Japan · Vegetable and Mushroom Dishes

Spinach in Sesame Sauce (Goma-ae)

A classic Japanese side dish — blanched spinach tossed in a nutty sesame-soy dressing with a touch of mirin and sugar.

15 min✻2 servings✻90 kcal
Spinach in Sesame Sauce (Goma-ae)

Ingredients

  • fresh spinach200 g
  • white sesame seeds1.5 tbsp
  • soy sauce1 tbsp
  • sugar0.5 tsp
  • mirin0.5 tsp

Method

  1. 1Blanch spinach in boiling water 30–40 seconds. Quickly transfer to cold water to stop cooking. Drain well and squeeze out excess moisture. Cut into 4–5 cm pieces.
  2. 2Toast sesame seeds in a dry pan until golden. Grind in a mortar or blender. Add soy sauce, sugar, and mirin. Mix well.
  3. 3Toss spinach with the sauce, mix gently. Chill before serving.
  4. 4Serve as a cold appetizer or side dish. Sprinkle with extra sesame seeds if desired.