Crisp and Delicious Seasoned Spinach
Mom’s Secret Recipe! Simple and Healthy Seasoned Spinach – The Perfect Blanching Method
Tired of overly seasoned dishes? Craving a clean and healthy side dish? This seasoned spinach recipe, a taste of childhood nostalgia, is just what you need. Passed down from my mother, I’ll guide you through the best way to enjoy spinach. Its tender yet crisp texture, combined with the rich aroma of sesame oil, makes it an irresistible side that perfectly complements any meal!
Main Ingredients
- 1 bunch spinach
- Salt to taste
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp sesame seeds
- 0.5 Tbsp minced garlic
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare your fresh spinach. If the roots are heavily soiled, trim them or gently scrape off the dirt to clean them thoroughly. If you enjoy eating the roots, make sure to meticulously clean away all dirt. Otherwise, you can trim off the root ends.
Step 2
Inspect the entire bunch of spinach and remove any wilted, yellowed, or damaged leaves. Using the freshest spinach will result in the most delicious dish.
Step 3
Rinse the spinach thoroughly under running water multiple times to wash away any dirt or debris clinging to the leaves. This careful rinsing ensures no gritty texture in your final dish.
Step 4
After washing, place the spinach in a colander to drain. Let the water drip off naturally. Avoid squeezing out all the moisture, as this can cause the spinach to lose its freshness too quickly.
Step 5
Bring about 1 liter of water to a rolling boil in a pot over high heat. Once boiling, you’ll add the prepared spinach. For brighter color and a subtle seasoning, add about 0.5 tablespoon of coarse salt to the boiling water.
Step 6
A crucial tip: When blanching spinach, do not cover the pot. Blanching with the lid off helps the spinach retain its crisp texture and prevents it from becoming mushy.
Step 7
Submerge the prepared spinach into the boiling water and gently loosen it with chopsticks for about 1 minute. Overcooking will make the spinach tough and diminish its nutrients, so aim for just 1 minute – this short blanching time is key!
Step 8
Immediately after blanching, transfer the spinach to a bowl of cold water and rinse it several times. This shocking in cold water helps to firm up the spinach and preserve its vibrant green color.
Step 9
Now it’s time to gently squeeze the water out of the rinsed spinach. Be careful not to wring it out too tightly, as this can make the seasoned spinach dry and crumbly. Squeeze lightly so the spinach remains pleasantly moist.
Step 10
Let’s make a delicious seasoning! This spinach dish is wonderfully flavorful with just salt, but for an enhanced taste, we’ll add 0.5 tablespoon of salt, 0.5 tablespoon of minced garlic, and a generous amount of sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds.
Step 11
Gently mix and toss the spinach with the seasonings using your hands until everything is well combined. Taste the seasoned spinach and adjust the salt or add a tiny splash of soy sauce if needed, to suit your personal preference. Enjoy your perfectly seasoned spinach!
