nori
Roasted seaweed pressed into thin, paper-like sheets, savoury and lightly briny.
Sheets of sushi nori are sold in the Asian aisle of many larger supermarkets, with a wider choice and better grades in Asian grocers or by mail order. Keep opened packs dry and airtight or the sheets turn leathery; a few seconds over a flame or in a dry pan makes them crisp again.
Substitute:
For rolling or wrapping there is no workable substitute, since nothing else has the same form and strength. As a crumbled seasoning, aonori or furikake will do, carrying the taste of the sea but not the roasted note or the texture of the sheets.
Used in
Okonomiyaki with CamembertJapanese cabbage pancake with pork belly and a whole camembert melting inside40 minOnigiriFilled rice triangles with umeboshi and tuna mayo, wrapped in nori60 minOyakodonChicken and softly set egg over hot rice, on the table in 25 minutes25 minShōyu RamenClear soy sauce broth, pork belly marinated in the seasoning broth, egg and nori3,5 h