Exploring the Culinary Uses of Sea Moss: Vegan Recipe Ideas

Sea moss gel, made using the sea-based superfood sea moss, has become extremely famous for its various health advantages. Although the health benefits of sea moss gel are quite well-known, many people are curious about how to include this seaweed in their regular diet. So, in today’s article, we’ll discuss the many culinary potentials of sea moss gel in vegan diets.

Incorporating Sea Moss Gel in Vegan Recipes

A great benefit of sea moss gel is its ability to be used in various ways in cooking. You can easily incorporate it into a variety of sweet and savory dishes from blending fruits and vegetables into smoothies and soups to incorporating them into desserts and sauces.

Moreover, including this nutrient-dense seafood in your vegan diet helps ensure you meet all your nutritional requirements and don’t suffer from nutrient deficiencies.

Here are a few vegan recipe ideas using sea moss gel!

Thickening Agent in Soups 

A major obstacle in vegan cooking is sourcing appropriate plant-based substitutes for ingredients that come from animals, such as gelatin which is used as a thickening agent in baking and soups.

This is where sea moss serves as a great plant-based substitute. Soaking and blending dried sea moss creates a gel without taste or odor, similar to gelatin, enhancing vegan cooking and baking options.

Sea moss gel is capable of thickening soups and sauces and producing a gelatin-like consistency, all without the need for animal-derived ingredients!

Here is a simple vegan soup recipe incorporating sea moss gel:

Ingredients:

• One chopped onion
• Two minced cloves of garlic
• Three chopped carrots
• Two chopped stalks of celery
• One chopped zucchini 
• Four cups of vegetable broth
• Two tablespoons of sea moss gel

Instructions:

1. Cook onion and garlic until they become translucent.
2. Add the carrots, celery, and zucchini, and cook for a few more minutes.
3. Add the vegetable broth and heat the mixture until it boils. Next, lower the temperature and allow it to cook gently until the vegetables are soft.
4. Mix the sea moss gel with the soup until it dissolves completely.
   Season with salt and pepper.

You can add more vegetables as per your preference and the season!

Drinks and Smoothies

One simple and widely used method to include sea moss gel in a vegan diet is incorporating it into smoothies and juices. Its subtle flavor allows for easy incorporation, while its thickening abilities result in a velvety and creamy consistency. It's also an excellent way to add more nutrients to your beverage!

Typically, using one to two tablespoons of sea moss gel in each smoothie or juice is a suitable and effective amount. Below are two simple sea moss beverage recipes that are suitable for vegans to experiment with:

Tropical Sea Moss Smoothie

Blend one cup of almond milk, a single banana, half a cup of frozen mango, half a cup of frozen pineapple, and one to two tablespoons of sea moss gel. Mix until creamy and savor this fruity treat to beat the summer heat!

Green Sea Moss Juice

Blend one cup of fresh spinach, one green apple, half a cucumber, lemon juice, one to two tablespoons of sea moss gel, and one cup of water in a blender. Mix thoroughly until creamy and enjoy this revitalizing, nutrient-packed smoothie.

Desserts

Whether you're preparing a pudding, mousse, cheesecake, or ice cream, sea moss gel can be used as a base or thickener. Typically, the quantity needed will vary based on the type of dessert and the preferred thickness.

Here’s how to prepare a delicious vegan chocolate sea moss pudding:

Ingredients:

• Two cups of almond milk
• Half a cup of cocoa powder
• One-fourth cup of vegan sweetener (e.g. maple syrup)
• Half a cup of sea moss gel
• A pinch of salt
• One teaspoon of vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Blend all the components until they are smooth and creamy.
2. Transfer the mixture to separate serving dishes and chill for a minimum of two hours or until the pudding has solidified.
3. Top with a spoonful of whipped cream and a dusting of dark chocolate shavings before serving.

Final Thoughts