How to make: Hijiki Salad ひじきサラダ -

How to make: Hijiki salad, which is a great and healthy side dish and makes a great addition to any traditional Japanese meal.

Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients (3-4 servings):

Dried hijiki: 20g
Canned tuna: 1/2 large can (about 70g)
Onion: 1/6 piece
Edamame (can use frozen): About 50g with pods
Soy sauce for seasoning: 2 teaspoons
Sugar: 1/2 tablespoon
Vinegar: 1 and 1/2 tablespoons
Soy sauce: 1/2 tablespoon
Olive oil: About 1 tablespoon
Pepper: To taste
Salt: To taste
※ You can also use a small-sized flaked tuna can (70g) or half of a tuna chunk can (140g size) for this recipe.

Steps

Preparation of Hijiki Salad

Place the dried hijiki in plenty of water and let it soak for about 30 minutes until it becomes plump. Once the hijiki has expanded, blanch it.
Bring water to a boil in a pot, add about a teaspoon of salt (not included in the ingredients list), and blanch the drained hijiki for 3 minutes.※ Blanching removes the fishy smell of hijiki and adds a moderate amount of saltiness.
Slice the onion thinly and soak it in water for 5-10 minutes. Use frozen edamame, thawed before use.
After blanching the hijiki, drain it well and transfer it to a bowl.
While the hijiki is still warm, mix it with 2 teaspoons of soy sauce to season it.

Seasoning/Finishing of Hijiki Salad

Once the hijiki has cooled to room temperature, add the well-squeezed onion and shelled edamame. Add the tuna, including the oil from the can.※ If using half of a large-sized tuna can, add about half of the oil as well.
Next, add 1/2 tablespoon of sugar, 1/2 tablespoon of soy sauce, 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of vinegar, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and a pinch of pepper. Mix everything together with chopsticks.
Use about 1 tablespoon of olive oil, adding more if needed, and adjust the seasoning with a little salt if necessary.

The salad is delicious right away and can be stored in the refrigerator for about 3 days, making it convenient to have on hand. It can also be frozen, but be sure to thaw it in the refrigerator before eating.