Year of the Dragon

Chinese New Year is approaching faster than you can say seaweed salad.

Ok, maybe not that fast, but pretty close. Chinese New Year is on January 23 and this year, the Year of the Dragon, will be something special. 

It's going be an especially great year because this is the only mythological creature in the Chinese zodiac. The other creatures are all found on Earth, rabbit, tiger, ox, and so on. 

This year the Dragon will help us to face challenges on our road to success. Years of the Dragon are all supposed to be benevolent and full of grace, and I am predicting nothing different for this one. At least I hoping it will be!

And as this year is specifically the Year of the Water Dragon, I'm sharing with you one of my favourite Asian treats - Seaweed Salad. 

Seaweed Salad

1-lb bag of salted seaweed
2 teaspoons pickled ginger, thinly sliced into matchsticks
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon white or black sesame seeds

1. Rinse the seaweed in a large bowl of water, swishing the water around until most of the salt is removed. This might take a few rinses as the seaweed can be very salty.

2. Next, mix up the salad dressing. Combined ginger, vinegar, sugar, soy sauce, and sesame oil in a large bowl and mix well.

3. Toss the rinsed seaweed with the dressing and decorate individual bowls with the sesame seeds.

Use any kind of seaweed you can find, as long as it's thinly sliced! I know I'll have fun trying all the kinds I can find. :)