Stir-fried Sea Durvillea (Curly Seaweed)
Telephone line!? Mysterious seaweed stir-fry wrapped in curls that are 100% contained in Taiwanese bento boxes
Description
The ultimate side dish in Taiwanese bentos, where seaweed (Hai Rong) curled like a 'black telephone cord' is stir-fried sweet and spicy with garlic, Taiwanese basil (Jiucengta), and chilies.
Restaurants serving Stir-fried Sea Durvillea (Curly Seaweed)
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We are researching restaurants that serve this dish.
On this site you can check dictionary details and, later, places to buy or eat related items.
The Recipe section below is a general reference, not a recipe from the listed shops.
Recipe
Ingredients
- Hai Rong(Telephone-cord seaweed)
- Jiucengta(Taiwanese Basil)
- Garlic
- Soy sauce
- Sugar
- Black vinegar
Instructions
- [Authentic Recipe]
- [Identity of Mystery Seaweed] 'Hai Rong' is the cored and dried part of giant kelp (Durvillea antarctica) from South America (Chile, etc.). When rehydrated, the cut edges curl, forming a unique 'telephone cord'-like shape.
- Rehydrate dried Hai Rong overnight, boil briefly to soften.
- Heat oil in a wok, fragrantly sauté minced garlic, ginger, and red chilies.
- Toss in rehydrated Hai Rong, coat briefly in oil on high (overcooking ruins texture).
- Season 'sweet and spicy' with soy sauce, sugar, and a little black vinegar.
- Finally add a handful of raw Jiucengta (Taiwanese basil); when the aroma wafts up, remove from heat quickly.
Learn more Spice, substitutes, tips
Key spices
Exotic aroma of Taiwanese basil and Garlic
Substitutes at Japanese supermarkets
Thick wakame stems or Konjac (texture sub)
Pairing
White Rice(as a bento side dish)
Trivia
[For Everyone] The mysterious black curls sitting almost without fail in the side dish corners of Taiwanese Zizhu Can (buffets) and bento shops. Taiwanese themselves call it 'telephone wire'. Looks weird, but tastes like sweet/spicy 'seaweed kinpira', extremely suiting Japanese palates. The hidden symbol of Taiwanese daily food.
Eating tips & etiquette
[Unique Eating] Shovel down white rice with the mysterious 'squishy, bouncy!' elasticity and intense Taiwanese basil aroma, chewing on Taiwan's local daily life!
Allergen
Soy, Wheat (from soy sauce)