Irish Moss

Irish Moss, also called Sea Moss, is a red algae harvested from the rocky Atlantic shorelines of Europe and North America. Dried it is pale and brittle; soaked and blended it swells into a soft gel with a neutral, faintly oceanic taste and subtle earthy undertones, mild enough to disappear into whatever it thickens.

How to use it

Soak the dried fronds until soft, blend them with water, and use the resulting gel as a natural thickener: in smoothies and shakes for a creamy consistency, in vegan cheeses and puddings in place of gelatin, and in soups and stews where it adds body and silkiness without covering the flavour. It has also long been used in beer brewing as a natural clarifier. Rinse it thoroughly before soaking, to wash off residual salt and grit from the shore.

Details

Also known as