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Kelp

Kelp is an edible seaweed used in broths, stocks, and other savory dishes.

Kelp — illustrative ingredient image

About Kelp

Kelp is a broad group of large brown marine algae harvested as edible seaweed. It is used to make broths and stocks and to add a savoury, marine flavour to soups, sauces, and other dishes. The culinary category includes different species and product forms.

Its flavour is savoury and marine, while texture ranges from pliable to chewy. Some preparations develop a slippery surface, particularly after cooking or soaking. Sensory qualities depend on the species and whether the kelp is fresh, dried, salted, or powdered.

Kelp may appear as long leathery fronds, sheets, flakes, or granules. Dried kelp is often rehydrated or steeped, while fresh or salted forms may be rinsed and cooked. Powdered kelp is incorporated directly, so processing changes its texture and how its flavour disperses.

Ingredient type
whole food

Forms & related ingredients

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Where kelp appears

2 linked foods

Find foods to recognise by country and type. Recipes and products vary; these are recorded ingredient connections.

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Snacks

Soups

Ingredient connections awaiting review · Coverage is still growing, including packaged snacks.

Name examples awaiting language review. Confirm the specific food or product.

Local names for kelp

Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.

English

kelp

Available names only. Languages may be spoken in other countries; a name alone does not identify every ingredient in a dish.

Kelp nutrition & diet

Kelp nutritional value

Seaweed, kelp, raw

Per 100 g of the edible portion in the recorded food form.

Calories
43kcal
Protein
1.7g
Carbs
9.6g
Fat
0.6g

Reference values for the specific food form shown. Other varieties, brands and preparations can differ.

Portions & preparation

Establish the kelp species and whether it is fresh, dried, rehydrated, powdered, or used only to flavor and then removed from broth. Portion and preparation matter because drying concentrates the ingredient by weight, while soaking, rinsing, and discarding liquid alter the edible amount.

Compare the right form: Match the reference to the identified kelp species and to fresh, dried, rehydrated, powdered, or broth-extracted form and edible portion.

Diet considerations

Kelp is a plant-like marine seaweed, but a kelp preparation is not automatically a complete dish or universally compatible blend. Broths, seasonings, and sauces may contain fish, shellfish, meat, or cereal ingredients; dried flakes and powders also change portion-dependent carbohydrate patterns.

AI-authored reading notes · Awaiting editorial review. Measured values, where available, have a separate source above.

Dietary compatibility

  • Vegan
    Typically compatible
  • Vegetarian
    Typically compatible
  • Pescatarian
    Typically compatible
  • Keto
    Depends on the version
  • Paleo
    Typically compatible
  • Low-carb
    Depends on the version
  • Halal
    Not established
  • Kosher
    Not established
What these diet assessments mean
Vegan · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Vegetarian · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Pescatarian · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Keto · Depends on the version
Compatibility depends on the portion and preparation. A sourced carbohydrate amount for a defined serving is not available.
Paleo · Typically compatible
The plain form fits the conventional paleo food groups. Added ingredients and individual interpretations can differ.
Low-carb · Depends on the version
Compatibility depends on the portion and preparation. A sourced carbohydrate amount for a defined serving is not available.
Halal · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish halal status.
Kosher · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish kosher status.

For the plain ingredient · Awaiting review. Diet compatibility is not allergy suitability or halal/kosher certification. Keto and low-carb depend on the portion.

Reviewed ingredient entryIngredient reference · Preparations vary

AI-generated illustration for visual context. It does not identify a particular product or establish allergen content.

Sources & review

Nutrition reference: USDA FoodData Central — Seaweed, kelp, raw ↗. Values are scaled from 100 g of the recorded edible form. Individual portions have no assumed fixed weight.

Expanded overview, name examples and nutrition notes are database drafts awaiting editorial review. Numeric nutrition values, where shown, have their own source and food-form reference.

The ingredient description and dish connections come from the draft catalogue and may change after review.

Last recorded verification: .