17
Oct

Seaweed & Cucumber Salad: The Gut-Cooling Detox Dish You Didn’t Know You Needed

You know those days when your stomach feels off — bloated, heavy, or just uncomfortable? Maybe it’s after a weekend of too much milk tea, sweets, or fried food. Instead of skipping meals or reaching for another detox drink, here’s something gentler — and actually delicious:

💚 Seaweed & Cucumber Salad.

It’s crisp, tangy, and surprisingly satisfying — the kind of dish that feels light but still makes your tummy say, “thank you.”

🌿 Why This Works

This salad isn’t just refreshing — it’s restorative.

  1. Seaweed is packed with minerals (iodine, magnesium, calcium) and glyconutrients that help heal your gut lining and balance hormones.
  2. Cucumber hydrates your body and reduces water retention.
  3. Rice vinegar and sesame oil give that umami-tang flavor that wakes up your appetite without heaviness.

It’s a simple bowl, but it does big things — cools inflammation, eases bloating, and supports digestion.

🥗 Ingredients (Serves 2–3)

  1. 2 tablespoons dried wakame seaweed (or any edible seaweed)
  2. 1 medium cucumber, thinly sliced
  3. 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  4. 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  5. ½ teaspoon honey (or a pinch of coconut sugar — optional)
  6. A sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds
  7. Pinch of sea salt or pink salt

✨ Optional add-ins: grated ginger, chili flakes, or thinly sliced onions if you want a little kick.

👩‍🍳 How to Make It

  1. Rehydrate the seaweed.
    Place dried wakame in warm water for about 5 minutes — it will expand a lot! Drain and squeeze gently to remove extra water.
  2. Slice the cucumber.
    Use a peeler or mandolin for thin, even slices. Sprinkle with a bit of salt and let sit for 10 minutes to draw out excess moisture, then rinse and pat dry.
  3. Mix the dressing.
    In a small bowl, whisk rice vinegar, sesame oil, and honey until well blended.
  4. Combine everything.
    Toss seaweed and cucumber in the dressing. Add sesame seeds on top. Chill for 15–20 minutes before serving.

💧 Why You’ll Love It

It’s crunchy, tangy, and slightly sweet — the kind of salad that doesn’t feel like a salad. Perfect side dish for grilled fish, chicken, or even your favorite meal of the day. And the best part? You’ll feel lighter after eating it, not sluggish.

🌸 Small Step, Big Change

If you’re trying to take care of your gut or balance your hormones, start adding one dish like this each week. Sometimes healing doesn’t start with a detox program — it starts with a refreshing bowl of seaweed and cucumber.