Recipe Inspiration

Hijiki is a distinctive jet-black sea vegetable that grows on the ocean floor in long thin strands. It is most widely popular as an ingredient in Japanese cuisine. It is naturally rich in flavour with a delicate texture. Its colour contrasts beautifully with other vibrant ingredients and works wonderfully well when combined with grains and other vegetables.

Shira-ae is a tofu-based dish, usually with some boiled green vegetables and sea vegetables, either hijiki or arame. This recipe explains how to cook the hijiki and to mix it with the shira-ae sauce. Hijiki can sometimes look a bit scary as its strands of black, so mixing it with this creamy tofu sauce makes it easier for someone new to adding sea vegetables to your meals. You can swap the edamame beans with blanched or fresh spinach or just have it plain.

Hijiki is a distinctive jet-black sea vegetable that grows on the ocean floor in long thin strands. It is most widely popular as an ingredient in Japanese cuisine. It is naturally rich in flavour with a delicate texture. Its colour contrasts beautifully with other vibrant ingredients and works wonderfully well when combined with grains and other vegetables.