Spicy and Sweet Spinach Salad with Gochujang
Spicy and Sweet Spinach Salad with Gochujang
A Delicious Twist: How to Make Savory Spinach Salad with Gochujang
Spinach salad is usually seasoned with salt, soy sauce, or fish sauce for a simple, clean taste. But for a change of pace and a burst of flavor, try dressing it with gochujang! This recipe offers a delightful spicy and sweet profile that perfectly complements the fresh spinach, making it an addictive side dish. Give this easy yet special spinach recipe a try!
Main Ingredients- 200g Spinach, blanched
- 1 Tbsp Chopped Scallions
- 1 Tbsp Coarse Sea Salt (for blanching)
Seasoning Ingredients- 1 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 tsp Oligodang (corn syrup) or sugar
- 1 Tbsp Maesilcheong (plum extract) or sugar
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 1 Tbsp Toasted Sesame Seeds
- 1 Tbsp Sesame Oil
- 1 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 tsp Oligodang (corn syrup) or sugar
- 1 Tbsp Maesilcheong (plum extract) or sugar
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 1 Tbsp Toasted Sesame Seeds
- 1 Tbsp Sesame Oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Start by washing your spinach thoroughly. Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil and add 1 tablespoon of coarse sea salt. Carefully add the spinach and blanch it for just about 10-20 seconds. Spinach cooks very quickly, so avoid overcooking to prevent it from becoming mushy. Just flip it once and remove.
Step 2
Immediately after blanching, rinse the spinach under cold running water to stop the cooking process and cool it down. Drain the spinach well in a colander, gently pressing out excess water. You can also lightly squeeze it with your hands.
Step 3
Now, let’s prepare the flavorful dressing! In a bowl, combine 1 tablespoon of gochujang, 1 teaspoon of oligodang (or sugar), 1 tablespoon of maesilcheong (or sugar), 1 tablespoon of minced garlic, 1 tablespoon of toasted sesame seeds, and 1 tablespoon of sesame oil. Mix everything together until you have a well-blended, delicious seasoning sauce.
Step 4
Gently take the blanched spinach and squeeze out any remaining water with both hands. Be careful not to squeeze too hard, as this can make the spinach clump together. Thoroughly draining the spinach is key to preventing a watery salad and ensuring the flavors meld beautifully over time.
Step 5
Add the well-drained spinach to the bowl with the gochujang dressing. Gently toss and mix the spinach with the sauce, ensuring it’s evenly coated. Avoid vigorous mixing; a gentle tossing motion is best. If you find it needs a little more seasoning, you can add a tiny bit of soup soy sauce, salt, or fish sauce, but this recipe is usually perfectly seasoned as is.
Step 6
Transfer the deliciously seasoned spinach salad to a serving dish. Finish with a generous sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds for an extra nutty aroma and visual appeal. Your flavorful spinach gochujang salad is now ready to be enjoyed!
Step 7
This gochujang-seasoned spinach offers a distinct depth of flavor, quite different from the usual light seasoning of soup soy sauce, salt, or fish sauce. You’ll appreciate its rich and savory character.
Step 8
While the simple, clean taste of spinach seasoned with fish sauce or soy sauce is classic, incorporating gochujang adds a wonderful spicy and sweet dimension that makes it truly special. This is a fantastic dish to try when you want to add a unique flavor to your meal or celebrate a special occasion.
Step 9
I noticed my garden spinach starting to bolt (flower). This means it’s the perfect time to enjoy its fresh flavor by making delicious dishes like this quickly! I’m glad I could make this while it’s in season. Enjoy making this tasty spinach salad yourself!
