Life evolved from single-celled creatures living in the nutrient-rich ocean. Seaweeds concentrate these nutrients, and when you make soup that includes seaweed, you are nourishing your body’s inner ocean that is around and in the cells of your body. The Seaweed Soup Mix offered at theseaweedman.com is a chopped blend that is 60% laminaria digitata kelp (similar to Japanese kombu used to make dashi, a delicious soup broth), 25% alaria esculenta (similar to Japanese wakame), and 15% laminaria longicruris, a delicate Maine kelp. This is the blend that I use in my own kitchen. I serve soup several times a week. After all, our bodies are mostly water, and we transact with seaweed and veggies at the level of water. Here is a recipe:
I start by filling a four quart soup pot half full of water. I turn on the heat and add four tablespoons of Seaweed Soup Mix. I add three tablespoons of rice or barley. I add a couple of slices of ginger root. I add three dried shitake mushrooms. I peel a few cloves of garlic and toss them in. When the pot comes to a boil, I turn down the heat. When the mushrooms have rehydrated, I remove them to cool, and then I slice them and return them to the soup pot. In a separate pan, I saute’ a medium size sliced onion with liberal sprinkles of thyme. I like to use sesame oil or coconut oil. When the onion slices are golden, I set them aside. I slice root crops like carrots, parsnips, rutabaga, beets, and turnips. When the grain is al dente (soft enough to chew), I add the root crops. If I want a sweeter soup, I might add a few slices of delicata squash and some cut sweet corn. (In midsummer, I would add cut string beans and summer squash.) During the last three minutes of cooking, I add greens like parsley and kale, and I add the saute’d onions. I season with Eden organic shoyu soy sauce (no alcohol) and sometimes a dash of cayenne. I serve up the soup with a topping of fresh parsley and/or chopped chives. When I reheat this soup on the second day, I add more parsley. The seaweed creates a rich creamy broth that boosts the savory flavors of this soup. Yum!
8 thoughts on “Veggie Soup with Seaweed Soup Mix”
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Sounds delicious!
Dear Larch,
Have you considered selling this seaweed soup mix in smaller sizes? Three pounds is too much for me. I already have 1 pound of your kelp and I’m the only one eating it since my husband won’t touch it.
I enjoy your writings and pictures. Happy (belated) birthday!
Rosemarie, if you email me at hanson.larch@gmail.com we can customize an order for you.
Larch,
Thanks for the wonderful soup recipe. I’m anxious to try it.
Peace,
Rich
Dear Larch:
Thank you SO much for your recipes, “Veggie Soup with Seaweed Soup Mix” and “Sea Gypsy Soup.” I intend to try both within the next week or so. My favorite stepdaughter is visiting from Epsom, NH (we are just outside of Myrtle Beach, SC), and we both love nature’s bounty. You may remember my lifelong connection to Mother Ocean.
I am assuming (in the case of the Sea Gypsy Soup) that when you say “DO IT!!!” you mean mash up the sweet potatoes? Do let me know!
I will be picking up the ingredients I do not have yet to try this soon. I’ll let you know how it comes out.
Wishing you a wonderful Holiday Season and a Happy and Healthy New Year.
Carole Mannion
Longs, SC
Hello
I was wondering…you seem like the person who’d know: is Dashi not toxic due to the bonito contains high levels of mercury. Maybe i’m wrong. I hope I am wrong, because I love the taste of dashi.
Hi Kirsty,
When I use the term Dashi, I don’t include bonito flakes in the recipe. When I cook, I use local white-fleshed fish like haddock and cod that are low on the food chain. Mercury tends to collect in the fatty tissue of red-fleshed fish that are high on the food chain. Thus I avoid tuna and swordfish, the oldest carnivores in the food chain.
Aum Larch!
I received your Seaweed Soup Mix and just made my second soup! Yay! I’ve recently coming back to cooking after being on the road for years so Thank you for Harvesting my Inspiration in the form of Seaweed, the first thing in years that I’ve cooked beyond a boiled egg or two… So! My first try last Sunday was a combo improv of your Sea Gypsy with your Peaceful Soup guidance & it was a success! Inspiring me to have Sunday Soup day in my house now. Today, 2nd Sunday Soup I made up more of a Spring Greens Seaweed soup with your Peaceful Soup guide lines steering my soup making boat ! Yay again I was deeply moved by just the seaweed slowly steeping in water making the most beautiful mucilaginous broth & then I added just ginger & after some slow steeping ~ WOWzers! I feel I could have just stopped there & been fully nourished & satisfied – 10,000 Thank you’s Larch ✨?????✨