Umibudo salad
Sea grapes salad
海ぶどう (umibudo): Okinawan 'sea grapes' that pop like caviar, over crisp greens with citrus soy
Umibudo, 'sea grapes', is a seaweed farmed in the warm, clear waters around Okinawa and Miyako island. Its tiny green beads burst in the mouth with a salty, oceanic pop, which is why Okinawans also call it green caviar. It's served as a starter in island izakaya, often next to a cold Orion beer, either plain with a dish of citrus soy or piled on a simple salad. Look for it vacuum-packed in salt at Japanese grocers; it keeps for weeks unopened. Chef's tip: dress the salad, not the sea grapes. Pour the dressing on the greens and dip the sea grapes as you eat, because vinegar and soy make the beads shrivel within minutes.
- Total time
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 2
Ingredients
For the salad
- 2 ⅞ oz umibudo (sea grapes)
- 2 ⅛ oz mizuna or mixed salad leaves
- 1 small cucumberthinly sliced
- 6 cherry tomatoeshalved
For the dressing
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp lime or shikuwasa juice
- 1 tsp rice vinegar
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- ½ tsp sugar
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: If your 2 ⅞ oz umibudo (sea grapes) is salted, rinse it, then soak in cold water for 1–2 minutes, no longer, until the beads plump up and turn glossy. Drain on kitchen paper. Fresh umibudo just needs a quick rinse.
Step 2: Common mistake: chilling sea grapes. They go limp and dull in the fridge. Keep them at room temperature and prepare them just before serving.
Step 3: Whisk 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp lime or shikuwasa juice, 1 tsp rice vinegar, 1 tsp sesame oil and ½ tsp sugar until the sugar dissolves.
Step 4: Arrange 2 ⅛ oz mizuna or mixed salad leaves, 1 small cucumber and 6 cherry tomatoes on two plates and drizzle with most of the dressing.
Step 5: Pile the sea grapes on top at the last moment and pour the rest of the dressing into a small dish for dipping. Eat straight away, while the beads still pop.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 60 kcal
- Protein
- 2 g
- Carbs
- 8 g
- Fat
- 2 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does umibudo salad take?
- About 15 minutes in total.
- How many people does it serve?
- 2 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- What can I use instead of small cucumber?
- Courgette, same weight (in salads, use young ones).
- What can I use instead of cherry tomatoes?
- Tinned chopped tomatoes: a 400g tin for about 6 tomatoes (in cooked dishes, not salads).
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