Laos 'seaweed'

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Sheets of sesame seeded 'seaweed' are sold in Luang Prabang markets and restaurants. It is made from filamentous algae (green or blue-green, not sure) which grows attached to the river bottom in the clear-water rivers that flow into the Mekong. Some internet sites refers to this product as being made from a moss - it is not made from moss! Lao gather this algae by wading out and reaching down, submerging there heads if necessary. Some folks have dive masks and dive for it. I did not see anyone with a snorkel. When they come out of the water with a fresh handful, they slap it back and forth on the surface of the water, apparently to remove extra bits of debris.

The algae is processed into thin sheets by spreading clumps onto flat racks, pouring on boiling water and then slapping the algae with a tool made from leaf midribs until it spreads out into a thin film. Sesame seeds, tomato, garlic and other veggies are sprinkled on, and more slapping takes place. The rack is placed in the sun and left to dry.

The dried sheets can be stored for 'a long time'. They must be fried before eaten. With peanuts and lemon grass slivers they are quiet tasty.

The photos showing the process were taken in several villages in the Luang Prabang area.

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Comments

[Rob and Koren]

slush city
Grettings from the land of "mixed rain and snow". Thanks for sending news of your journal. Its great - very intriguing. Maybe we'll go there sometime. Merry Christmas