Green Kelp Noodle Salad
Have you guys tried kelp noodles yet? Well, you will now because I’m telling you that you have to. So hurry. Run out and get yourself some kelp noodles right this second.
Okay, I’ll stop being bossy.
But for real, kelp noodles are my new favorite thing. Until next week, of course, when I find a new favorite thing. Oy.
So what are kelp noodles, you ask? They are pretty much just that, noodles made of kelp. Kelp is a form of seaweed, or an herb that comes from deep under the sea. It actually takes in lots of the nutrients and minerals from the water that is around it, and is pretty much a super star in the healthy food world. Let’s just go through the list of the health benefits that it provides…
– Kelp is up at the top of the list when it comes to its great source of iodine. We need iodine for efficient thyroid function, which helps to regulate our metabolism.
– It is a natural diuretic, which means that it will help flush out excess water from the system and remove toxins.
– It is super low in calories and carbs, which is perfect if you are trying to lose weight.
– It is a great source of iron, calcium and potassium.
– The magnesium and iron in kelp is beneficial for a healthy bloodstream.
And the list goes on.
Kelp noodles have a very neutral taste, so they will take on the flavor of whatever sauce you cover them with. They are also crunchier than regular pasta noodles, so if you are like me and like a little texture in your meals, kelp noodles are for you. Oh, and the best part is that you don’t have to cook them! Just rinse them under warm water and you’re ready to go. This salad is perfect for those hot days when you don’t really want a warm pasta dish, or just aren’t in the mood to cook at all. (–> can I just say that we had temps in the 40s yesterday and I’m totally freaked out about it. It’s almost May, people! )
You can get creative with what you combine with kelp noodles, but today I went on the Asian side with tons of greens (kale, cucumber edamame) and a GF soy based dressing. SUH GOOD. It comes together so quick, all you need to do is rinse the noodles, and then I like to roughly chop them a couple of times so that the noodles aren’t so long. It makes it way easier to eat this way
Then chop up all of your veggies, whisk together your dressing, toss, and boom. You have yourself a super healthy salad that is bigger than your head. I can always get behind those kind of salads.
Ingredients
- 1 (12oz) package of kelp noodles
- 1 cup edamame (removed from shells)
- 1 cup cucumber, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
- 1/3 cup sunflower seeds
- 1 small bunch of kale, stems removed and chopped
- 3-4 tbsp GF tamari
- 2-3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 tsp sesame oil
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- small pinch of ground ginger
Instructions
- Rinse the kelp noodles under warm water, drain, then roughly chop the noodles to make it easier to eat. The strands will be very long if you don't.
- In a large serving bowl, combine the kelp noodles, edamame, cucumber, sunflower seeds and kale. Toss to combine.
- In a small bowl, whisk together all of the dressing ingredients and pour the dressing over the salad. Toss again to combine.
- To serve, you can sprinkle a bit more seeds over the top if desired.