Grapes of the Sea: Umibudou

Forget about outer space; the ocean is the true final frontier, home to untold treasures, and not the sort that come from shipwrecks or pirates’ plunder. Umibudou, directly translated to the more poetic name of “sea grapes” are one such prize. These oceanic jewels, a rare treat found in the coastal regions of Japan and Southeast Asia, are creating waves across the gastronomic world.

Gem of the Sea: What are Umibudou?

Imagine tiny, translucent strings of delicate green pearls, clustered together like a mini underwater vineyard. Sometimes Romanized as “umibudo” or “umi budo” from the Japanese 海ぶどう, these seaweed spheres, resembling miniature bunches of grapes, earn their name for obvious reasons. Scientifically known as Caulerpa lentillifera, these succulent morsels are not fruits, of course, but a type of green algae belonging to the family Caulerpaceae.

Flavorful Splash: Umibudou’s Unique Taste

Popping a handful of umibudou into your mouth is like tasting the essence of the ocean itself. With a distinctive combination of salty and briny flavors, these sea grapes evoke the sensation of standing at the water’s edge, where the breeze carries a gentle spray of salt water. With hints of umami and a subtly nutty undertone, they’re truly the closest equivalent to plant-based caviar found in nature, or made by humans, for that matter.

Texture to Remember: The Umibudou Experience

While flavor is paramount, the textural experience of umibudou is the most memorable aspect. The first bite surprises with a gentle yet satisfying “pop,” crisp and satisfying, just like tobiko or masago. The outer skin bursts effortlessly, quickly dissolving, leaving behind only the memory of its salty kiss. Think of popping boba, but savory instead of sweet.

Health Benefits from the Deep

Beyond its remarkable taste and culinary appeal, sea grapes offer a plethora of health benefits, making it a nutritional treasure trove from the ocean.

  • Rich in Vitamins and Minerals: They’re notably rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, iron, and iodine, supporting many aspects of overall wellness.
  • Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Notably, umibudou contains a significant amount of omega-3 fatty acids, especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), for better brain health.
  • Antioxidant Properties: Umibudou houses an array of antioxidants that neutralize harmful free radicals in the body. These antioxidants help protect the body’s cells from oxidative stress, which can contribute to various chronic diseases and premature aging.
  • Boosting Gut Health: As with all seaweed, umibudou is a natural source of prebiotic fiber, which serves as food for beneficial gut bacteria.

Umibudou are seen as such a vital source of nutrition, they’re also sold powdered for easily blending into smoothies and shakes. The real advantage here is that the powder can be used for topical applications, like face masks and scrubs, because I can’t imagine sacrificing the experience of eating vegan caviar otherwise.

Culinary Voyage: Umibudou in At Home

In Japan especially, umibudou has long been cherished as a rare delicacy. Recently, chefs and foodies worldwide have begun to embrace umibudou as well, incorporating it into fusion dishes and experimental culinary creations.

What To Make With Umibodou

To best experience all that umibodou has to offer, keep things simple and fresh. Your best bets include:

  • Salads: The simplest and most traditional way to enjoy umibudou is to eat it fresh and raw. Rinse the sea grapes thoroughly in cold water to remove any sand or debris. Once cleaned, they are ready to be served as a refreshing and briny salad ingredient like olives or capers.
  • Sushi: Umibudou adds a touch of elegance to sushi rolls and nigiri like natural plant-based fish roe. Simply place a small cluster of the sea grapes in the center of the rice before rolling your sushi, or on top of gunkan after shaping it. The translucent green beads will create a visually appealing contrast against the sushi rice and other fillings while imparting a burst of flavor with each bite.
  • Pickles: Pickling umibudou is another excellent way to preserve its unique taste. Create a brine using water, rice vinegar, sugar, and salt. Add the cleaned sea grapes to the brine and let them soak for a day or two in the refrigerator. The pickled umibudou can then be used as a zesty condiment or enjoyed as a tangy side dish.

Important Tips For Success

Don’t be daunted if this is your first time trying this pearl of the sea! They’re very easy to use and enjoy once you know how.

  • Unless you’re fortunate to live near a very well-stocked Asian market, you’ll typically find dried umibudou sold online. Simply add cold water to cover and let soak for about 5 minutes. They’ll plump right up and be ready to eat.
  • Don’t let the rehydrated umibudou sit out for more than 20 – 30 minutes, as they’ll begin to shrivel and deflate out of water.
  • Always remember to thoroughly clean umibudou before using it in any preparation. Remove any debris, sand, or saltwater residue by rinsing it gently in cold water.
  • As umibudou is naturally briny, it’s advisable to go easy on the salt or omit it entirely when seasoning dishes to avoid overwhelming the overall flavor.

Bringing the Ocean’s Bounty to Your Plate

Whether you’re a seasoned foodie looking to expand your horizons or a daring gourmand eager to try something new, umibudou promises an unforgettable experience. If you like seaweed, caviar, or simply a novel taste to shake up the usual sushi routine, dive into the ocean’s jewelry box try this beautiful treasure on for size.

Pearl-Clutching

“Love at first sight” strikes me as a concept only suited for works of fiction, but I do believe in inspiration at a glance. Perhaps that’s somewhat related?

First Generation by Frankie Gaw

Flipping through First Generation by Frankie Gaw, that’s all I could think of as every photo and word seemed to leap from the pages. A mixture of traditional and contemporary takes on Taiwanese cuisine, it speaks to me like a heartfelt love letter, not some quick fix compendium of semi-homemade meals. Crafted with such care, it’s about more than recipes. It’s about the people and places that make them so special, the memories attached to them that add more flavor than any spice or seasoning.

Grandma’s Pearl Meatballs

This isn’t a book review, mind you. I could never do proper justice to all this one has to offer. Instead, it’s my own response to such a fearless, passionate muse. Filled with poetic, immersive descriptions, you can easily picture the scene to experience the emotions, not just the flavors, behind every dish. That’s what really drew me to Grandma’s Pearl Meatballs, a humble yet visually stunning mixture of protein and grains. By coating the morsels in soaked rice before placing them in the steamer, you get a similar effect to a rice paper wrapper, but with more heft and nuance.

What Is Jade Pearl Rice?

The first thing I thought of was the lustrous, pearlescent jade bamboo rice in the pantry, which inspired a greener corresponding interior, too. This short grain rice is infused with bamboo extract, tinted light green by the chlorophyll. Some say it has a subtle vanilla taste, although your mileage (and perception) may vary. At least, it’s very pretty, providing excellent inspiration for an unconventional departure from the printed text.

Jade Pearl Meatballs

Naturally, the “meat” of these balls comes from white beans, bound lightly with white chia seeds to retain a moist, juicy, and soft interior. Cabbage is replaced with spinach for deeper emerald green hue, but the essential aromatics remain the same. It’s definitely not the recipe as intended, but the creamy and subtle bites are a delightful departure from the usual dumpling or meatball. They belong in their own category of deliciousness.

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Cuckoo for Cucamelon

Honey, I shrank the melon! Actually, despite its outward appearance, the cucamelon is only botanically classified as a fruit, tasting and functioning instead as a green vegetable. Though visually a dead-ringer for a watermelon at about 1/16th scale, the flavor is 100% cucumber; crisp, refreshing, and wholly invigorating.

Novel, but Not New: A Brief History of the Cucamelon

Also known as a Mexican sour gherkin, pepquino, sandita, or mouse melon, the cucamelon traces its roots back to Central America. The Aztecs were among the first to cultivate cucamelons, recognizing their unique taste and versatility in various culinary applications. In 1866, it was scientifically classified by a French botanist, but it has been a traditional crop in these regions for centuries. Despite the Americanized name that arose in the 1980s, they’re not a hybrid of watermelons and cucumbers.

What Do Cucamelons Taste Like?

No larger than the size of a common grape, these tiny green morsels pack a powerful flavor punch, combining the refreshing essence of cucumber with a tangy twist. The description of them being “sour” are largely exaggerated; rather, they have a bright yet subtle hint of citrus. Some lean more towards lime, others lemon, depending on what seeds you sprout. It’s a bit of a gardening gamble, but every outcome is a winning hand.

Grow Your Own!

While still a rarity in mainstream or even specialty markets, cucamelons are remarkably easy to grow. The plant thrives in warm climates, which is pretty much everywhere during the summer months now thanks to climate change, making it an ideal addition to your home garden or greenhouse. They’re relatively easy to grow from seeds, readily available for purchase online, and prefer well-drained soil with ample sunlight. Once established, the vines produce an abundance of cucamelons, making them a rewarding choice for any gardening enthusiast.

What To Make with Cucamelons

My uncle, who was kind enough to share his crop and inspire this post, made it clear he had three ways of enjoying them:

  1. Straight off the vine while standing in the garden.
  2. Freshly washed with cold water while standing in the kitchen.
  3. Tossed into salads, if he could wait to assemble one.

Although cucamelons are perfect for snacking just as they are, they have a multitude of culinary applications that make them a versatile ingredient in various dishes. Beyond the obvious methods of instant gratification, cucamelons can be pickled, turning them into delectable, tangy treats that pair well with charcuterie boards or as a garnish for cocktails.

Anywhere you might use a conventional cucumber, cucamelons can add a fun twist to old favorites. That means sandwiches, wraps, salsa, or even gazpacho or other chilled soups are all fair game.

Health Benefits of Cucamelons

Beyond their adorable appearance and delectable taste, cucamelons also offer a range of health benefits. Like cucumbers, they are low in calories and a good source of vitamins A and C, potassium, and antioxidants. These nutrients contribute to better hydration, improved digestion, and overall immune system support.

The cucamelon is an unforgettable vegetable that should be a staple worldwide. Its diminutive size, charming appearance, and delightful taste make it a fun and versatile ingredient for both culinary enthusiasts and home gardeners. From snacking to pickling, the cucamelon brings a refreshing twist to various dishes and adds a dash of creativity to traditional recipes. If you want to start growing, or better yet, befriend an avid gardener looking to try something new, don’t miss your chance to enjoy them, a handful at a time, too.

Come To A Boil

Boiled peanuts aren’t glamorous.

They aren’t trendy or novel or Instagrammable. Stewed in murky brown liquid to a soft yet tender, toothsome texture, they’ll inevitably leave you with dirty hands, salt water dripping down to your elbows, piles of spent shells accumulating on the floor or table in front of you. It’s impossible to look elegant while eating boiled peanuts.

Honestly, that’s a large part of their appeal.

Peanuts have been a staple food of the south since the late 1800s.

Although they were brought to the United States by slave ships from West Africa, their true roots are found in South America. They were cheap, abundant, and well-suited to the loamy soils of Virginia in particular. Though initially viewed as food for the poor, slaves, and livestock, rationing brought about by the Civil War made peanuts an invaluable crop for people of all classes.

It’s unclear why or who started boiling the goobers, but southerners certainly weren’t the first. Boiled peanuts exist in many cultures, most notably in China, Taiwan, and of course Africa. For whatever reason, I discovered boiled peanuts for the first time while in Hawaii, sold in the deli section on little styrofoam trays, chilled and shrink-wrapped for grab-and-go convenience. They were often flavored with soy sauce and star anise, subtly savory and well-salted. I was hooked from the first bite.

Cracking into the supple shells of boiled peanuts, the experience is both familiar and wholly unique.

Reminiscent of edamame, but with a more satisfying crunch, they’re a curious combination of both wet and dry, with juices exploding from the center not unlike a soup dumpling. This treatment makes them more aligned with their true nature as legumes, rather than crisp, toasted nuts, highlighting their versatility by flipping the script. You could certainly enjoy them warm, or even hot, perhaps even in soup once shelled, but I still love mine chilled as a force of habit. Something about that extra time in the fridge seems to accentuate their rich flavor too, allowing the spices to meld into a more harmonious blend.

The beauty of boiled peanuts is manifold, outward aesthetics notwithstanding. Whole peanuts are still a mercifully cheap source of quality plant protein, with plenty of fiber and nutrients to boot. Seasoning possibilities are endless, so you’ll never get bored. The only drawback may be their long cooking time, but that’s nothing a little pressure can’t solve. By cooking boiled peanuts in the pressure cooker, you can slash a full day of simmering down to just over an hour, with zero active work involved.

Conventional recipes suggest that “green” peanuts are the only acceptable option, but in truth, any peanut still in its shell is fair game. If you can find them raw, so much the better, but I’ve had excellent results with roasted peanuts, too.

Don’t worry about making a mess when you dig in; that’s half the fun. All you need to enjoy this healthy, savory treat is a stack of napkins and a robust appetite.

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