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Mozuku-zu
Seaweed in sweet vinegar
Mozuku-zu (もずく酢): Okinawan mozuku seaweed in a light sweet vinegar with grated ginger
In Okinawa, where most of Japan's mozuku is farmed, a small bowl of mozuku-zu starts many a home supper and izakaya meal, especially in the hot months. The fine, slippery strands of seaweed are rinsed of their salt and served cold in a gentle dressing of rice vinegar, a little sugar and soy, topped with grated ginger, so it tastes clean, sour and of the sea. Shop versions often use bonito dashi; this one uses kombu dashi, so it is vegan. It is very light, with less than 1 g of protein a portion, so it belongs alongside a tofu dish and rice rather than as a main. The most common mistake is not rinsing salted mozuku enough: it needs two or three changes of water or the dish turns harsh. Chef's tip: chill the dressing and the bowls well; mozuku-zu should be served icy cold.
- Total time
- 10 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 7 oz salted mozuku seaweedor fresh mozuku
- ¾ in fresh gingerpeeled and finely grated
- ½ cucumber (optional)optional, cut into fine matchsticks
For the dressing
- ¼ cup kombu dashicold
- ¼ cup rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 2 tsp light soy sauce
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Put 7 oz salted mozuku seaweed in a bowl of cold water, swish it around and drain. Repeat two or three times, until a strand tastes only mildly salty. Drain well.
Step 2: Stir ¼ cup kombu dashi, ¼ cup rice vinegar, 1 tbsp sugar and 2 tsp light soy sauce together until the sugar dissolves. Chill for 10 minutes if you have time.
Step 3: Cut the mozuku into 5 cm lengths with scissors if the strands are very long, then divide between small chilled bowls with ½ cucumber, if using.
Step 4: Pour the dressing over and top each bowl with a little ¾ in fresh ginger. Serve cold.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 25 kcal
- Protein
- 1 g
- Carbs
- 5 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does mozuku-zu take?
- About 10 minutes in total.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- What can I use instead of fresh ginger?
- ¼ tsp ground ginger per tbsp fresh (add it with the spices).
- What can I use instead of rice vinegar?
- Cider vinegar with a pinch of sugar, same amount.
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