Crisp and Sweet Winter Spinach Side Dish
Crisp and Sweet Winter Spinach Side Dish
Simple and Delicious Winter Spinach Side Dish Recipe
This recipe is for a delicious spinach side dish, simply seasoned to highlight the natural sweetness and crispness of winter spinach. Made with fresh spinach picked straight from the garden, it offers a wonderful flavor and is perfect as a side for any meal. I’ll guide you step-by-step, including a tip on sowing seeds in batches, making it easy even for beginners.
Main Ingredients- 200g fresh spinach
- 10cm white part of a leek
Seasoning Ingredients- 0.5 Tbsp coarse sea salt (for blanching spinach)
- 1 Tbsp tuna extract or soup soy sauce (for seasoning)
- 0.5 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 0.5 Tbsp coarse sea salt (for blanching spinach)
- 1 Tbsp tuna extract or soup soy sauce (for seasoning)
- 0.5 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
For today’s dish, I’ve selected some spinach that has grown quite well from the first batch of seeds I sowed. We’ll start with fresh spinach, just picked from the garden.
Step 2
Winter spinach has various names depending on the region and variety, such as Namhaecho, Pohangcho, and Semcho. Spinach harvested in the colder winter months tends to be shorter with thicker leaves, offering a great texture. The spinach I harvested is also winter spinach, and it’s wonderfully tender and soft. Gently scrape off any dirt from the roots with a knife, then divide the spinach into portions and trim the stems. Remove any yellowed or wilted leaves, wash thoroughly under running water, and lightly drain.
Step 3
Bring a generous amount of water to a rolling boil in a pot, then add 0.5 tablespoon of coarse sea salt. Carefully add the washed spinach, starting with the root ends. Once the spinach wilts, turn it over and blanch for about 30 seconds. It’s crucial to blanch it just enough so it retains a slight crispness, often described as ‘salkang’ in Korean. Overcooking will make it mushy and unappetizing.
Step 4
Immediately after blanching, remove the spinach from the hot water and rinse it under cold running water to stop the cooking process and cool it down completely. Gently squeeze out as much water as possible from the spinach by hand. Excess water will dilute the seasoning and affect the taste.
Step 5
Finely chop the white parts of the leek you’ve prepared. The fragrant aroma of the leek will enhance the overall flavor of the spinach side dish.
Step 6
In a bowl, combine the squeezed spinach with the chopped leek, minced garlic, toasted sesame seeds, sesame oil, and tuna extract (or soup soy sauce). Gently mix and massage the ingredients together with your hands. Taste a small portion and adjust the seasoning with more soup soy sauce or salt if needed, according to your preference.
Step 7
The key to a delicious spinach side dish is the ‘blanching time.’ Avoid overcooking to maintain that delightful crisp texture. The seasoning is also very simple, making it easy for anyone to create a tasty dish. Winter spinach, in particular, has a unique sweetness and crispness that makes it exceptionally delicious.
Step 8
This spinach side dish, made with fresh ingredients straight from the garden, offers a refreshing, crisp texture and a natural sweetness that makes it an absolute rice thief! Enjoy it mixed with a bowl of warm rice for a delightful meal.
Step 9
Winter spinach side dishes are particularly flavorful, making them an irresistible accompaniment to any meal. Once you try it, you won’t be able to stop reaching for more. Be sure to give this recipe a try!
