Seaweed Salad Sesame Ginger (Printable Version)

Fresh wakame seaweed tossed with cucumber, carrot, and scallions in a tangy sesame-ginger dressing. Ready in just 15 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Seaweed

01 - 1 ounce dried wakame seaweed

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

02 - 1 small cucumber, thinly sliced
03 - 1 small carrot, julienned
04 - 2 scallions, thinly sliced

→ Dressing

05 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
06 - 1.5 tablespoons rice vinegar
07 - 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
08 - 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
09 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
10 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
11 - 0.5 teaspoon chili flakes, optional

→ Garnish

12 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
13 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro or parsley, optional

# How-To Steps:

01 - Place dried seaweed in a bowl and cover with cold water. Soak for 7 to 10 minutes until fully rehydrated and tender. Drain well and squeeze out excess water.
02 - In a large bowl, combine the rehydrated seaweed, cucumber, carrot, and scallions.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce or tamari, grated ginger, maple syrup or honey, sesame seeds, and chili flakes if using.
04 - Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine.
05 - Transfer to a serving bowl and sprinkle with additional sesame seeds and chopped cilantro or parsley if desired.
06 - Serve immediately or chill for 15 to 30 minutes for enhanced flavor development.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in 15 minutes flat, which means you can actually make it on a weeknight without stress.
  • The sesame-ginger dressing is so addictive you'll find yourself making extra to drizzle on other vegetables.
  • It's naturally vegan and gluten-free, but tastes indulgent enough that nobody needs to know it's healthy.
02 -
  • Don't oversoak your seaweed—even a couple of minutes too long and it becomes mushy instead of tender, which ruins the whole texture.
  • Squeeze out the excess water after soaking because it's the single biggest reason a seaweed salad gets watery and sad instead of crisp and vibrant.
  • Toast your own sesame seeds if you have time; it takes five minutes in a dry pan and transforms the entire dressing from pleasant to sublime.
03 -
  • Buy your sesame oil from a place with high turnover; it goes rancid faster than you'd think, and fresh sesame oil is worth its weight in gold.
  • If you want extra crunch without adding more vegetables, toast some sesame seeds extra dark and sprinkle them on at the very end so they don't soften.
  • Cold sake, sparkling water with cucumber, or even a crisp white wine pairs beautifully with this if you're looking for a beverage companion.
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