Seaweed Recipe: Kelp Energy Bars

Since our friend Rosalee moved in with us, Kelp Energy Bars have become our new favorite family treat and seaweed recipe.

Rosalee brought this seaweed recipe to us. She made a batch at our house, and we have been snacking on them ever since.

I’ve even made them and brought them to a couple of different parties, where the guests have raved about them.

So, how do you make these delicious, healthy concoctions?

Kelp Energy Bars

What you’ll need…

• 1/2 ounce dried kelp (Nereocystis) fronds
• 2 cups almonds, hazelnuts, or sesame seeds
• 1/2 cup maple (or birch) syrup
• Need herbs? Visit Mountain Rose Herbs.

1. The first step is to powder the kelp fronds in a blender. Then add your nuts or seeds and grind them together with the kelp. You’ll end up with a nicely mixed, coarsely ground blend, which you then pour into a bowl.
2. Next, add the syrup and stir it into the nut mixture.
3. Spread the mixture onto an oiled cookie sheet, pressing it out until it is about 1/4-inch thick.
4. Bake at 325°F for 20 minutes. Cut into squares while still slightly warm.
5. Cool completely and then just try and stop eating them…

(One tip from an experimental cook: I tried this kelp recipe with honey and though the bars were still tasty, they spread over the whole cookie sheet, and so were very thin. With syrup they hold together much better.)

Kelp Benefits

And, just in case you need more of a reason than their delectable taste to eat these little energy bars, let me tell you a little bit about what I’ve been learning about the benefits of integrating kelp into your diet.

Eating just a small amount of kelp daily helps tonify many of our body systems. It is good for overall heart health, physical, emotional, and inspirational.

It can help heal heart and circulation related problems. Daily use also provides optimum nourishment for our hormonal, lymphatic, urinary and nervous systems.

Kelp also enhances response time and strength of our immune system, and helps loosen stiff joints.

It also helps the digestive system, soothing and nourishing distressed surfaces and helping maintain a healthy balance of digestive yeasts and bacteria.

It’s good for intestinal ills and can help regulate cholesterols. It also helps with elimination of radiation, pollutants, and heavy metals if eaten regularly.

Wow! I was blown away by this list of benefits, and this is the short version!

Kelp is just one of those wondrous nourishers offering her gifts to us on this planet.

Eating just a little (say five grams) every day can help your body in all of these ways. Personally, this knowledge has inspired me to make it a habit. I hope you make good use of this seaweed recipe and find many more!

Written by Kimberly Gallagher

Kimberly Gallagher, M.Ed., CCH is author of Aphrodisiac, the Herb Fairies book series and creator of the Wildcraft! board game. She is also co-founder and co-CEO of LearningHerbs. Kimberly is parent to two amazing grown kids and is passionate about sustainable living, cultural transformation, healthy cooking, and storytelling.