Sesame Spinach

Some of my favourite Japanese food is the simplest. Sesame Spinach or Hourensou no goma-ae is one example – lightly cooked spinach in a salty-sweet sesame dressing. This a standard homestyle Japanese recipe and so easy to make. Before you know it you’ll be eating as much spinach as Popeye!

Sesame Spinach

1 bunch spinach (approx 200 g)
3 Tbsps toasted sesame seeds (white or golden)
½ Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp soy sauce
2 Tbsps dashi (Japanese soup stock) or water

Wash the spinach well and trim any roots off. Cut partway through any thick stems with either a line or cross-hatch.

Add the spinach to a large pot of rapidly boiling water and boil for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Drain and rinse in very cold water. Once cold enough to handle, squeeze out excess water and cut into 3 cm lengths.

To make the sesame dressing, partially grind the sesame seeds in a small mortar and pestle and then add the sugar, soy sauce and dashi. Continue grinding until well mixed, then stir through the spinach.

Serves 2. Approximately 120 kcal per serve.

Note, this sesame dressing works with a range of green vegetables, summer beans being top of the list.