Nori Rolls

I have a new obsession. Nori. A sea vegetable most commonly known for its roll in sushi (no pun intended), Nori is about 1/3 protein and 1/3 dietary fiber and is an excellent source of calcium, iron, iodine, carotene, B vitamins and vitamins A and C, making it a staple in whole food vegan cuisine. They have a slightly salty flavor that my palate associates with sushi, so the addition of it to dishes makes basically anything taste like sushi!

I'll use it on salad, but my favorite way to use it is to make Nori Wraps. I'm posting a basic recipe here, but know that almost ANYTHING wrapped in Nori is delicious; feel free to create your own delicious rolls with whatever tickles your pickle!

Nori can be purchased at most health food stores. Whole Foods has a whole section dedicated to sea vegetables. You may also be able to find it in Japanese markets.

Vitortarian Nori Rolls

2 sheets nori
1 avocado, halved and sliced
1 carrot, cut into sticks
2 leaves dinosaur kale
1/2 c. cooked brown rice
2 leaves basil
1 tbsp. wheat-free tamari

Place the two sheets of nori on a flat surface. Put half of each of the ingredients on each sheet, rice down first. Roll up like a burrito, dip in tamari, and voila, you have a delicious, nutritious meal in a matter of minutes!

Just FYI, I'll be dining at Abby's Table tonight for her Wednesday night family style dinner she holds at her kitchen in SE Portland. I've helped cook for the dinner but never actually had the full experience! I'll be dining as a Vegan tonight so hopefully I'll get some great new ideas for the blog! Either way, you should definitely check out Abby's Table! She caters, is a private chef, and does reservation-only dinners every Wednesday, and everything is gluten, dairy and soy free. She's a killer chef, not to mention a fascinating person! Check her out and make reservations online at http://www.abbys-table.com/.