Sesame Spinach Recipes

SESAME SPINACH

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to the boil and fill a large bowl with cold water and a handful of ice. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, stir together the sesame oil, soy sauce, sesame seeds, vinegar, sugar, garlic and pepper to taste, until the sugar has dissolved. Set the dressing aside.
• Blanch the spinach in the boiling water until just wilted, then scoop straight into the cold water. Drain well and squeeze out any excess water. Gently loosen the clumps of spinach with your fingers, transfer to the bowl of sesame dressing and toss together. Cover and chill for about 1 hr to let the flavours mingle.

GARLIC-SESAME SPINACH

Steps:

• Cook 8 to 10 garlic cloves and a pinch of red pepper flakes in a skillet with vegetable oil until the garlic is golden. Add 10 cups baby spinach and cook until wilted; add a big splash of water and some salt. Top with toasted sesame seeds and drizzle with sesame oil.

JAPANESE SPINACH WITH SWEET SESAME SEEDS

Steps:

• Heat the sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat until hot. Add the spinach 3 to 4 cups at a time. Cook and stir to wilt, then add more spinach.
• Grind the sesame seeds into fine crumbs using a mortar and pestle. When spinach is wilted, move it to the sides of the pan and sprinkle sugar in the center. When the sugar melts, stir in the spinach to coat.
• Transfer spinach to a serving plate and sprinkle ground sesame seeds on top.

SESAME SPINACH

Steps:

• Bring pot of lightly salted water to boil.
• Add spinach, remove as soon as leaves turn bright green (will shrink significantly).
• Immediately rinse with cold water.
• Drain and squeeze out as much water as possible (best to grab handful and squeeze like a ball) Place spinach in bowl with sauce mixture and toss well.

COLD SESAME SPINACH

Steps:

• Prepare an icewater bath. Bring 3 quarts of salted water to a boil. Add the spinach and blanch quickly, 15 to 20 seconds. Drain and plunge into the icewater bath. Drain the spinach well and chop coarsely. Place in a medium serving bowl. Whisk together the sesame oil, vinegar, soy sauce, chili paste, ginger and sugar. Pour the mixture over the spinach and mix to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste and sprinkle with the toasted sesame seeds. Serve at room temperature or cold.

JAPANESE-STYLE SPINACH, WITH SESAME SEEDS

Steps:

• Toast sesame seeds by placing them in a pan in a 300-degree oven for about 10 minutes, until lightly brown. Set aside.
• Thoroughly wash spinach, dry it and remove stems. Coarsely chop.
• Heat peanut oil in a large skillet, add spinach and cook, stirring, from three to five minutes, until the moisture has evaporated from the pan and the spinach has just wilted.
• Spoon spinach into a serving dish, toss with sesame oil and soy sauce and serve sprinkled with sesame seed.

JAPANESE SESAME SPINACH

Steps:

• Clean the spinach and remove any tough stems. Shake off excess water and place in a pot. Set aside.
• In a dry skillet, roast the sesame seeds for a couple of minutes until fragrant and golden. DO NOT burn them!
• Combine sugar and soy sauce. Stir to dissolve the sugar. Add the sesame seeds.
• Place spinach on high heat and steam for 2-3 minutes until wilted. Drain if necessary. Toss with soy-sesame mixture and serve.

COLD SESAME SPINACH

Steps:

• Wash spinach well, discarding any course stems, and drain in colander. In a 3- to 4- quart saucepan bring water to a boil. Add spinach and steam covered, 2 minutes. Drain spinach in colander, gently pressing out most of liquid. In a bowl toss spinach with oil, soy sauce, and salt and pepper to taste. Chill spinach, uncovered, for 25 minutes.
• While spinach is chilling, in a dry small heavy skillet (not non-stick) toast sesame seeds over moderate heat, stirring, until golden, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Toss spinach with sesame seeds and vinegar.

SESAME STEAMED SPINACH

Steps:

• Bring the water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add spinach one bunch at a time, covering pan after each addition and adding more spinach once the prior batch has wilted. When all spinach is in the pan, let steam, covered, until completely wilted, about 30 seconds.
• Drain spinach in a colander, pressing down with a wooden spoon to extract as much liquid as possible; let cool slightly.
• Transfer spinach to a serving bowl, and drizzle with sesame oil, vinegar, and half the toasted sesame seeds. Toss well to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled, and garnish with remaining sesame seeds.

SAUTEED SESAME SPINACH WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Heat sesame oil, olive oil, and garlic in a medium skillet over high heat until garlic starts to brown, about 1 minute. Add pepper, mushrooms, and asparagus. Cook, stirring, until tender, 2 to 3 minutes; season with salt and pepper.
• Add spinach and continue cooking until slightly wilted. Sprinkle vegetables with sesame seeds and serve immediately, garnished with lime wedges.

SESAME SPINACH WITH GINGER AND GARLIC

Steps:

• Mince garlic and in a small dry skillet toast sesame seeds over moderate heat, stirring, until golden. In a heavy 6-quart kettle heat oil over moderate heat until hot but not smoking and cook garlic and gingerroot, stirring, 30 seconds, or until fragrant and golden. Add spinach by handfuls, stirring, and cook until just wilted.
• Serve spinach sprinkled with sesame seeds.