4/ Umami
It’s a truism
that food affects your health and temper. Xa Milne comments sagely, ‘Lack of
pleasure from food, or lack of taste, often results in poor diet and subsequent
health issues.’ She cites clinical
tests that have revealed how human taste stimulation, promoting palatability,
can have a positive impact on our general well being.
Relish what you
eat.
An appetising
component of my family’s diet over a good number of years has been dulse (dilisk) seaweed. This seaweed purchased in dried form
has been added to almost every conceivable savoury dish from rice to
ratatouille, as well as nibbled raw and uncooked.
One snack in
particular that has augmented this family’s pleasure trove was introduced by my
wife at some time unknown, in the misty past.
Dried fronds of
dulse are spread on an ovenproof dish.
Grated cheese – a white cheddar seems best - is then scattered on top of
the dulse. The dish is put
in the oven to bake for ten minutes.
The result is a wickedly crisp, mouthwatering seduction that would tempt
the indulgence of even the most abstemious ascetic.
My first taste of
this artfully simple blend was an epiphany. Beethoven swelled in the background. Daffodils fluttered and danced beside
the lake, beneath the trees.
This delicious
taste was umami – the fifth taste besides sweet, sour, salt and bitter. Dulse
is palpably tangible, delectable umami.
Oscar Wilde
remarked that after a good dinner one can have forgiveness for anybody, even one’s own
relatives. It may be divined from
this post that my own dear partner for many years has long had mine.
 |
| © Benóg Brady Bates |
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Mary B's Cheesy Seaweed Snack
Ingredients Preparation Time: 10 mins
28g dried dulse (dilisk) seaweed Cooking Time: 10 mins
50g strong white cheddar cheese (grated) Difficulty: Easy peasy
Method
- Preheat oven to 180 degrees.
- Place dulse in an ovenproof dish tearing up any long strands.
- Scatter grated cheese on top.
- Roast until the cheese has melted and dulse has become nice and crispy on top.
- Leave to cool and tear into bite size pieces. Enjoy!
