We’re diving into the benefits of sea lettuce, an organic plant-based ingredient making a splash on our West Coast Spring 2023 menu.
Every season, we introduce a variety of new and seasonal dishes in partnership with incredible food crafters aligned with our mission to make healthier and sustainable food accessible to all. This season we’re excited to partner with Blue Evolution, a global leader in farming and sourcing regenerative, tasty and nutritious seaweed ingredients from the ocean.
Available on our West Coast Spring 2023 menu, the Coriander Quinoa Stir-Fry and Lemongrass Lettuce Cups are made with Ulva, or Sea Lettuce powder, sustainably sourced from Blue Evolution's onshore Sea lettuce farm in Baja, California. Sea Lettuce, also known as Ulva, is an edible green algae that is widely distributed along the coasts of the world's oceans and is known for its nutrient density (it’s a good source of fiber, iodine, manganese, magnesium, and Vitamins A, B, C, and E). We sat down with Blue Evolution’s Vice President of Operations Nate Schlachter to get the scoop on this sustainable seafood and what makes it so special.
What are the nutritional benefits of Ulva?
Our organic certified Sea Lettuce is a great plant-based source of Magnesium, Iron, Potassium, and Vitamin A.
For those who have never eaten Sea Lettuce, what does it taste like?
Dried Sea Lettuce powder looks similar to matcha powder. The aromatics are fresh, and grassy, with a slight marine scent. Sea Lettuce packs a big flavor and provides a depth of flavor that is savory or umami.
How does Blue Evolution as a brand support environmental sustainability?
We are deeply committed to sustainability and the health of our oceans; it is why we exist as a company. Our onshore Sea Lettuce farm in Baja California uses only seawater (and no fresh water) in our growing operations, which is critical in a major agricultural region that is struggling with an extended drought. The seawater that we send back into the ocean is actually cleaner than it was before we put it into our tanks, not to mention that our farm is certified organic! Seaweed is an incredible plant in that it only needs salt water and photosynthesis for it to live and thrive. This means our plant crop requires no arable land, freshwater, or other harmful inputs as compared to traditional terrestrial agriculture. Beyond the cultivation practices of our seaweed, Blue Evolution is committed to continuous improvement in reducing the impacts of our company's operations.
Anything else you would like to add?
We are excited to partner with a pioneering brand like Thistle. We believe our seaweed ingredients are a wonderful addition to the nutrition-focused and flavor-forward recipes that Thistle prepares. We know eaters are ever more focused on plant-based ingredients that provide robust nutritional value while delivering amazing flavor with low-impact growing practices. We believe that makers, like Thistle, are key to demonstrating the viability of ingredients like seaweed to a wider audience of eaters.
Find Blue Evolution’s Certified Organic Sea Lettuce on Our Menu
Lemongrass Lettuce Cups
On the West Coast menu: Week of March 20 and May 1, 2023
“This season’s Lemongrass Lettuce Cups will be an exploration into a new meal experience where you’ll build your own lettuce cups using crisp romaine, a delicious mince of water chestnuts, mushrooms, ginger and carrot, and top it with an umami-packed housemade vegan “fish” sauce using ulva, or sea lettuce, and dried shiitake mushrooms. Another fun part of this new meal composition is if you really love our salads, you can easily tear up the romaine leaves, mix everything together and enjoy it like any of our lunches!” - Kathleen Nio, Culinary Commercialization Manager and Registered Dietitian at Thistle
Coriander Quinoa Stir-Fry
On the West Coast menu: Week of March 6 and April 17, 2023
With a lovely blend of hot, citrus, sea, and nutty flavors, this stir-fry showcases the ancient grain quinoa with roasted turnip root, spring peas, togarashi, and our house-made ‘fish’ sauce which gets its umami flavor from Ulva seaweed.
We’re diving into the benefits of sea lettuce, an organic plant-based ingredient making a splash on our West Coast Spring 2023 menu.
Every season, we introduce a variety of new and seasonal dishes in partnership with incredible food crafters aligned with our mission to make healthier and sustainable food accessible to all. This season we’re excited to partner with Blue Evolution, a global leader in farming and sourcing regenerative, tasty and nutritious seaweed ingredients from the ocean.
Available on our West Coast Spring 2023 menu, the Coriander Quinoa Stir-Fry and Lemongrass Lettuce Cups are made with Ulva, or Sea Lettuce powder, sustainably sourced from Blue Evolution's onshore Sea lettuce farm in Baja, California. Sea Lettuce, also known as Ulva, is an edible green algae that is widely distributed along the coasts of the world's oceans and is known for its nutrient density (it’s a good source of fiber, iodine, manganese, magnesium, and Vitamins A, B, C, and E). We sat down with Blue Evolution’s Vice President of Operations Nate Schlachter to get the scoop on this sustainable seafood and what makes it so special.
What are the nutritional benefits of Ulva?
Our organic certified Sea Lettuce is a great plant-based source of Magnesium, Iron, Potassium, and Vitamin A.
For those who have never eaten Sea Lettuce, what does it taste like?
Dried Sea Lettuce powder looks similar to matcha powder. The aromatics are fresh, and grassy, with a slight marine scent. Sea Lettuce packs a big flavor and provides a depth of flavor that is savory or umami.
How does Blue Evolution as a brand support environmental sustainability?
We are deeply committed to sustainability and the health of our oceans; it is why we exist as a company. Our onshore Sea Lettuce farm in Baja California uses only seawater (and no fresh water) in our growing operations, which is critical in a major agricultural region that is struggling with an extended drought. The seawater that we send back into the ocean is actually cleaner than it was before we put it into our tanks, not to mention that our farm is certified organic! Seaweed is an incredible plant in that it only needs salt water and photosynthesis for it to live and thrive. This means our plant crop requires no arable land, freshwater, or other harmful inputs as compared to traditional terrestrial agriculture. Beyond the cultivation practices of our seaweed, Blue Evolution is committed to continuous improvement in reducing the impacts of our company's operations.
Anything else you would like to add?
We are excited to partner with a pioneering brand like Thistle. We believe our seaweed ingredients are a wonderful addition to the nutrition-focused and flavor-forward recipes that Thistle prepares. We know eaters are ever more focused on plant-based ingredients that provide robust nutritional value while delivering amazing flavor with low-impact growing practices. We believe that makers, like Thistle, are key to demonstrating the viability of ingredients like seaweed to a wider audience of eaters.
Find Blue Evolution’s Certified Organic Sea Lettuce on Our Menu
Lemongrass Lettuce Cups
On the West Coast menu: Week of March 20 and May 1, 2023
“This season’s Lemongrass Lettuce Cups will be an exploration into a new meal experience where you’ll build your own lettuce cups using crisp romaine, a delicious mince of water chestnuts, mushrooms, ginger and carrot, and top it with an umami-packed housemade vegan “fish” sauce using ulva, or sea lettuce, and dried shiitake mushrooms. Another fun part of this new meal composition is if you really love our salads, you can easily tear up the romaine leaves, mix everything together and enjoy it like any of our lunches!” - Kathleen Nio, Culinary Commercialization Manager and Registered Dietitian at Thistle
Coriander Quinoa Stir-Fry
On the West Coast menu: Week of March 6 and April 17, 2023
With a lovely blend of hot, citrus, sea, and nutty flavors, this stir-fry showcases the ancient grain quinoa with roasted turnip root, spring peas, togarashi, and our house-made ‘fish’ sauce which gets its umami flavor from Ulva seaweed.
