Chef Tony's Seaweed Sabji: Welsh Laverbread

My brother-in-law Tony is an accomplished chef and enjoys experimenting for an appreciative audience, for which we qualify. Tony wanted to create a sabji featuring Welsh laver, a seaweed variety beloved in Wales. Known in Ireland as slake, laver is a type of porphyra and is thus closely related to nori (same genus, different species). For those of us who don't have access to Welsh laver, nori is a great substitute for making this delicious recipe. Porphyra is high in minerals, particularly iodine and iron, a plus for thyroid health and blood building.

Ingredients

Serves 3-4

1 Tbsp. ghee
½ tsp. fenugreek
½ tsp. cumin seeds
1tsp turmeric
1 lb 'yams' (orange-fleshed sweet potato), cubed
1T garlic-ginger paste
4 oz laver (substitute: 4oz nori strips, torn up into small pieces)
½ cup water
½ Tbsp chopped cilantro (coriander leaves)
Salt and pepper to taste.

Method

In a wok, heat ghee, add seeds and allow to splutter. Add the turmeric and then the cubed yams ands tir-fry on medium heat for 5 minutes. Now add the garlic ginger paste, the laver or nori and the water and simmer until the yams (sweet potato) are tender but not fallen apart or mushy. And the cilantro, season to taste with salt and pepper and serve with rice and dal. Enjoy!

Alakananda Ma M.B., B.S. (Lond.) is an Ayurvedic Doctor (NAMA) and graduate of a top London medical school. She is co-founder of Alandi Ayurveda Clinic and Alandi Ayurveda Gurukula in Boulder Colorado, as well as a spiritual mother, teacher, flower essence maker and storyteller. Alakananda is a well known and highly respected practitioner in the Ayurveda community both nationally and internationally.

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