This is a series of experiments testing the possibilities of kombu/kelp as a material. The first set of experiments focuses on using kombu after it was used to make dashi. This repurposes food waste into a productive material.
The best material result from these experiments came from using 100% kombu, with just enough gelatin to hold it together. After fully drying, this mixture became incredibly hard, but its best future is its biggest weakness: irregular drying deformation.
Timofei Osipenko
Ingredient Prep: 15 min
Blending: 15 min
Drying = Multiple days
5/10
1. Make dashi, and save the leftover kombu.
2. Measure out kombu and cut up into pieces that your blender can process. Adjust water and gelatin amounts accordingly.
3. Slowly add warm water and kombu to the blender to preserve the motor. Blend until it is thoroughly mixed.
4. Once the water and kombu are blended, hydrate the gelatin. In a separate pot, add boiling water to gelatin until it dissolves, then add it to the kombu blender.
5. Blend the water, gelatin, and kombu and pour into molds.
6. Drying time depends on the shape, size, and depth of the chosen mold, but these experiments took multiple days before they could be removed.
