Spinach Kuro Goma-ae (Sweet Black Sesame Dressing)

Method11 steps · about 10 min

1. 1

   Step 1: Put all three tablespoons of already-roasted black sesame seeds in a dry frying pan. Toast over medium heat for two to three minutes, stirring and watching until fragrant; do not add oil.

   Uses 3 tbsp already-roasted black sesame seeds

2. 2

   Step 2: Transfer the toasted sesame to a mortar and grind until most seeds are broken down.

   Uses All the warm toasted seeds

3. 3

   Step 3: Stir the soy sauce (1 tbsp), sugar (1 tbsp) and mirin (1 tsp) into all the ground sesame to make the dressing.

   Uses All the ground sesame · 1 tbsp soy sauce · 1 tbsp sugar · 1 tsp mirin

4. 4

   Step 4: Fill a large pot with enough water to blanch the spinach, add the salt (1 pinch) pinch and bring to a boil.

   Uses Enough water for the spinach blanching pot · 1 pinch salt for spinach blanching water

5. 5

   Step 5: Wash the spinach (200 g) well, including soil near the roots. Hold the stem ends in the boiling water for about fifteen seconds with the leaves above it, then submerge the leaves. Boil for about thirty seconds more until the stems soften.

   Spinach stems 15 sec, then whole leaves 30 sec · 1 minUses 200 g fresh spinach · The prepared blanching pot

   
6. 6

   Step 6: Drain the blanched spinach and rinse with cold water to cool it, checking that any remaining dirt near the stem clusters is removed.

   Uses All the cooked spinach · Cold water to rinse and cool the cooked spinach

7. 7

   Step 7: Take a few stems at a time, squeeze out as much water as possible and lay them horizontally on a board. Repeat with all the cooked spinach.

   Uses All the cooled spinach

8. 8

   Step 8: Trim the roots just above their pink part to separate the individual stems and leaves.

   Uses All the squeezed spinach

9. 9

   Step 9: Cut all the cooked spinach into five-centimetre lengths.

   Uses All the root-trimmed spinach

10. 10

    Step 10: Squeeze any remaining water from each small bunch of cut spinach, then add it to the prepared sesame dressing. If the mortar is too small, move all the dressing to a bowl before adding all the spinach.

    Uses All the cut cooked spinach · All the mixed dressing

    
11. 11

    Step 11: Mix until every piece of spinach is coated in the sesame dressing. Divide into four small serving bowls.

    Uses All the assembled spinach and dressing