Nori / Gim / Kim


Sheet of Dried Nori [Nori (Japan); Gim, Kim (Korea); Rong bien (Viet); Zicai (China); Laver (Europe); Porphyra yezoensis and P. tenera, sometimes other species]

These Red Algae are farmed intensively in Japan, Korea and China. Live, they look just like Laverbread. Once harvested, Nori is shredded and made up into paper-like sheets very much the way handmade paper is made. These sheets are lightly toasted which turns them green. They are used as a wrapping for sushi, as a garnish, as a flavoring in soups, and seasoned for use as snacks. These sheets are extremely important in the cuisines of Korea and Japan.

The paper form was invented in about 1750. Previous to that, Nori was boiled into a paste, as Laverbread still is in the British Isles. These seaweeds are notable in that their fronds are only 1 cell thick. Red Algae is high in protein, iron and iodine as well as containing significant amounts of vitamins B2, A, D and C.

More on Algae.


Japanese Toasting Pan

Prep:

  Many recipes ask you to toast the Nori before use. They often say to hold a sheet with tongs, a few inches from a gas flame, turning it often until it becomes aromatic and starts to shrink a little. I find it far more convenient to use a Japanese Toasting Pan. It is done nice and evenly in only a few seconds.

Buying & Storing:

  These seaweed sheets are so important they can be found in just about any East or Southeast Asian market, and in the Asia section of many regular supermarkets. Keep them in a tightly sealed package (include the desiccant they were packed with) in a dry place away from heat and light, and they'll last a year or so.

Health & Nutrition:

  Nori contains amphipod allergens that can cause serious allergic reactions in people highly allergic to crustaceans, such as shrimp. It also contains toxic metals, arsenic and cadmium, but given typical Nori consumption, this is not a problem. Nori contains significant amounts of iodine and lesser amounts of iron and zinc. It has been claimed as a vegetarian source of Vitamin B12, but this depends on the amount of Amphipod contamination. Sorry, Vegans, Amphipods are animals, not plants - this product harms animals.

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