Dillisk is what they call dulse in Ireland. They have funny names for everything in Ireland. Dulse, by the way, is a yummy in the tummy super powered sea vegetable. On a little afternoon drive to lunch in Ballyvaughn, we came upon some gents out by the shore collecting the sea weed and hunting for mussels. When I called out to see what they were up to, they tossed me up a little sea snail like thing. I have never met such friendly people as those in the small towns we visited in west Ireland.
The type of seaweed they were after was dillisk. Dillisk is typically harvested and then dried out. I acquired mine at the Kinvara Farmer’s Market- the small market in the town where we were staying- about 25 km from Gallway. Dillisk is a sea vegetagble- a nicer term for marine algae- which is really what it is. It is eaten on both sides of the North Atlantic- but it was nice to be able to get it right at it’s source. I’ve never had local algae before.
Dulse or Dillisk is reddish brown and is considered a delicacy, though you can even buy it in some pubs in Ireland. Maybe it’s not the Guiness that keeps people strong here but the seaweed they snack on along with it.
According to the men I met, it’s easy to harvest it yourself from rocks where it has dried in the sun. It grows in the inter-tidal regions, so it is relatively easy to access.
Dulse is exceptionally nutritious, containing around 10 – 20% protein and a whole heap of vitamins and minerals, including magnesium, iron and beta carotene (which the body uses to manufacture vitamin A.) Also high in B6 and B12, as well as iron, potassium and fluorine (very different from flouride). Unlike other seaweeds, it is relatively low in sodium. Seaweed in general is also a superior source of iodine which helps to support proper thyroid function.
There are many ways to eat dulse. My personal favourite is wrapped around a slice of apple as sort of the vegan version of proscuitto and melon- mixing up the salty and the sweet. It can easily be added to soups and stews, mixed in to rice dishes or added to salads. It is from the sea and tastes like it is. For this reason, it also has a bit of a salt taste- though the salt comes more from the abundance of minerals than the actual sodium content. For more on seaweeds, download this very useful guide to sea veggies.
And here are a few more photos from our visit to Ballyvaughn.
Ireland… so green!
Everywhere we looked was like this perfect image of Ireland- delivered on every cliche!
I loved this little house with the bright yellow trim and a view of the sea.
Amazing beauty!
Perfect view from the restaurant where we had lunch (and where they happened to offer both a dairy-free and wheat-free menu)
Green algae
And the group of us in Ballyvaughn. I may be little but I also have excpetionally tall friends. I suppose I am as close as got to finding a wee little leprichaun. (From left- James, Vannessa (aka The Thistle), Jacob, Me, D’arcy, Ian, Jordy and Rae). We all met when we were 13 and 14 years old. Being in Ireland together fifteen years later was amazing!
PDF 
Facebook
Flickr
LinkedIn
Twitter
RSS
Youtube
iTunes
I’ll have to look for that the next time I’m out! And your photos are amazing, what a beautiful place for a wedding!
oh my!! what a lovely place!! Just gorgeous Meghan!! I bet you had a wonderful time!! what were the temperatures like there??
Welcome home! You are a wee one, aren’t you?
Gorgeous pics. Thank you for sharing your travels with us.
First- I need to get some dulse. I keep hearing wonderful things about sea veggies but haven’t been brave enough to try them yet. Are they only beneficial when eaten raw or is it ok to add to things like soup as well?
Second- Gorgeous photos…. please take me with you next time?! How were the food options? Did you feel like you easily found healthy choices?
Third- You are adorable!! How tall are you? I love that you’re wearing hot pink amongst everyone’s dark jackets. So glad you had a nice time!
Yes. I am little. Five feet with a potential 1/2 inch to add to it
My friends are also all quite tall.
I would probably like dillisk too.
Your photos are superb! What color and clarity.
It sounds like a great trip & friends.
Meghan, I love that you are about the same height as me! I have to know- do you wear makeup? You have the most beautiful skin!!
[...] plant than food to eat, but I did come away with raw goat milk cheeses, some fresh eggs and a sweet jar of the local dillisk… and made a special new friend- featured in my [...]
Found your blogg searching for dillisk which we were also introduced to this summer just down the coast from Kinvarra at Seafield in County Clare.
Great description of dillisk. On my first trip to Ireland, I sat next to an old Irishman on the plane. He gave me some of the dillisk. He told me he chewed it to calm his nerves while flying.
[...] bring home seaweed. When I was in Ireland last May, I brought back a local harvest of dillisk (similar to what we know of as dulse). From St. Lucia, I smuggled back a garbage bag full of sea [...]
[...] bring home seaweed. When I was in Ireland last May, I brought back a local harvest of dillisk (similar to what we know of as dulse). From St. Lucia, I smuggled back a garbage bag full of sea [...]
Jen- Thanks for the compliment! And no- I rarely wear any makeup. If anything it will be mascara and lip gloss but never any kind of foundation or concealer or anything like that. I get asked this all the time- about my beauty routine. A video will surely follow shortly. All from the inside. A healthy diet is the best skin regime.
Jen- Thank you for the compliment! And no- I don’t wear makeup. I’ll put on a little mascara for special occasions but never any kind of foundation or concealer. Best skin regime is a clean diet.