Sea grapes are a type of fresh seaweed that is increasingly chosen by many Vietnamese families thanks to their natural crispness, ease of eating, and high nutritional value. However, many people are still wondering what to cook with sea grapes, or what dishes are delicious with sea grapes to both preserve their characteristic flavor and suit the taste of the whole family.
In this article, Ola Squid will suggest delicious dishes from sea grapes that are simple and easy to make at home, while also sharing proper preparation and storage methods and answering frequently asked questions, helping you use sea grapes safely and effectively in your daily meals.
What to cook with sea grapes?
If you have ever eaten fresh sea grapes, you will easily become “addicted” to the gentle popping sensation when chewing and the natural salty taste of the sea. Thanks to that characteristic, dishes made from sea grapes usually do not require overly sophisticated processing, mainly focusing on skillfully combining them with other ingredients. Below are specific suggestions you can apply immediately.
Sea grape salad
Sea grape salad is the easiest dish to make and is also a familiar choice when mentioning dishes made from sea grapes. This dish fully preserves the fresh crispness of sea grapes, making it very suitable for dieters or those needing a light appetizer.
Ingredients:
- Fresh sea grapes: 100g
- Cherry tomatoes: 100g
- Cucumber: 1 fruit
- Onion: 1/4 bulb
- Boiled shrimp or canned tuna: 100g
- Olive oil: 2 tablespoons
- Lemon juice: 1 tablespoon
- Salt, ground pepper: sufficient amount

How to make sea grape salad:
- Soak sea grapes in clean water for 3-5 minutes, rinse to reduce saltiness, and drain.
- Cut cherry tomatoes in half, slice the cucumber thinly, and soak the onion in ice water to reduce the pungent smell.
- Peel the boiled shrimp or drain the tuna oil.
- Place all ingredients in a large bowl, gently mix with olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
- Season to taste and serve immediately to maintain crispness.
Sea grape salad answers very completely the question of what to cook with sea grapes when you need a fast, healthy, and beautiful dish.
Sea grape soup with shrimp
If you are looking for what delicious soup to cook with sea grapes for a family meal, sea grape soup with shrimp is an option worth trying. The soup is light and easy to eat, suitable for both adults and children.
Ingredients:
- Fresh sea grapes: 80-100g
- Fresh shrimp: 200g
- Shallot: 1 bulb
- Minced garlic: 1/2 teaspoon
- Broth or filtered water: 1 liter
- Salt, seasoning powder, pepper: to taste

Method:
- Prepare sea grapes to reduce saltiness and drain.
- Peel the shrimp, remove the vein, and wash clean.
- Sauté shallots and garlic until fragrant, add shrimp and stir-fry quickly until firm.
- Pour broth into the pot, bring to a boil, season with salt and seasoning powder to taste.
- Add sea grapes last, simmer for another 1-2 minutes then turn off the heat.
- Sprinkle with a little pepper before serving.
Sea grape soup does not need to be cooked for long; if boiled too much, the seaweed will lose its crispness—this is an important note when preparing dishes made from sea grapes in liquid form.
See more: What to cook with scallops? 27 home-cooking secrets revealed
Sweet and sour sea grape salad with beef shank
This salad is an interesting combination of sea grapes and beef, suitable for small parties or weekend family meals. For many people, this is the most “matching” answer to the question what to cook with sea grapes.
Ingredients:
- Sea grapes: 100g
- Boiled beef shank: 200g
- Onion: 1/2 bulb
- Vietnamese coriander, mint: sufficient amount
- Fish sauce: 2 tablespoons
- Sugar: 1.5 tablespoons
- Lemon or calamansi juice: 1.5 tablespoons
- Minced chili, minced garlic: depending on taste

How to make sweet and sour sea grape salad with beef shank:
- Prepare sea grapes and drain.
- Slice beef shank thinly against the grain.
- Slice onion thinly and soak in ice.
- Mix the dressing including fish sauce, sugar, lemon, garlic, and chili.
- Put sea grapes, beef, onion, and herbs in a bowl, mix well with the sweet and sour fish sauce.
- Taste again, you can sprinkle with roasted peanuts.
The salad brings a harmonious salty, sour, and sweet taste, which is very “appetizing” when eaten cold.
Tofu in oyster sauce with sea grapes
This is a dish that can be eaten both vegetarian and non-vegetarian, suitable for days when you need a change of taste. When talking about dishes made from sea grapes that are simple yet delicious, tofu in oyster sauce is a noteworthy suggestion.
Ingredients:
- Sea grapes: 80g
- Soft tofu: 2 blocks
- Oyster sauce: 2 tablespoons
- Soy sauce: 1 tablespoon
- Cooking oil: 1 tablespoon
- Green onions: chopped

Detailed method:
- Prepare sea grapes and drain.
- Cut tofu into bite-sized pieces, lightly fry until golden.
- Mix oyster sauce with soy sauce and 2–3 tablespoons of water.
- Pour the sauce into the pan, simmer gently, then add tofu to coat evenly.
- Turn off the heat, arrange tofu on a plate, and sprinkle sea grapes and green onions on top.
This dish should be eaten while still warm to clearly feel the contrast between the soft tofu and crunchy sea grapes.
Sea grapes with roasted sesame sauce
If you don’t know what to cook with sea grapes while still keeping their full natural flavor, try the simplest way to eat them: sea grapes with roasted sesame sauce.
Ingredients:
- Sea grapes: 100g
- Roasted sesame sauce: 3-4 tablespoons
- Lemon or calamansi: a few drops

Method:
- Soak sea grapes in water and drain.
- Arrange sea grapes on a plate, served with roasted sesame sauce.
- You can lightly squeeze lemon into the sauce to increase the freshness.
This way of eating is very popular in Japanese restaurants, helping you best sense the quality of the sea grapes.
Reference more: What to cook with field crabs? 11 nutrient-rich dish suggestions
Sea grapes served with Sushi and Sashimi
In Japanese cuisine, sea grapes are often used as a side dish with sushi and sashimi. This is also a great suggestion for what modern dishes to cook with sea grapes.
Ingredients:
- Sea grapes: 50-80g
- Salmon, tuna sashimi: optional
- Sushi rolls: optional type
- Wasabi, Japanese soy sauce

How to use:
- Prepare sea grapes and drain.
- Arrange on the same plate with sashimi or sushi.
- Dip in soy sauce and wasabi.
Sea grapes help balance the fat of raw fish, making the meal less greasy.
Grilled squid rolls with sea grapes
This is a combination that fits perfectly with Ola Squid’s seafood spirit. If you want to refresh the menu of dishes made from sea grapes, try grilled squid rolls with sea grapes.
Ingredients:
- Fresh squid: 2 (about 400g)
- Sea grapes: 80g
- Salt, pepper, chili powder: to taste
- Olive oil or cooking oil

Method:
- Clean the squid, cut into pieces suitable for rolling.
- Marinate squid with salt, pepper, and chili powder for about 10 minutes.
- Roll sea grapes inside the squid, use a toothpick to secure.
- Grill over charcoal or pan-sear until the squid is golden brown.
- Eat hot, can be dipped in lemon chili salt. For high-quality ingredients, you can find whole dried squid for other unique recipes at Ola Squid.
This dish is very suitable for BBQ parties or weekend dinners.
See more: What to cook with baby clams? Top 10 easy-to-cook recipes
How to prepare fresh sea grapes
Fresh sea grapes usually have a salty taste because they are preserved in saltwater. Before processing dishes made from sea grapes, you should:
- Soak sea grapes in clean water for 3-5 minutes.
- Rinse 1-2 times until it suits your taste.
- Do not soak for too long to prevent the grapes from becoming soft.
Proper preparation helps sea grapes maintain their crispness and natural flavor.
Those notes when storing sea grapes
- Fresh sea grapes should be stored at cool room temperature, avoiding sunlight.
- Do not keep sea grapes in the freezer of the refrigerator.
- After opening the bag, use within 2-3 days.
- Always seal tightly to prevent the seaweed from drying out.

Frequently Asked Questions
What do sea grapes taste like when eaten?
Sea grapes have a mild natural salty taste of the sea, are crunchy and cool. When chewed, there is a very characteristic popping sensation.
What substances do sea grapes contain?
Sea grapes are rich in fiber, calcium, iodine, vitamins A, C, and several minerals beneficial for digestion and joints.
How many types of sea grapes are on the market today?
The most common are fresh sea grapes and dehydrated sea grapes (processed for longer storage). Each type is suitable for different needs.
Hopefully, the above sharing has helped you answer the question of what to cook with sea grapes, what dishes are delicious with sea grapes, and also suggested more processing ways that are easy to apply in daily meals. Whether combining simply or improvising with squid, shrimp, or beef, sea grapes still bring a fresh and attractive flavor. Don’t forget to follow Ola Squid to discover more delicious seafood recipes and quality squid products at our online shop for your family.

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