November 1, 2024
Japanese Spinach Salad

Japanese Spinach Salad

Are you on the hunt to have a healthy side meal guilt-free? You have landed in the right place as Japanese Spinach Salad commonly goes by the name, Gomae taste deliciously.

This delectable Japanese ohitashi served with sesame dressing is my go-to recipe whenever I’m in the mood to try something light yet power-packed with nutrients. 

I occasionally explore Asian restaurants near me and try exotic veggies prepared uniquely. I along with my siblings would always try this recipe as it never loses its charm, so I thought I should give it a try at home. 

I have an attention span the size of a bug so I usually get distracted in the middle of hours-long recipes. But this recipe can be made up within minutes as you just have to blanch spinach, cut it down, and add the sesame dressing.

You will see how it will taste exactly like those exotic restaurants you visit and is one of the healthiest and vegan side meals you can add to your diet. 

Stay tuned with us to learn this delicious homemade Japanese spinach salad, its merits, how to store and some handy tips.

What Is Japanese Spinach Salad (Gomae)? 

It’s a side course made by boiling spinach and cutting it into bite-sized pieces. The blanched spinach called ‘Horenso’ is mixed with savory and nutty sesame sauce. 

You may come across this salad called Gomae because of its toasted sesame dressing. 

In Japan, this sesame dressing is usually served with other vegetables as well including carrots, green beans, asparagus, and Gobo i.e. burdock root.

Why You Should Love Japanese Spinach Salad? 

Are you going to add Japanese spinach salad to your next meal? Take a look at the reasons why you will love it: 

  • It can be made up within few minutes making it a perfect side meal when you are short on time.
  • The sesame dressing you make can be consumed with any other favorite vegetable of yours including green beans, kale, and Broccoli.
  • The taste will suit best your palette as it has nutty, rich, and sweet notes of flavor making it a perfect choice. 
  • Are you gluten-sensitive? Then kudos, this recipe is for you as it’s safe to consume with no traces of gluten whatsoever.  

How To Store Japanese Spinach Salad?

  • What if you have some leftover Japanese spinach salad? You can store it in the refrigerator. 
  • Just keep your spinach Ohitashi in an airtight container and it will last up to 2-3 days.
  • However, it is suggested that you consume it by warming it in the microwave as it tastes perfect when at room temperature.

Japanese Spinach Salad

Course: SideCourseCuisine: Asian, JapaneseDifficulty: easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

20

minutes
Calories

31

kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 bunch spinach

  • Pinch of kosher salt

  • 1/2 cup water

  • 1 piece dried kelp

  • 1 tablespoon light soy sauce

  • 1 tablespoon mirin

  • Toasted Sesame seeds (if you are a vegan)

Directions

  • Start the recipe by making kombu dashi, boil the water, and add dried kelp to it. Once boiling begins, remove the kombu.
  • To make the broth add mirin and light soy sauce into a pan.
  • Once boiling starts, turn off the flame.
  • In a pot take water and dip spinach into it, stalks first as they take longer to boil.
  • Boil for a minute and then transfer into cold water.

    Note: US spinach is tender comparatively to Chinese spinach, so keep notice that it doesn’t get overcooked.
  • Squeeze out water and cut spinach into 1 1/2 inch lengths, squeeze out excess water again.
  • Put into a mason jar and arrange it evenly now pour down the sauce and refrigerate for an hour.
  • Served the spinach ohitashi by pouring sauce again and sprinkling some sesame seeds.

Notes

  • Keep your sesame seeds whole and slightly toast them. It will impart a flavourful nutty and crunchy taste to your salad.
  • When you are blanching your vegetables,  add some salt to boiling water. It will keep the vibrancy of vegetables.
  • Vegetable stems take longer to cook, so always start boiling from stem ends.
  • Once you have boiled it, immediately have it run from ice-cold water to stop the heat that overcooks spinach.
  • Remove the water completely from the spinach so that the sesame dressing you have made doesn’t get diluted.

Nutrition Facts

1 servings per container


  • Amount Per ServingCalories31
  • % Daily Value *
  • Total Fat 1g 2%
    • Saturated Fat 1g 5%
  • Sodium 352mg 15%
  • Potassium 482mg 14%
  • Total Carbohydrate 4g 2%
    • Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
    • Sugars 2g
  • Protein 3g 6%

    * The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

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