Surf and Turf

Photo © Rob Jones

I like free things.

Seaweed is free.

I’m afraid of seaweed.

OK so the task in hand is to somehow marry those three contradictions and my first foray into the wonderful world of shoreline foraging seems to have been a great success.

Naturally enough - since I don’t intend to poison myself - I did a lot of research beforehand. By research I mean a swift perusal of Wikipedia and asking ‘friends that know these things’ what I should be careful of.

I was given the following advice ….

“Don’t pick any seaweed near a sewage waste pipe.”

“Don’t harvest seaweed if it’s too far up the beach (dogs).”

“The bright green stuff that looks like spinach/lettuce is nice.'“

And so I found myself this afternoon on one of Falmouth’s beaches, enjoying the ambience, the tide out and ….. swatches of bright green seaweed everywhere. Closer inpection and it looked like spinach or lettuce. Later checking confirmed it was Ulva, Sea Lettuce of Laver. Result.

Gathered, water squeezed out, and into my pocket (mental note, always carry a plastic bag in future.)

Back home and …. what to do with it? Recipes online a bit dull.

Fried up some garlic and chopped bacon. Added the Ulva. Added to pasta and topped with a chopped boiled egg and some feta-style cheese. Topped with some Seaweed crisped up in the Air Fryer - spritzed occasionally with olive oil.

Delicious. That in-your-face smell of the sea.

Sorted.

RJ