18 Best Seaweed Substitutes You Can Try! 

Want to make your dish a superfood? Seaweed is there for you. Oh, you don’t have any left. If the answer is no, find a substitute. Don’t worry; I made a list for you. Just read the article.

Some seaweed substitutes you can try are rice papers, soy wraps, shiso, omelets, lettuce, dry ham, spinach, and cucumber wraps.

Seaweed is a sea vegetable with a salty and metallic taste. It ranges from red to black, gold, and green. You can describe its flavor as similar to iodine combined with fish oil.

Seaweed is an excellent addition to your diet because it contains iodine, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, sodium, potassium, and chlorine.

There are various kinds of edible seaweed, including wakame and nori.

You can use dried seaweed in stocks, whereas fresh seaweed alongside seafood or soup.

Note: Eating seaweed three times per week is recommended. 

18 Best Seaweed Substitutes 

Here is a list of seaweed substitutes you can use next time you cook.

1. Rice Paper

The best seaweed substitute you can try is rice paper. You can find it at any store nearby. If you enjoy Thai and Vietnamese food, you may already have it in your pantry.

Rice paper is a translucent edible “paper” consisting of white rice flour, tapioca flour, salt, and water with a chewy texture.

To use rice paper as a substitute, you need to soak it in water for a few seconds before you add veggies, meat, and omelet and wrap them tightly.

Note: Rice paper has a more chewy texture that you might grow to like even more.

2. Soy Wraps

Who doesn’t like beautiful-looking food? If you want to look at your sushi or hand rolls a colorful bliss, soy wraps are for you. It is available in green, orange, pink, yellow, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, and chili.

It is a vegan alternative and is similar to rice paper. Although it is delicious, it has a distinct soy flavor. You can use any recipes which require seaweed.

Note: They didn’t naturally have such a rich flavor, so you needed to season them properly.  

3. Tofu Skin

To use it as a substitute for seaweed, take water-soaked thin sliced tofu r, and add it to your stir-fried vegetables or noodles. It is a plant-based protein with a chewy texture and a slightly salty flavor.

You can use it to give a flavorful twist to your salads, soups, and tempura. If you love Japanese cuisine, tofu will be in your pantry and can be used as an alternative to seaweed.

4. Lettuce 

If you have lettuce in your fridge, grab it and use it as a substitute for seaweed. It is a good substitute as it doesn’t need any perp, Just wash it properly, and it is ready to go!

If you don’t have one in a home, just grab it from a nearby store. You can use your favorite lettuce dressing to enrich the flavor of your final dish and enjoy it with your favorite

5. Cured Meats

To use cured meats as a substitute for seaweed substitute, roast or boil it before you use it in any dish. Make sure the slices are thin enough and have plenty of herbs so they have flavors to accommodate your rolls.

You can use beef, pork, or chicken as a seaweed substitute.

6. Smoked Salmon

Smoked salmon can also save you if you lack precious seaweed. You can use it as a wrapping ingredient for sushi and rice rolls.

Its salty and smoked aroma is perfect with sushi rice. As a seaweed substitute, you need thin slices of smoked salmon. So you can get a tasty dish even if you don’t have seaweed.

7. Cabbage

If you don’t want to use lettuce as an alternative to seaweed, you can use cabbage instead. If you are a vegetarian, this is a fantastic pick for you. You can use pickled cabbage with other veggies and sauces.

Pickled leaves are used in Asian cuisine and are great for soups, stews, barbecues, and steak.

8. Omelet

A thin omelet is like a match in heaven for vinegar rice and other Asian ingredients, and you can use it in soups, stir-fries, baked dishes, different rolls, or as a side dish by itself.

To make it as a substitute, you make a thin omelet enough to roll yet resistant enough as you prepare it how you wish. From a health perspective, it is also a good pick.

Note: Let it cool down before adding it to your recipe.

9. Tororo Kombu

Tororo Kombu is a good pick if you want to use it as a substitute. It is a processed form of kombu or kelp with a fluffy and soft texture. It is perfect for sour soups as it smells mildly like vinegar.

You can even use it in miso soup or other noodle dishes as a topping.

10. Dry Ham

Dry ham provides a similar taste to seaweed. You can use it directly as a substitute for dry ham. You can mix it with many toppings for your favorite dishes as well. It is best to use in soups, stews, and stir-fries.

11. Cucumber Wraps

If you have cucumber, slice it and use it as a substitute for seaweed. It is calorie-free and has a nice, crisp texture like nori.

Shave thin slices and layer them into a bamboo mat, then spread your sushi fillings on top. Roll the cucumber slices around the fillings, then slice and enjoy!

It is ideal for anyone who dislikes the taste of seaweed because it has a mild cucumber flavor. 

12. Origami Wraps

Origami brand wraps are vegan, Gluten-free, non-GMO, fat-free, low-carb, and a fantastic seaweed substitute.  Fruit and vegetable purees like carrot, ginger, and green apple are used to make wraps.

It is ideal for California rolls, and while you can use it similarly to nori, the finished product will taste and look different. From a health point of view, it only has 15 calories per wrap comparable nutritionally to nori.

13. Hondashi

Just sprinkle Hondashi over your salads and soups to have a fantastic salty flavor similar to seaweed. You can find it at any store or order it online.

Hondashi is a brand of dashi granules that taste like classic dashi soup or broth. You can replace dried seaweed pieces or sprinkle them in soups or stews in any recipe.

14. Spinach

In all honesty, mothers simply want their kids to eat spinach because it is one of their favorite vegetables.

As for the taste profile, it has a very light taste. It gives a lot of flavor to broth and soup. Its health advantages are unrivaled because it can increase immunity, support eye health, and facilitate weight loss.  

15. Bonito Shavings

If you like to fish, this is a substitute for you. Bonito shavings or Bonito shavings are small pieces of dried fish. Due to its strong flavor, it is perfect for dashi broth as a substitute for seaweed. 

Add the same quantity of bonito shavings to replace seaweed, and you will have a delicious soup without seaweed. 

16. Sesame Seeds

If you are making sushi rolls, you can use sesame seeds. If you lack time, use sesame seeds as a substitute for seaweed. Use roast sesame seeds as a topping or coating on your rice roll instead of raw ones.

Wrap the ingredients inside your rice rolls and dip them so the rice is completely covered. It is a good source of fiber and may lower cholesterol and triglycerides.

17. Pork Belly

Pork belly is a good substitute for those who like pork, as its crispy, crunchy texture can replace seaweed in your dishes. 

It is salty and savory and has a perfect amount of crunch. It is warm, crispy, and has beneficial health benefits. You can use pork belly as a substitute for seaweed.

18. Shiso

If you are making sushi, you can use Shiso as an alternative to the seaweed substitute. Shiso is a type of Japanese basil with green color.

Due to its fresh flavor, it can go well with rice, fish, and vegetables. It is adaptable to wrap around your sushi rolls and is a tasty and healthy replacement. 

Short Recap Of The Best Seaweed Substitutes 

Here is a quick peek at seaweed substitutes. I categorized these into three categories so it becomes easy for you guys to find your desired alternative.

Best Seaweed Substitute In Terms Of Flavor and Texture–

• Rice Paper
• Tofu Skin
• Lettuce 

Best Seaweed Substitutes That Are Easily Available-

• Spinach 
• Omelet
• Cabbage
• Cured meat

Seaweed Substitute Should Be Least Considered-

• Soy Wraps

Conclusion

Now that we have come to the end of the article. I hope you discover a seaweed substitute and use it in your dishes.

Finding a substitute for seaweed is difficult, but the options in this section function well and improve the flavor of your food. Till then, we will meet at the next one. 

Till Then! Happy Cooking.

How To Use Seaweed Substitutes In A Recipe 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)