Goma-ae (Japanese Sesame Spinach)

Blanched spinach dressed in a nutty, sweet and savoury ground sesame sauce.

TIME BREAKDOWN
Prep: 10 min
Cook: 5 min
Total: 15 minutes
Vegetarian
✅
Nuts
❌
Serves
4 people
Difficulty
Very Easy

Ingredients

  • 400g fresh spinach, washed
  • 3 tbsp white sesame seeds
  • 1 tbsp caster sugar
  • 1 tbsp light soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp mirin

Method

  1. Toast the sesame seeds in a dry frying pan over a medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes until golden and fragrant, shaking the pan. Tip into a pestle and mortar or spice grinder and grind coarsely.

  2. Mix the ground sesame with the sugar, soy sauce and mirin to make a thick dressing.

  3. Bring a large pan of water to the boil, add the spinach and blanch for 30 seconds. Drain, refresh under cold water and squeeze out as much water as possible.

  4. Cut the spinach into 4cm lengths, toss with the dressing and serve in small bowls.