Seaweed has been a part of the human weight loss program for a very long time. In Asia, its consumption is effectively established in culinary traditions. Think of the well-known dashi, the flavourful Japanese broth.
While much less identified within the West, algae is a conventional meals supply in some coastal areas of Iceland, Ireland, France, Denmark, Norway, the United States and Canada.
About fifty sorts of algae are consumed worldwide. The commonest varieties accessible commercially embody nori (used for sushi), dulse, sea beans or spaghetti, sea lettuce, wakame and Atlantic wakame, sea fern, and royal kombu (sea lasagna).
Many of those seaweeds are current within the St. Lawrence River.
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Their abundance, versatility and high quality makes this useful resource an actual asset for Quebec. An asset that completely have to be found.
I’ve been within the potential of seaweed and its growth in meals for a dozen years. My analysis actions give attention to the research of St. Lawrence algae and their elements. Recently, our analysis crew at Laval University’s Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods investigated the gastronomic potential of dashi from Quebec seaweed.
Algae from the Saint Lawrence
Large seaweed reside in salt waters, on the coasts of oceans, seas and rivers. They fluctuate significantly in measurement, form and color. Marine algae are categorised by their color in line with the pigments they comprise: inexperienced, brown, purple.
Quebec’s chilly waters are beneficial to their development. Extremely low ranges of air pollution from industrial or city sources in some locations is an asset. Culturing actions might be performed with out issues linked to the buildup of heavy metals or pathogenic microorganisms (which may trigger illness).
With its 6,000 km of shoreline, unfold over the Gaspe, North Shore and Lower St. Lawrence areas, the maritime estuary and the Gulf are residence to 346 species of algae. Fifteen of those are licensed “Fourchette bleue” or Blue Fork 2022, a Quebec certification that goals to introduce new marine merchandise to the general public whereas additionally supporting sustainable use of the useful resource.
Seaweed is obtainable in several types, both recent, dried, blanched, frozen, in flakes or spices, and generally already processed (ready-to-eat like pesto, relish, tartar combination). The integration of St. Lawrence algae into widespread merchandise comparable to salad dressings, bread, beer, chocolate, cheese, yogurt, salt and spices, for instance within the Gaspe or the Lower St. Lawrence, is changing into more and more common.
In eating places, cooks are additionally mastering Quebec’s seaweed: it encourages them to revisit conventional recipes and break new culinary grounds.
The well being advantages of seaweed
These sea greens comprise fiber, protein, nutritional vitamins and minerals, which make them enticing from a dietary standpoint and as prevention in opposition to sure illnesses, comparable to weight problems. There is due to this fact a rising curiosity in together with them into the weight loss program.
In addition to the will to eat healthily, the locavore motion (which raises consciousness of the worth of sustainable native sources), the promotion of native merchandise, gourmand and culinary innovation are additionally inspiring the introduction of seaweed in our plates. The commonest are utilized in sushi, salads, soups, even in desserts or as seasoning and flavour enhancers.
The style of seaweed
Phycogastronomy (scientific gourmand seaweed delicacies) has now emerged to develop a collaborative method between researchers {and professional} cooks. Its objective is to help culinary creations primarily based on a scientific foundation, and to encourage algae consuming among the many common public.
Consumer acceptance of those new algae merchandise, nonetheless, is dependent upon their organoleptic properties, specifically aroma, style and a mix of the 2 – flavour.
Seaweed has very particular flavour produced by minerals, sugars and plenty of unstable natural compounds. This style is carefully associated to the umami flavour, which is known as the fifth flavour along with the opposite 4 identified tastes (acid, candy, salty, bitter).
Amino acid compounds, comparable to glutamate and aspartate in addition to substances derived from nucleic acids dissolved within the cells of some algae, particularly nori, are a supply of umami flavour.
Glutamate, an amino acid naturally present in meals, is a flavour enhancer in cooking. It is current in parmesan cheese, ripe tomatoes, and in addition in fish and soy sauce. Some algae species, particularly kombu and a number of other different brown algae, have a powerful iodine style. Along with iodine, potassium and sodium additionally present a marine style. Sweet kelp (royal kombu) accommodates a sugar, mannitol, which provides it its attribute delicate and candy style.
Algae may also launch odours or reveal flavours related to unstable natural compounds. There are widespread descriptions of seaweed aromas (marine, sulfur, vegetable, woody, spicy), that are related to a number of compounds. As sensory traits are linked to shopper acceptance of a meals, many research are exploring the flavours of algae, and the impression of their inclusion in a weight loss program.
Dashi made with Quebec seaweed
One of essentially the most well-known seaweed dishes is a Japanese specialty referred to as dashi, which is a soup broth constructed from Japanese kombu seaweed.
Dashi is an excellent consultant of the umami style as its cooking course of leads to the extraction of a considerable amount of glutamate. In our analysis to provide a Quebec dashi, we chosen two seaweeds due to their historical past of consumption, availability and culinary curiosity: purple dulse (sea bacon) and brown royal kombu (sea lasagna).
Broth manufacturing was monitored at totally different temperatures and cooking occasions. It was analyzed for its chemical composition (minerals, proteins and carbohydrates) in addition to for its sensory physico-chemical sensory traits (shade, texture, umami compounds and unstable natural compounds).
Results confirmed that algae vitamins have been preserved within the broths. Those constructed from sea lasagna have been extra vibrant, richer in minerals, and had salty, marine and vegetable flavours.
The dulse broths have been thicker with the next quantity of carbohydrates, and had candy, fruity, herbaceous aromas, and an fascinating umami flavour potential.
Dulse is due to this fact the seaweed that produced a dashi that was extra various in aromas and wealthy in umami flavours.
Consumers are intrigued by the concept of consuming St. Lawrence seaweed and are curious to be taught extra about its origin. Seaweed can thus earn a spot on menus, and sooner or later may have an excellent greater presence in our every day meals.
Author: Lucie Beaulieu – Professeure en Sciences des aliments, Universit Laval 