is the orange stuff on seaweed?

But I’m sure many of us know that the orange-coloured seasoning that comes with our “seaweed” is powdered, dried, scallop roe.

Is crispy seaweed from Chinese actually seaweed?

A British Chinese takeaway classic, often called crispy seaweed, this dish is in fact made with dark green cabbage!

Is Chinese seaweed healthy?

It’s the best dietary source of iodine, which helps support your thyroid gland. It also contains other vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin K, B vitamins, zinc and iron, along with antioxidants that help protect your cells from damage.

What is in dried seaweed?

Dried seaweed is good for you when eaten in moderation — it contains many vitamins and minerals, but is quite high in sodium and iodine.

Is seaweed a vegetable?

Edible seaweed is a vegetable of the sea, a food source for ocean life and humans who consume it in its many forms. Nutritionally speaking, seaweed has the unique ability to absorb concentrated amounts of iodine from the ocean which a human body cannot produce by itself, but requires for healthy thyroid functions.

Is seaweed a vegetable or seafood?

Seaweed is a vegetable that’s often overlooked as a meal option, but the nutritious benefits this plant from the sea has to offer may just change your mind.