Meet The Viral Japanese Seaweed

Aka Nori

And How To Use It In Cooking

Why is Nori Seaweed Suddenly Everywhere?

The internet's relationship with nori is thanks to the convergence of several food trends hitting the same ingredient at the same time.

Viral Japanese seaweed as a snack

The global seaweed snacks market is growing at a compound annual growth rate of over 11%. Roasted, lightly seasoned nori sheets are the most popular type of snack. It’s low in calories, high in umami, with a satisfying crunch, and the category is being promoted by social media influencers targeting health-conscious consumers across the West.

The sushi wrap trend

The viral folded sushi wraps, as seen on various reels and short-form videos, involve stuffing a nori sheet with sushi rice and fillings and folding it into a quarter-sandwich to replace carb-heavy wrappers made out of refined wheat. It barely takes much time to fix, is photogenic, and requires no special skill.

Plant-based cooking

For vegan and vegetarian eaters, nori is one of the very few plant-based sources of active vitamin B12, which is a nutrient almost exclusively found in animal products. The NIH has identified dried purple laver (nori) as the most suitable B12 source currently available from plant-derived foods for vegetarians.

Furikake and umami seasoning trends

The growing appetite for Japanese condiments, globally, has pushed furikake, a nori-and-sesame rice seasoning, into mainstream grocery stores and social media feeds. Where furikake goes, nori follows.

What Nori Seaweed Tastes Like

Nori has a specific flavour that is perfect for sushi and many other dishes:

• The base: Salty, with a crisp mineral quality from its ocean origin

• Depth: Rich, savoury umami that is persistent and not sharp

• The layers: A faint nuttiness that intensifies when toasted

• Aromatic: A mild flavour that is reminiscent of the ocean, which dissipates when the nori is added to dishes during cooking or after.

Because nori contains glutamic acid, which is the same compound responsible for the savoury depth of Parmesan, tomatoes, and miso, it acts as a flavour amplifier. Adding shredded nori to a broth, a sauce, or even scrambled eggs doesn't make the dish taste like seaweed; it makes it taste more like itself, deeper and more rounded. This is why Japanese cooks have been sprinkling nori over rice bowls, ramen, and noodles for centuries as a finishing seasoning rather than a primary ingredient. Roasting nori triggers the Maillard reaction, the proteins and sugars interacting under dry heat, which produces a range of new flavours. A nori sheet lightly toasted over a naked flame for 2-3 seconds per side and eaten immediately tastes noticeably different from an untoasted one.

The Nutrition of Japanese Nori

Nori is low in calories but nutrient-dense, with ten sheets (approximately 26 grams) containing only around 9 calories, making nori a guilt-free snack.

Key nutrients per 100g of dried nori:

• Protein is up to 30-40% by dry weight, which is higher than most plant sources, with a good essential amino acid profile

• Vitamin A (primarily as beta-carotene), plus vitamins C, E, K  and folate are also present, varying by the species), 

• Vitamin B12 is one of the only reliable plant-based sources of bioactive B12, which is significant for vegetarians and vegans

• Iodine is also present in nori, in a moderate amount, which is critical for thyroid function. Brown seaweeds like kombu have higher levels.

• Iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc and omega-3 fatty acids

• Antioxidants: Carotenoids and flavonoids; also contains Porphyra 334, a UV-absorbing compound unique to red algae or aka nori

A note on iodine: Nori's iodine levels, while beneficial for most people, might not have the same impact on people with thyroid conditions (specifically hyperthyroidism). For such sensitive groups, a doctor's consultation is advisable. A moderate consumption of 2-4 sheets, a few times a week, is safe.

The Different Forms of Nori (And When To Use Each)

• Yakinori are full roasted sheets, and are cut into a standard 21cm x 19cm sheet, used for sushi rolls, onigiri, and hand rolls. This is what most stores stock and is perfect for the base for making your own furikake or shredded nori.

• Ajitsuke nori are also nori sheets, but tend to be pre-seasoned with soy sauce, sesame oil, and salt. It is consumed as a snack or layered on rice. It is not meant for cooking or added to cooked dishes because of its flavour.

• Kizami nori refers to shredded nori, which is pre-cut into thin strips, sold in bags or jars. It is used as a garnish on hot ramen, cold noodles, rice bowls, and salads.

• Momi-nori is the crumbled form of nori, which is broken pieces of a nori sheet, making for a good garnish, and dissolves into dishes faster.

• Nori tsukudani is a unique one that is cooked down into a paste using soy sauce and mirin. The resulting paste is used as a rice condiment, on toast, or to add umami to sauces.

Seaweed snack sheets are similar to nori sheets, but smaller, thin and lightly seasoned. These are meant for snacking and not cooking.

How to Use Aka Nori in Cooking

Snacking, wrapping onigiris and being added to ramen bowls are what the average person might have seen nori seaweed sheets and their other forms being used for, but there are other ways to use it. 

As a Wrapper

A full yakinori sheet is the wrapper for sushi maki rolls, temaki (hand rolls), and onigiri. The viral folded sushi wrap, in which the sheet is cut from the centre to one edge, loaded with four fillings in four quadrants, then folded into a compact quarter, is the simplest one for anyone new to cooking with nori at home. Make sure to consume it immediately, and moisture tends to soften the nori.

As a Garnish and Seasoning

Kizami nori on noodles and rice: Thin, shredded strips of nori over a bowl of warm rice, ramen, cold soba, or udon add both visual contrast and a burst of umami. Cut full sheets into thin strips with scissors.

Crumbled nori on eggs: Tear and crumble a half-sheet over scrambled eggs, a fried egg on rice, or an omelette at the finish. The nori softens slightly from the heat and seasons the dish without making it taste like sushi.

Nori on avocado toast: A fast, contemporary application. Crumble a sheet of avocado on toast with a few drops of soy sauce and sesame seeds. The umami depth of the nori is the perfect partner to the avocado's richness.

As a Seasoning Mix (Furikake)

Furikake is a Japanese condiment which is built around nori. The base recipe is straightforward and requires no cooking:

Nori furikake (makes one small jar):

• 2 full sheets yakinori, cut into small pieces

• 1 tbsp white sesame seeds, toasted

• 1 tbsp black sesame seeds, toasted

• ¼ tsp caster sugar

• ¼ tsp fine salt

Mix all in a bowl, then transfer to a dry glass jar, for a maximum of 2 weeks. Sprinkle over steamed rice, noodles, roasted vegetables, grilled tofu, popcorn, or soups. If you want a more flavourful version, add dried bonito flakes (katsuobushi), dried shrimp, or some togarashi.

In Soups and Stocks

Nori dissolves partially in hot liquid, releasing its glutamates and deepening the base flavour of soups and broths without leaving visible pieces. Add half a sheet to a pot of miso soup, ramen broth, or vegetable stock while it simmers.

Nori dashi (quick stock): Tear 2-3 full sheets of nori and soak them in 600ml of water for 20 minutes at room temperature. Use this as the base for miso soup, noodle sauce, or a dipping sauce.

As a Snack

Toasted nori sheets are Japan's version of a bag of chips, which are snacked on with great relish. There are seasoned nori sheets available at Japanese stores, but you can make your own at home.

• Take a full yakinori sheet.

• Roast both sides quickly over your stovetop flame. You could also toast them in a dry pan for a few seconds on both sides. You will get crispier sheets.

• Break into pieces and eat immediately.

• For a seasoned version, brush one side with oil and some salt before roasting.

In Rice Dishes

Seaweed fried rice: In this recipe, crushed roasted nori is pan-fried before being mixed into the fried rice. Roasted or seasoned seaweed sheets are perfect here to add a pop of flavour to your usual fried rice.

Onigiri: Pack seasoned rice around a filling (pickled plum, tuna mayo, grilled salmon), wrap in a half-sheet of nori, and eat immediately or wrap in cling film for a packed lunch. Onigiris are at their best in the first 5-10 minutes.

Ways to Store Nori

Nori absorbs moisture from the air rapidly and loses its crispness quickly once a packet is opened. A few practical tips:

• Transfer the opened nori to an airtight container immediately

• Include the silica gel desiccant packet that comes in most nori packages, or add a food-safe one

• Store in a cool, dark place away from the stove or sink (high humidity zones)

• If nori has gone slightly soft, pass it briefly over a flame or in a dry pan to restore crispness before eating

• Do not refrigerate nori, as the moisture inside a refrigerator accelerates softening

Using Aka Nori Seaweed at Home

You might not be able to tell which version of nori you are getting at your local speciality Japanese store. But the uses remain the same. You can even try fusion dishes like curry or carbonara ramen, and turn nori sheets into furikake and use it over dishes that share umami, like pasta, mushroom dishes and more.