What Is Nori and How Can I Use It?

If nori has turned up in a recipe or caught your eye at the store, here's what you need to use it with confidence and how to choose it, cook it, store it, what to substitute, and 12 recipes to try it in.

Recipes using nori

There are 12 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Vegetarian Sushi Rolls

It's not that hard to make your own sushi, California roll style at home. Cook some rice, season and wrap up your favorite mix of textures.

Tuna Maki

Fresh ahi tuna maki rolls wrapped in nori with seasoned sushi rice and wasabi, served with pickled ginger, julienned daikon, and carrots. Make sushi-bar quality rolls at home in 25 minutes.

Koimo Nori-Ae (Taro Potatoes Rolled in Crumbled Seaweed)

Koimo Nori-Ae: Japanese taro potatoes simmered in dashi broth and rolled in flame-toasted crumbled nori seaweed. A traditional side dish served at room temperature.

Nori Lamb Surprise

Nori lamb surprise butterflies lamb loin around scallops, mango, mushrooms, and pickled ginger, wraps it in seaweed, and pairs it with a chili-lemongrass syrup and a roasted pepper relish.

Nori Rolls (Murreita)

Vegetarian nori rolls (murreita) wrap brown rice, mung sprouts, carrot, cucumber, daikon, and umeboshi plum in toasted nori. A macrobiotic-style sushi roll with no fish required.

Isobe Zukuri (Sashimi Wrapped in Laver)

Isobe zukuri sashimi rolls with fresh fish wrapped in toasted nori seaweed, sliced into bite-sized pieces. A simple Japanese appetizer with dipping sauce.

Nori Rolls

Vegetarian nori rolls with brown rice, cucumber, carrots, daikon, bean sprouts, and umeboshi plum. No-cook, low calorie, and packed with crunch.

Scrambled Tofu

Crumbled silken tofu scrambled with mushrooms, red pepper, green olives, scallions, and a hit of turmeric for color. Vegan, protein-packed, and ready in 40 minutes.

Smoked Salmon Sushi Roll

Smoked salmon sushi rolls layer seasoned sushi rice, creamy avocado, crisp cucumber, and silky smoked salmon in nori. Beginner-friendly homemade maki, no raw fish or special skills required.

Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Nori

Vegetable medley featuring brussel sprouts and strips of Nori (seaweed) (same stuff that's used to wrap sushi rolls.

Deconstructed Sushi Bowl with Black Sesame Dressing

A vegetarian take on sushi – a one bowl meal, which can be made in advance, keeps well in the fridge and makes for a great lunchbox. If you are going to make it ahead, store the dressing separately until you are ready to serve.

Cream Cheese & Crab Sushi Rolls

Homemade sushi rolls stuffed with cream cheese, imitation crab, and crisp cucumber wrapped in seasoned rice and nori. A beginner-friendly roll you can nail on the first try.

All 12 recipes