| Have you ever tried cooking with spirulina? Spirulina is an extremely important food source for the body and, although it is usually sold as spirulina tablets or as a spirulina supplement, it should be considered a true SuperFood, a functional food to include in a balanced diet. |
Spirulina, famous for its intense green colour, is rich in protein and amino acids and, compared by weight with any other food, spirulina is one of the most nutritious foods in the world! Not everyone knows how to use spirulina in the kitchen, though: this particular alga is useful not only to add plant protein to our dishes, but also as a natural colouring and to enhance food with its unmistakable taste, creating unique and healthy dishes.
Read on to find out how to use spirulina in the kitchen.
Spirulina recipes to start the day right
Breakfast is the most important meal: it gives us the energy we need to face the day, so it is essential that this first meal is complete and nourishing.
Eating sweets in the morning too often is not recommended, as they are rich in sugar and animal fats: it is better to follow a high-fibre, low-calorie diet, and spirulina for breakfast is a great ally for the right boost in the morning!
How to use spirulina powder? Here are 2 simple but tasty ideas!
Spirulina smoothie
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Ingredients 1 banana 200 ml plant-based milk ½ teaspoon spirulina powder |
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Method
Slice the banana and put it in the blender. Then pour in the plant-based milk (we recommend coconut, almond or oat) followed by the spirulina powder. Blend until smooth. Pour into a glass, garnish with seeds of your choice or chopped almonds, and your smoothie is ready to enjoy!
Spirulina protein pancakes
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Ingredients 100g egg whites 45g oat flour 30g cane sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder 3g spirulina powder |
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Method
In a bowl, whisk the egg whites with a pinch of salt until frothy and gradually add the cane sugar. Then add the oat flour, the baking powder and the spirulina powder. Mix all the ingredients until smooth. Heat a frying pan and, once hot, pour 2-3 tablespoons of batter onto it. Cook the pancakes for about two minutes on each side. Your pancakes are ready! Enjoy them with whatever you like best (Greek yoghurt, seasonal fruit, maple syrup).
Spirulina: how to eat it as a snack?
Contrary to popular belief, snacks are not just for children! For a healthy, balanced diet it is recommended to eat 5 meals a day: breakfast, lunch, dinner and two snacks, one mid-morning and one mid-afternoon. Snacks are great for keeping your metabolism active and avoiding overeating at lunch or dinner, and spirulina, with its exceptional supply of vitamins, iron, potassium and phosphorus, is the perfect food to regain your energy.
An easy way to eat spirulina when you're out and about, for anyone who needs a dose of energy, is the Spirulina Becagli energy bar. Made with cold-processed ingredients to keep their organoleptic properties intact, these bars are the right pocket-sized energy boost.
If, on the other hand, you want to experiment and find out how to use spirulina in the kitchen, here are 2 recipes for a healthy and tasty snack!
Chickpea and spirulina hummus
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Ingredients 10 g tahini 1 clove of garlic 2 sachets of Spiruday seed oil to taste juice of half a lemon
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Method
Put everything in a blender and adjust the oil and lemon until creamy.
Hummus is great with raw vegetables (carrots, celery) or on bread.
Rye bread with avocado and spirulina cream
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Ingredients 1 avocado 1 lime 2-3 basil leaves 1 teaspoon spirulina powder oil to taste salt to taste seeds or cherry tomatoes of your choice |
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Method
In a bowl, put the diced avocado, chopped basil leaves, lime juice, oil, salt and spirulina. Mash everything with a fork until creamy. Spread the avocado cream on slices of bread and garnish with sliced cherry tomatoes or seeds (chia, sunflower) as you like.
Spirulina recipes for main courses too!
We have seen how spirulina is perfect for breakfast or a snack to regain some energy, but that's not all. There are many spirulina recipes for excellent main courses too: in sauces, mains, salads, pasta and even in Michelin-starred dishes!
Here are some ideas for using spirulina in your everyday cooking:
Rocket and spirulina pesto
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Ingredients 100 g rocket 100 g oil 50 g almonds 1 clove of garlic 50 g grated Parmesan 50 g grated pecorino 2 teaspoons spirulina sticks salt to taste |
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Method
Put everything in a blender and adjust the oil until creamy. This spirulina pesto is great as a sauce for a good plate of pasta!
Vegan burgers with spirulina
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Ingredients 200 g spinach 100 g peas 40 g breadcrumbs 2 teaspoons spirulina powder oil, salt and pepper to taste
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Method
Blend the cooked spinach and peas with pepper, salt and oil to taste. Once blending, add the breadcrumbs to firm up the mixture. Shape the mixture with a pastry cutter and place the burgers on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Brush the tops with a little oil and bake at 180°C for about 20 minutes.
Fresh spirulina pasta
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Ingredients
2 eggs 10 g spirulina powder
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Method
Sift the flour into a bowl, then add the spirulina powder and the eggs. Knead with your hands until all the ingredients are combined. Work the dough on the worktop until it forms a ball, wrap it in cling film and leave it to rest in the fridge for 30 minutes. Then transfer the dough to a floured surface and roll it out with a rolling pin to about 1 millimetre thick. Roll the pasta up on itself and cut it into strips about half a centimetre wide. The spirulina pasta cooks in 4-5 minutes. For the sauce, let your imagination run free! We suggest a lentil ragù or a sauce of mixed vegetables sautéed in a pan.
If you don't have time to make fresh pasta, try our spirulina pasta!
As we have seen, spirulina in the kitchen is very versatile and can add flavour and colour to your dishes! Have fun trying spirulina recipes: it's a great way to eat healthily, colourfully and tastily!
