Lady fishers of Concepcion, Iloilo turn seaweed into tasty snack

To add to their income, a group of lady fisherfolk on an island in Concepcion, Iloilo makers have learned to make cracker snacks from seaweed.

Regina Azuelo, president of the Sitio Lo-oc Polopiña Small Fisherfolks Association (SILOSFA), shared in the program “Biyahe ni Drew,” making the seaweed crackers serves as a helpful sideline for their members since their other jobs don’t earn enough for their daily needs.

Seaweed, the main ingredient for the seaweed crackers, are sourced fresh and directly from the sea.

They first sun dry the seaweed for several hours. After this, the dried seaweed is washed several times to clean and remove the salty aftertaste.

The process is followed by soaking the seaweed in water for 24 hours, and later boiled.

After boiling, the seaweed is pureed and mixed with flour into a dough. The mixture is then flattened and later sliced into small pieces that are then fried in hot oil.

The crackers, similar to corn chips, come in different flavors such as cheese, sour cream and the best seller, barbecue.

The seaweed crackers are a big help to the women, and has taken them to trade fairs with support from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

“Actually itong seaweeds… ang seedlings galing itong BFAR at saka yung mga kagamitan namin,” Azuelo said.

(The seaweed seedlings and our equipment actually comes from the BFAR.)

When host Drew tried the crackers, it passed the taste test and consider these as a nice alternative to usual snack treats. Watch the video how these seawood crackers are made. —RF, GMA News