A Japanese classic! Blanched spinach dressed with a sweet sesame dressing, this chilled side dish is a quick and healthy side dish.
I’ve already shared a goma ae recipe with you before, but spinach goma ae is so popular I thought it deserved a page of its own! Goma ae literally means sesame sauce, and it can be made with a variety of vegetables. A very popular osouzai, or side dish, spinach goma ae is a great and healthy way to add in some veggies to your meal! Out of all the sides I make, this is one of my favorites, and it’s so quick, I can’t get enough of it!
If you decide to make it often, you can speed up the process by making a large amount of sauce at once, then using a few spoonfuls at a time. Keep a small jar of it in your fridge, and you might find yourself mixing in to all sorts of veggies!
One thing I’d like to mention is that if you cook with sesame a lot, you’re going to want to invest in a mortar and pestle. Cracking open roasted sesame seeds really brings out the flavor, and since they’re so cheap, it’s an easy tool to add to your kitchen. (Plus it makes you feel like a scientist, you might find yourself grinding up all sorts of spices just for fun!)
Recipe – Spinach with Sesame Sauce:
– Grind your toasted sesame seeds with a suribachi.
– Mix in the soy sauce and sugar and stir to combine.
– Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then add the spinach. Cook until just wilted, about 3 minutes.
– Immediately transfer the spinach to a colander and rinse with cold water to prevent further cooking.
– Drain the spinach and gently squeeze out as much water as you can. Transfer the spinach to a cutting board, and cut into 2 inch strips.
– Mix the spinach with the sauce, then serve at room temperature or chilled.
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