Scientists over at the Hatfeild Marine Science Centre in Oregon State University have just created and patented the next superfood. They modified a certain strain of  red marine algae called Dulse which has twice the nutritional value of Kale. Packed full of minerals and protein and it looks like red lettuce; however as an added bonus the seaweed tastes like bacon.

Dulse grows wild along the Pacific and Atlantic coastlines which is then usually harvested, dried and then sold as a cooking ingredient or nutritional supplement. However the goal of the scientists was to turn it into a marketable food product.

Chris Langdon, a chief researcher behind the project said:

“There hasn’t been a lot of interest in using it in a fresh form. But this stuff is pretty amazing,”

“When you fry it, which I have done, it tastes like bacon, not seaweed. And it’s a pretty strong bacon flavour.”

Through partnerships with the Portland Food Innovation Centre and also with a number of chefs in the area the researchers are now looking to create dishes where Dulse is the main ingredient. After receiving a grant to continue to explore farming methods the research team will now have to look into producing Dulse for human consumption as it has previously only been produced in smaller quantities to feed shellfish.

If this seaweed tastes like bacon as much as the research team claims it does, I don’t think there will be any shortage of demand for it, and with it’s nutritional value I can see it being a big hit in the US.