7 Best Wakame Seaweed Substitutes from the Scratch

If you’re looking for delicious and nutritious seaweed to add to your meals, wakame seaweed may be a good option for you. 

However, is there a substitute for wakame? If you’re unable to find or don’t have access to wakame seaweed, there are some great substitutes that you can use instead. 

Check out these wakame substitutes, including Nori, Arame, and more seaweed, and start adding more healthy and flavorful seafood into your diet today!

What type of seaweed is wakame?

Wakame is a popular brown seaweed and can be found dried in Asian supermarkets. It’s sold dried and has to be soaked before it’s eaten. It has a delicious umami flavor and is one of the most common seaweeds used in Japanese cooking.

What is dried wakame? What is Korean for Wakame?

Dried wakame is most often used in miso soup. It’s sold in small packages of dried sheets or strips and looks like kelp or nori. 

It’s best to soak it first in water before adding it to miso soup. Depending on the recipe, you may blanch the dried wakame before adding it to broth or cook it in broth before adding other ingredients.

Besides miso soup (which is often eaten in the winter), it’s also used in nabemono and noodle dishes.

What does wakame taste like? 

Dried wakame is more subtle in flavor than seaweed, which tends to be a bit stronger.

What can I use instead of wakame? 6 Wakame Substitutes

Wakame is just one type of seaweed commonly used in Asian cooking. Still, many different seaweed types are available, and most can be used interchangeably. 

Seaweed is an essential part of Asian cuisine in Japan and Korea. It offers a wide variety of health benefits.

It’s tough to provide an exact list of seaweeds that can be substituted for wakame since the list is so extensive. 

Keep Reading to more…

1. KELP- Perfect Substitute for Wakame Seaweed

Kelp is a form of seaweed that has long been used as a replacement for Wakame Seaweed.

Kelp is high in iodine, magnesium, and calcium. It is also a suitable vitamin C, folate, and dietary fiber source. Kelp has been known to help improve cardiovascular health, regulate blood sugar levels, and promote weight loss.

Kelp is a type of seaweed that can be eaten or used as a dietary supplement, or you can either add it to your food or take it in pill form. 

Kelp can also be used to make seaweed salad or broth. It can be used to flavor foods or as a thickening agent. Kelp is also sometimes referred to as kombu, which is another name for kelp.

2. KOMBU/KONBU A Easy Wakame Substitute

Kombu, or Konbu, is a seaweed commonly used in Japanese cooking. It owns a chewy texture and a somewhat salty flavor. Kombu can be used to make broth or added to dishes like sushi or soup.

Konbu is an excellent alternate for Wakame, another type of seaweed. Wakame has a mild flavor and a soft texture. 

It’s frequently used in soups and salads. Konbu has a similar flavor and texture to Wakame and can be used in dishes as a substitute.

Read More- You may also Check Best Kombu Alternatives 

3. LAVERBREAD Good Replacement for Wakame 

Laverbread is a Welsh dish made from laverbread and cockles. Laverbread is a good sub for wakame in sushi rolls. It has a similar texture and flavor, and it’s also a good source of protein.

Laverbread is traditionally made by boiling the seaweed and then mashing it to form a thick paste. It’s often fried with onions and oatmeal to make Welsh cakes (Laverbread is sometimes wrongly called “Welsh lasagna” in English, but it’s not the same).

Laverbread is considered a delicacy among the Welsh, but it doesn’t have to be expensive. One way of making this cheap is to make it yourself.

Cooking laverbread is simple if you follow these steps.

First, boil the seaweed in salted water for 10 minutes (don’t overcook it as you want it to retain some crunchiness). 

After this, drain the liquid and mince the seaweed in a food processor. The laverbread is ready and can be used immediately in sushi or frozen for later use.

4. ALARIA – Similar to Wakame Seaweed

Alaria is a type of seaweed that is similar to Wakame Seaweed. It has a slightly sweet and nutty taste and can be used in many same ways as Wakame Seaweed. Alaria is also a good source of iron, calcium, and magnesium.

Alaria can be used in salads, soups, and other dishes that call for Wakame Seaweed. It also can be rehydrated and eaten as a snack.

Alaria is the scientific name for the seaweed used in Japan from ancient times. It is a dark green, leafy form of seaweed that grows in clusters and resembles rabbits’ ears. It has been consumed in Japan for hundreds of years, mainly in Nagano Prefecture.

5.SEA GRAPES Decent Alternative to Wakame 

Seagrapes are a type of seaweed that has a sweet and salty taste. They are a good stand-in for Wakame Seaweed in sushi rolls. 

Seagrapes are a rich source of minerals, including iodine, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. They also contain vitamins and antioxidants.

To use sea grapes as a dietary supplement, you can either add them to your food or take them in pill form. 

Seagrapes are also used to make seaweed salad or broth. It can be used to flavor foods or as a thickening agent.

Seagrapes are used to make various dishes, including salads, sashimi, sushi rolls, cooked vegetables, and pasta. 

Seagrape syrup is often used as a garnish on some desserts. You can also find it as an ingredient in some health drinks and cocktails.

6. Try ARAME Instead of Wakame Seaweed

Arame is a type of seaweed that is often used in Japanese cuisine. It has a mild flavor and a slightly chewy texture. Arame can be used to make broth or added to dishes like sushi or soup.

Arame is an excellent substitute for Wakame, another type of seaweed. 

Wakame has a mild flavor and a soft texture. It is often used in soups and salads. 

Arame has a similar flavor and texture to Wakame, so it can be used as a substitute in recipes.

To prepare Arame, rinse it in cold water. Then soak the Arame in clean water for four hours. After soaking, drain and rinse it again. Arame can be eaten raw, but many people recommend cooking the seaweed.

7. IRISH MOSS Alternative to Wakame 

Irish moss is one of the most famous substitutes for wakame with home cooks. Whether you’re vegan or vegetarian, adding a small amount of Irish moss to your cooking can help you take in valuable nutrients like calcium, iodine, and magnesium.

Read More- Ideal Bonito Flakes Substitutes

Wakame substitute for miso soup

I was searching for a substitute for miso soup. After trying various things, I came up with the following recipe.

The taste is somewhat different, but I think it is a healthy substitute.

Ingredients: 

2 cups dashi, 1/4 cup wakame powder dissolved in 1/2 cup hot water, 4 Tbs soy sauce (or more), 1 Tbs mirin (sweet sake), 2 Tbs. sake or shochu (or more), 2 Tbs. maple syrup, 1 clove of garlic

Direction:

1. Combine the dashi with the mirin and sake. Put the garlic in a pot and boil it for about 5 minutes. Drain the water from the wakame powder, add it to the pot, and bring it to a boil. 

2. Add the soy sauce and maple syrup, then take the pot off the heat. Serve in four bowls.

This is my own recipe with some references to recipes from others. There are several opinions about the role of wakame, one being that it is mainly a garnish, not the main ingredient. 

I wanted to make a soup with wakame as a primary ingredient, and my research led me to believe that it would be boiled in water, not in dashi. 

I’ve also seen the proportion of 10 parts water to 1 part wakame, so I decided to add the powder directly into the pot and then dilute it with water.

When the wakame had melted, I added the dashi, which is a kind of miso soup with wakame instead of kombu. I think it’s a very healthy substitute. I used the dashi because it is suitable for vegetables, and to make a complete meal, I added tofu.

This soup is meant to be consumed hot, so I used 4 small bowls instead of 1 large one. 

It becomes very thick when it cools down, almost like chewing gum (this is especially true if you use shochu instead of sake).

The color was much lighter than expected, thicker than usual miso soup. The taste is somewhat different, but I think it is a healthy substitute.

Dried wakame seaweed substitutes

Dried Wakame Seaweed Substitute is a great product to have on hand when you’re looking for a healthy snack or an easy way to add some extra nutrients to your meal. 

Wakame is seaweed high in iodine, calcium, and iron, and it has a delicious, slightly salty flavor. 

Dried Wakame Seaweed has a long shelf life and can be enjoyed as is or crumbled into soups, stews, or salads.

Dried Wakame Seaweed is a great way to add some extra flavor and nutrients to your meal. 

Dried Wakame Seaweed makes it easy if your family is pushing to eat healthier this year! With almost no preparation, you can add this seaweed to many of your meals. 

· Try sprinkling some over-baked potatoes or eggs for a delicious breakfast, or crumble it right into your soup pot. 

· Dried Wakame Seaweed is also a great way to add some flavor and nutrients to your meal without adding many calories.

· If you’ve ever desired to make sushi at home, Dried Wakame Seaweed is a key ingredient in many sushi recipes. 

· It adds a great salty flavor and gives the dish much-needed texture. Many people add Dried Wakame Seaweed to their stir fry or use it as a salad topping.

Dried Wakame Seaweed has many uses, but one of the best is adding some flavor and nutrients to your meals. Try sprinkling it over baked potatoes, eggs, or soup for a delicious breakfast.

What is wakame salad made of?

Wakame salad is a popular health food in the Madeira and Hawaii islands. It consists of dried wakame seaweed and can be served with a dressing made of soy sauce and sesame oil. 

Besides, it can be mixed with other vegetables such as carrots, cucumber, and green onions.

Wakame salads are rich in minerals that boost immunity and keep our bodies healthy. They are a good source of vitamin K, which is essential for a strong and healthy bone system. 

Moreover, they contain magnesium, essential for muscle and bones health.

Are seaweed and wakame the same?

Are seaweed and wakame the same? No. 

Wakame is a type of seaweed found in Japanese, Korean and Chinese cuisine, whereas seaweed is the term taught to us in Western cooking. 

Both are excellent iodine, calcium, and iron sources, but that’s just about the only thing they have in common.

Let’s take a look at some of the key differences between these two popular ingredients:

Appearance

Wakame is an olive green color, whereas seaweed typically is dark green to reddish in color.

Texture & Taste

Wakame has a slightly chewy texture and a delicate flavor. Seaweed, on the other hand, has a crunchy texture and tastes like the sea.

Sushi & Miso Soup?

You may have seen wakame in miso soup, but it is definitely NOT authentic to use wakame in sushi. On the other hand, seaweed has been used quite often in sushi for a century now.

Can I use kombu instead of wakame in miso soup?

So you’re looking to make a vegan miso soup, do you go with the kombu or wakame? In most cases, the latter is not always clear-cut.

Both kombu and wakame came from the sea, so they’re pretty similar. They’re both made of seaweed that has been dried, packaged, and sealed to be preserved for a long time. 

Both are soft, most often black or brown in color, and are the broadleaf seaweed variety.

The flavor profiles of each are a little different, however. 

Wakame is more subtle and tends to be a bit sweeter than kombu. It’s also less dense and has higher water content. 

Kombu is more intense, with a slightly fishy flavor that can overpower the soup it’s in if you’re not careful. It’s a somewhat thicker, more rubbery texture.

If you’re going for a soup that will stand up to the intensity of kombu, such as miso soup, your best bet is to go with wakame. Go with kombu if you’re looking for a subtle, almost sweet flavor.

Both are used as a flavoring for seaweed salads and soups, but if you’re looking for a more subtle flavor, kombu is the way to go.

Whichever you choose, make sure you take care while removing either kombu or wakame from their packaging. Both are very delicate and can tear easily, so you’ll want to use a sharp knife to separate the pieces from their packaging.

Kombu VS Nori VS Wakame VS Kelp

Kombu, nori, wakame, and kelp are four types of seaweed that you may find in your local grocery store. 

All four are different, but people use all four for the same purpose: adding a bit of flavor to their food.

In fact, you have probably been eating seaweed without being aware of it for years! If you have ever eaten sushi or a seaweed salad, then you have been eating seaweed. In fact, some people eat seaweed every single day!

In traditional Japanese cuisine, seaweed goes by the name “nori.” Korean and other Asian cuisines are called “gim” or “Kim.”

It is believed that dashi and wakame share many of the same characteristics. However, it is not wakame but konbu with the highest glutamic acid concentration. 

Wakame is just one of the ingredients used to make dashi, including katsuobushi and konbu.

Wakame is often mistaken for nori (seaweed used to wrap sushi), but wakame is actually a species of kelp (seaweed). 

It has very long, thin blades; thicker, softer, and more elastic than nori. Wakame has a fresh, salty taste that lends itself to being one of the ingredients in miso soup and some varieties of chawanmushi (an egg custard dish).

-Kombu 

This is probably the most known seaweed.

It is also called “Dashi Kombu,” which means Kombu is used as “Dashi” (Japanese stock). And Dashi is often used as a base of Japanese dishes.

So if you make Miso Soup, Ramen, or any kind of Japanese stew, you use this seaweed as a base for its taste. (However, if you use too much, the soup will be very strong.)

-Nori

This is probably the second most known seaweed.

It is also called “Laver,” which is a type of edible seaweed in the family Porphyra.

This seaweed is sold as a sheet, and its green color comes from Monascus purpureus fermentation.

It is generally toasted for use as a condiment or eaten as a snack. Its most common usage is rolling Sushi.

-Wakame

It is one of the most common seaweeds to make Japanese dishes. Just like Kombu, it is used as stock, boiled, or blanched.

There are many kinds of wakame. The most common one is the “Mekabu,” a very thin stem. 

It has many other names like Haidai, Shibitake, or Hoshi Wakame.

-Kelp

One of the most commonly used ingredients in the preparation of Japanese stock. It has a mellow flavor, and it is very chewy. It is rich in minerals and Vitamin B12.

Wrap Up On Substitutes for Wakame Seaweed

Wakame is a seaweed that’s often served in soups or salads. You can make your own wakame salad by soaking the dried seaweed for about ten minutes, then adding it to vegetables like cucumbers and carrots. 

But you don’t need to restrict yourself to just one option! 

Other substitutes for traditional wakame include kelp noodles, kombu (seaweed), sea lettuce, nori sheets made from algae found near Japan’s shores, and different types of fresh leafy greens such as spinach leaves or green cabbage. 

All these options are healthy choices that should add flavor and texture while also boosting your health with nutrients like calcium, magnesium, and iron!

FAQs Related to Wakame Seaweed and Its Alternatives