Himanthalia Elongata is a form of seaweed that can be used in place of pasta for a healthier and well-rounded entrée. Himanthalia Elongata is also referred to as “sea spaghetti.”
What Is Himanthalia Elongata?
When you decide to make some changes in your health and the way that you eat, you need to find solutions that either replace the meals that you love, or that are comparable in flavor. One of the biggest things that carbohydrate fanatics miss is pasta, which can be hard to find the right replacement. Whole wheat noodles are often incredibly chewy, and that’s not the satisfying texture you want. If you’ve tried other options, you may want to consider Himanthalia Elongata.
Himanthalia Elongata (“sea spaghetti”) is one of the many types of seaweed, featuring much of the same nutritional benefits of kelp, nori, and wakame. In Japanese culture, seaweed is a very prominent ingredient, so it makes sense that Himanthalia Elongata is a major part of their culture. However, Irish cuisine is another one of the cultures that incorporates this unique ingredient.
In a natural environment, these bundles grow as large brown seaweeds and can reach lengths of 3 meters long. The dense texture can form mats along the short, expanding across large beaches. The young shoots are completely safe to eat fresh and uncooked, and feature a taste that is similar to asparagus. The shoots extend from small, button-like structures. They split over and over again until they form the large tangle of seaweeds that are Himanthalia Elongata.
Right now, the only way that you can find seaweed is in the Atlantic Ocean, stretching from Portugal to Norway, and also around the British Isles. However, you don’t have to harvest it yourself. You can save yourself a long plane ride and a lot of time by purchasing it online or from a specialty store.
Nutritional Benefits Of Himanthalia Elongata
There are a variety of different ways that Himanthalia Elongata can benefit your body. The biggest nutrient you will find in Himanthalia Elongata is magnesium, which is absolutely essential for having a healthy heart. In each serving of this delicious seaweed, you get:
- 10 grams of protein
- 5 grams of carbohydrates
- 7 grams of fat
- 5 grams of fiber
The only downside about this food is that the sodium level is extremely high (3,620mg), which is above the daily amount recommended for the average adult. Make sure you drink a lot of water and wash the seaweed properly to balance out this salty dish.
Himanthalia Elongata actually less nutritious than most other types of seaweed, but it still is a valid source of vitamins and minerals in your diet. It also contains polysaccharides, which help to strengthen your immune system.
In addition to the standard nutritional information, here are a few other benefits of consuming any type of seaweed:
- It fights viral and bacterial infections.
- It helps to treat and limit inflammation.
- Some studies link it to lowering your risk of cancer in parts of your body that are affected by estrogen.
- It helps to maintain a healthy thyroid.
Even if it’s not the best seaweed available, you can’t doubt all the benefits that it gives the human body.
How to Prepare Himanthalia Elongata
Himanthalia Elongata is actually fairly easy to prepare, requiring very little changes from your normal preparation whilst cooking noodles. Before you cook the “pasta,” you will need to rinse it off. After it has been rinsed, you can add it to boiling water, cooking it for up to 10 minutes. After, drain out the excess water. At this point, you can choose to add flavor, add it to another dish, or eat it on its own.
The most preferred texture during preparation is “al dente,” so you want to avoid overcooking the Himanthalia Elongata, which can ruin the texture.
The taste of Himanthalia Elongata is fairly mild, which is great for adding different sauces and dressings for an entrée or a side dish. However, it is crunchy if uncooked. The best way to get the most out of the flavor is by using it rehydrated, quickly stir-fried with garlic until bright green, according to many sources. All you might need is a little lemon or lime juice to top it off.
Where Can You Get Himanthalia Elongata
Himanthalia Elongata is fairly easy to bring into your own kitchen, if you know where to look. Many health food stores and seafood counters offer this type of seaweed. However, the easiest way to find products like these is through on online store, like Amazon.com. Some of the top choices from Amazon include:
- Brittany Sea Salt Sea Spaghetti™ Seaweed ($8.46)
- ATLANTIC KITCHEN Organic Wildcrafted Sea Spaghetti ($16.73)
- Filotea Egg Spaghetti Pasta ($11.06)
Himanthalia Elongata Review Conclusion
Himanthalia Elongata is a delicious dish, if you enjoy the taste of seaweed. However, due to the way it is packaged and sold, you are able to basically make it taste like anything you can imagine with the right seasoning. Since it is rich with nutritional value, you might want to take a chance on this mystery food.
