Homemade Nori Pesto

This vitamin-enriched nori pesto is packed with flavor and shows that there is more to nori than just being a wrap to roll sushi in.

This is my newest addition to my ever-growing list of homemade condiments, the Asian inspired nori pesto. Now I know what you might be thinking. Nori in a pesto? Yes my friends, Nori in a pesto. And what a fabulous pesto it is.

But it’s a different kind of pesto, an unusual pesto, an East meets West kind of pesto. Made healthier by the absence of cheese, which is not missed here, but still packed with goodies like pine nuts, tangy lemon and garlic. It has a rougher texture than most others thanks to the addition of its super food mate Kale. And these two ingredients combined make a pesto that is not only exploding with flavors from the land and sea but can also increase your daily vitamin and mineral levels.

WHY YOU SHOULD EAT NORI PESTO

Nori is an edible red algae that has been adored in Asian cultures for centuries because of its incredible health benefits and properties.

Nori is well known for its high levels of iodine which can be missing in the diet of those concerned with excessive salt intake or those that eat a high processed diet, as the salt used in these foods are usually low in iodine. It also well known for its amazing weight loss properties, one sheet of nori contains only 10 calories and the same amount of dietary fiber as one cup of spinach. It also has the ability to reduce the rate of fat absorption by 75% thanks to the effect that the algae has on the digestive enzyme called lipase which breaks down fat in the body.

Nori has more Omega 3 fatty acids than avocado does and can help lower cholesterol and blood pressure making it a must in the diets of people with cardiovascular problems. It also has high levels of chlorophyll (the stuff that makes plants green), which is a powerful natural detoxifier that helps the body eliminate toxins and purifies the blood. It also has the richest levels of protein in all the plants, containing 50% of its dried weight.

And as far as increasing your vitamin and mineral levels go 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of nori contain:

• 88% RDI of iron
• 60% RDI of thiamine, B1
• 194% RDI of riboflavin, B2
• 78% RDI of niacin, B3
• 288% RDI of vitamin A
• 475% RDI of Folate, great source for expecting Mums
• 28% RDI of calcium, 10 times the calcium of milk
• 85% RDI of magnesium, which is needed to absorb the calcium along with its levels of vitamin C

You are going to love adding this healthy super green nori pesto to pastas or noodles LIKE THIS ONE, smeared on grilled chicken or fish or simply used as a dip to coat sticks of raw vegetables with. However you have it, I hope you love it just as much as I do.

Enjoy.