Page 281 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods

Bull Kelp, Nereocystis

luetkeana (LAMINARIACEAE)

BULL KELP is a very fast-growing plant. It grows as beaches. It can be dried and used as a food additive or
an annual seaweed from the sea floor and is attached seasoning as it has a fresh, ocean-salt taste. It can be
by a holdfast. It can be up to 65 ft. (20m) tall, grow- eaten as dried kelp chips, used in soups, or eaten with
ing one long stalk or stipe. It is often found in colo- sushi.
nies known as kelp forests in the Pacific Ocean on the BULL KELP PICKLES: Collect one or two bull kelp
western coast of North America, from Baja California stalks/stipes, making sure they are firm. Remove bulb
to Alaska. It is recognizable by its spherical bulb or float and leaves. Wash hollow portion of stem thor-
float, which can be up to 5 inches (12cm) across. The oughly and slice into ½ inch (1cm) rings. Rinse kelp
floats appear at the ends of the stalks. rings again and toss in salt. Slice one large onion and
FROND: Long, narrow blades, all arising from the bulb crush one clove of garlic. Rinse kelp rings one more
at the top of the plant can be up to 10 ft. (3m) long. time and stuff into sterilized glass jars with onion and
garlic. Put in 1 tsp. lemon juice per jar. Make pickling
HOLDFAST AND STIPE: very long, rounded hollow
brine by combining in a saucepan and bringing to a
stipe, up to 65 ft. (20m) tall
boil 2 cups of vinegar, cup water, ²∕₃ cup sugar, and 4
EDIBLE PARTS: blades/leaves, stipes/stalks, bulbs
tbsp. pickling spice. Boil for 1 min. and pour into jars,
KEY MEDICINAL USES: Bull Kelp is high in vitamins covering kelp rings. Refrigerate for at least 48 hrs. be-
and minerals and may help attention deficit disorder, fore eating.
insomnia, and depression.
WARNING: Seaweeds can absorb toxins, heavy met-
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: It is best harvested als, and pollutants, so it is important to harvest sea-
fresh from water, but can be found washed up on weeds from unpolluted waters.
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