asian spinach “salad”

Embrace the vibrant flavors of Korean cuisine with this simple spinach salad. A delicious and versatile dish that offers two delightful flavor variations. Our Asian spinach varieties are the highlight of this dish, a nutritious leafy green that takes on a new life in this recipe. Whether you like savory or spicy, this vegetable centric dish is an excellent warm salad for the colder weather coming this season.

This salad is a celebration of simplicity and bold flavors. Blanched spinach is gently seasoned with soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, and toasted sesame seeds, creating a harmonious blend of savory, nutty, and umami notes. The addition of green onions and if you prefer a spicy dish, chili flakes or peppers, transforms this humble salad into a flavorful and healthy Korean classic. Based on the traditional Sigumchi Namul, this warm salad using asian spinach and greens is a versatile dish that can be served as a refreshing side or a light meal, showcasing the beauty of Korean cuisine in a nourishing and delicious way.

Photo and recipe adapted from Tiffy cooks food blog.

Visit their site to see original recipe, photos and details or scroll down for our interpretation.

asian spinach “salad”

prep time: 5 min
cook time:5 min

4-6 servings

Dish ingredients

1-2 bags of Asian spinach

4 cloves of garlic

4 tbsp of soy sauce

4 tbsp of sesame oil

1 green onion

2 tbsp of sesame seeds

1 tsp of sugar

1/2 tbsp of Korean red chili flakes

1/2 tbsp of Korean chili paste

Preparation

1. Prep vegetables and fruit.
   Wash Asian spinach, remove any wilted leaves but keep stems.
   Prep and mince garlic.
   Chop green onion.

2. In a pot, add 1 tsp of salt and bring to a boil; once it is boiling, add in the spinach and blanch for 30 seconds. After 30 seconds, remove and rinse spinach with cold water to stop the cooking.

3. Squeeze out all the excess water and form it into two balls. Roughly chop the spinach to desired bite size.

4. Prepare desired seasonings (savory or spicy) in a bowl:

   Savory:
   In a bowl, mix 2 cloves of minced garlic, 2 tbsp of soy sauce, 2 tbsp of sesame oil, ½ of the chopped green onion 1 tbsp of crushed sesame seeds.

   Spicy:
   In a bowl, mix 2 cloves of minced garlic, 2 tbsp of soy sauce, 2 tbsp of sesame oil, ½ of the chopped green onion, 1 tbsp of crushed sesame seeds, 0.5 tbsp of Korean red chili flakes, 0.5 tbsp of Korean chili paste and 1 tsp of sugar. Alternatively, you could dice and use fresh chili peppers as well.

5. Add flavored oil to the spinach and mix. Taste and season as needed. Serve on it’s own as a light meal or pair with rice or a main dish of your choice. Enjoy!

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