Prep: 15 minutes · Total: 25 minutes
16 servings
Chilling time: 10 minutes
Ingredients
Base
- 300 g / 2½ cups mixed nuts (walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts)
- 100 g / 8–10 Medjool dates, pitted
- 60 g / ½ cup raw cacao or cocoa powder
- 2 sheets nori, finely shredded (or 1 tbsp nori flakes)
- 2 tsp dark miso paste (barley or brown rice)
- 2 tbsp tahini or nut butter
- Pinch sea salt
Topping
- 200 g / 7 oz dark chocolate (75-85%)
- 2 tsp coconut oil or ghee
Sea salt and nori flakes (to garnish)
Method
- Line a 20 cm / 8 inch square tin with parchment paper
- In a food processor, pulse the nuts into fine crumbs. Add dates, cacao, nori, miso, tahini, and salt. Blend until a sticky dough forms. If dry, add 1–2 tbsp warm water.
- Press mixture firmly and evenly into the lined tin. Smooth the surface and chill while preparing the topping.
- Melt dark chocolate gently with coconut oil or ghee until glossy. Pour over the chilled base and spread evenly.
- Sprinkle with sea salt and a light dusting of nori flakes.
- Chill for 10 min until set. Slice with a warm knife into 16 small squares.
- I’ve made my fair share of energy balls and raw desserts over the years, the kind born from an athlete’s sweet tooth and a devotion to “healthy indulgence.” So, truth be told, I’m rarely seduced by these treats anymore.
- But every now and then, hunger strikes and choices are few. That’s how I found myself giving this one a chance, even though, honestly, chocolate and seaweed had long parted ways in my kitchen (or so I thought).
- And my, did it humble me. Rich, velvety chocolate. Gentle sweetness. A prickle of sea salt. And the most delicate touch of umami, not fishy in the slightest (take note, spirulina and chlorella). Perfectly balanced. Unexpected. Deeply satisfying and quietly nourishing.
- So here it is, a little copycat of the one that surprised me at Home Wellness in Primrose Hill, London, now ready for you to make and enjoy at home.
Yin–yang balance
: Deeply grounding and harmonising, this brownie blends cooling yin ingredients like cacao and nori with warming yang elements like miso and nuts to create a balanced, grounding, and deeply satisfying treat.
Nutrition facts
- Energy: 230 kcal
- Protein: 6 g
- Fat: 17 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g (of which sugars 7 g)
- Fibre: 4 g
Rich in: magnesium, calcium, antioxidants, healthy fats, trace minerals
Notes & variations
- Use a mix of nuts and seeds for varied texture and mineral balance.
- Add a light sprinkle of sesame seeds on the chocolate layer for contrast.
- Stores well for up to 1 week in the fridge in an airtight container.