Preview
Easy Japanese Spinach Salad (Goma Ae)
5 min
Prep Time5 min
Cook Time10 min
Total TimeGoma ae (sesame spinach salad) is a classic Japanese side dish made with blanched spinach tossed in a nutty roasted sesame dressing. It’s delicious, healthy and surprisingly easy to make!
Ingredients (2 servings)
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250g English spinach
3 tbsp white sesame seeds
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp monk fruit erythritol sweetener
1/2 tsp mirin
1/2 tsp sake
- Toast sesame seeds in a nonstick skillet over medium-low heat until fragrant and lightly golden brown. Stir frequently to avoid burning.
- Let toasted sesame seeds cool down slightly, then grind them up with a mortar and pestle.
- Transfer ground sesame seeds to a small mixing bowl. Whisk in soy sauce, monk fruit erythritol sweetener, mirin and sake until combined. Set aside.
- Prepare an ice bath, and bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- Add spinach to boiling water and cook for 30 seconds. Drain and dunk in ice bath immediately to stop the cooking.
- Drain spinach and squeeze out as much excess liquid as you can with your hands.
- Roughly chop spinach into smaller pieces.
- Mix spinach with sesame sauce until combined. Serve warm or cold. Enjoy!
Notes
- When grinding the sesame seeds into paste, you can leave them coarsely ground for more texture, or grind them finely if you prefer a smoother texture.
- Feel free to substitute monk fruit erythritol sweetener with any other neutral-tasting sweetener of choice.
- Omit sake if you can’t take alcohol.
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