spinach goma-ae
Thanks to Nami, one of our newest Featured Foodies, we have this authentic Japanese side dish prepared with sesame seasoning. Freshly roasted sesame seeds really add aroma and flavor to the dish.
Spinach Goma-ae (Spinach with Sesame Sauce)
Author: Nami (justonecookbook.com)
Recipe type: Side
Serves: 4-6
Ingredients
- 1 bunch (1/2 pound) spinach
- 3 tbsp. roasted white sesame seeds (if you use pre-roasted, step 2 below is not necessary, but the extra step is highly recommended for more fragrance and flavor)
- 1½ tbsp. soy sauce
- 1 tbsp. sugar
- tsp. cooking sake
- tsp. mirin
Instructions
- Wash fresh spinach and boil lots of water in a large pot. While waiting for the water to boil, go on to the next step.
- (OPTIONAL) Put sesame seeds in a frying pan and roast them on low heat until 2-3 sesame seeds jump (similar to popcorn). Remove from the heat immediately.
- Put the roasted sesame seeds in a circular grinder and grind them with a wooden pestle (while it’s hot). If you don’t have a Japanese grinder any other spice grinder will do.
- Add seasonings and mix well to make the sesame sauce. Set aside.
- When water is boiling, put spinach in the pot starting from the stem because they take longer to cook. Push all the spinach into the water. Cook for 1 minute.
- Drain and soak the spinach in cold water until cool.
- Collect spinach from the bowl and squeeze water out of the spinach.
- Cut spinach into 2” lengths. Dry the bowl with towel and put the spinach back in the bowl.
- Add the sesame sauce into the bowl and mix well.