Nutritious Stir-Fried Spinach (Geundae Namul)
Nutritious Stir-Fried Spinach (Geundae Namul)
Spring Delight! A Healthy and Appetizing Stir-Fried Spinach Recipe
As spring arrives, let’s make a delicious side dish with fresh spinach! When you stir-fry spinach, which is usually enjoyed in soups, with a refreshing sweet, sour, and salty seasoning, it becomes the ultimate ‘rice thief’ that brings back your appetite. Enjoy a healthy and delicious meal with this stir-fried spinach, featuring a wonderful combination of savory soybean paste and spicy red pepper paste. I’ll provide detailed tips so even beginners can easily follow along!
Ingredients- 10 leaves of spinach (Geundae)
- 1 pinch of coarse salt (for blanching)
- 0.3 Tbsp minced garlic
- 0.3 Tbsp red pepper paste (Gochujang)
- 0.5 Tbsp soybean paste (Doenjang)
- A little sesame oil
- A little toasted sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare the star of our stir-fried spinach dish: the spinach (Geundae). The spinach in the photo looked a bit wilted, so I decided to make it right away. I used a total of 10 leaves. Rinse them thoroughly under running water to remove any dirt or debris. If the stems are too tough, you can trim them slightly.
Step 2
To blanch the spinach perfectly, fill a pot with enough water to cover the spinach and bring it to a boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling vigorously, add a pinch of coarse salt. This helps maintain the spinach’s vibrant green color and ensures it stays crisp. Add the prepared spinach, starting with the stems, and blanch for about 30 seconds. Be careful not to over-blanch, as it can become mushy!
Step 3
Once blanched, immediately drain the spinach and place it in a colander. While it’s still steaming hot, rinse it under cold running water to cool it down. This step helps stop the cooking process and keeps the spinach crisp.
Step 4
After cooling in cold water, firmly squeeze out as much excess water as possible with both hands. If there’s too much water left, the dish might turn out bland, so squeezing is key! Once the water is removed, chop the spinach into bite-sized pieces.
Step 5
Now it’s time to season and mix! Place the squeezed spinach in a bowl. Add 0.3 Tbsp of minced garlic, 0.3 Tbsp of red pepper paste (Gochujang), and 0.5 Tbsp of soybean paste (Doenjang). (If you’re not a big fan of Doenjang, you can increase the Gochujang slightly.) Gently mix everything together with your hands until the seasoning is evenly distributed. Taste a little as you mix, and if it needs more seasoning, add a tiny bit of salt or soy sauce to your preference. My seasoning was just right, so I didn’t add any extra. Finally, drizzle in a swirl of sesame oil and sprinkle generously with toasted sesame seeds. Mix once more lightly, and your delicious stir-fried spinach is ready!
Step 6
Voila! Your appetizing stir-fried spinach is complete. It’s amazing to enjoy nutritious spinach in such a delicious way – a truly healthy dish that offers the best of both worlds. Thanks to the fantastic combination of savory soybean paste and spicy red pepper paste, it’s a ‘rice thief’ that will have you finishing your rice bowl in no time.
Step 7
The tender, soft texture of the spinach and its deep, savory flavor are incredibly satisfying. While it’s delicious in soups, stir-frying it offers a completely different and delightful charm. Add this healthy and tasty stir-fried spinach to your dinner table today for a fulfilling meal! 🙂
