Natural MSG - Stir Fry Cabbage with Shio Kombu (Salted Dried Seaweed)

MSG, monosodium glutamate, is one of the common seasonings especially used in Asian cuisine. It acts like an umami enhancer but ingesting a large amount of MSG can cause thirstiness, headaches, and other unpleasant reactions.

I've always have doubts in such seasonings, especially any kind of flavor enhancer, more like a short cut, in powder form. Instead, the MSN was replaced by dried ingredients such as mushroom, seaweed, seafood, and cheeses in my kitchen. Bringing out the flavors from some of these natural ingredients might not be as easy as simply dropping a small spoonful or two MSG to the dishes, but the result is rewarding, perhaps healthier too.

In the case of shio kombu, which is Japanese salted dried seaweed, all you need to do is adding it to the dish, just as easy as using MSG. Of course I'm sticking with shio kombu and tossing that bag of tiny white particles of MSG away.

Stir fry cabbage with shio kombu (salted dried seaweed) -

Ingredients?

• 1/2 cabbage
• 8 to 10 shiitake mushroom
• 1 small to medium carrot
• 1/2 tablespoon shio kombu
• 6 garlic cloves
• 2 red chilies
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• Some toasted white sesame seeds (options)

How?

Cut the cabbage into large pieces, trim off or slice the tough center section if needed. Peel and slice the carrot. Trim off the mushroom stems then slice the caps. Peel and slice the garlic cloves. Trim off the chili stems then slice diagonally.

Drizzle enough olive oil to evenly coat the bottom of the pan and turn to medium high heat. Add in garlic slices, chilies and salt. Cook till the garlic turns slightly browned but not burnt.

Turn to high heat and quickly add in the shiitake mushroom, give it a quick stir to prevent garlic from burning, about one minute. Add in carrot and cabbage.

Wait till the cabbage wilts and the size reduces by half, add in shio kombu. 

Keep stir-frying all the ingredients. Every shio kombu comes in different saltiness level, so it's better to taste the stir-fry and adjust with salt once the cabbage reaches desired texture.

Garnish with toasted white sesame seeds.

So what other non-dried natural ingredients can be used to substitute MSG or high in umami? Try flavorful mushrooms, cheese rinds, shellfish, and yeast products.


Other recipes using shio kombu:

• Japanese cold dish recipe - shio kombu with medium firm tofu
• Rice Cooker Recipe - Japanese Style Steamed Rice with Shio Kombu (塩昆布の炊き込みご飯)
• Onigiri Recipe: Shio Kombu and Tuna Mayo Rice Balls