Gomae (Japanese Spinach Salad with Mirin-Sesame Dressing)
Gomae, also known as goma-ae or gomaae, is a traditional Japanese spinach salad made with blanched, squeezed-out spinach and a savory and slightly sweet sesame seed dressing that usually contains gluten. This version is gluten free gomae. Toss the dressing with the spinach, or ball up spinach servings in two big balls and serve them with the sauce on top or on the side, like they do in restaurants when trying to be fancy. Either way, this dish is so so simple to make, plant-based, delicious, and nutritious.
Gluten Free Gomae (Japanese Blanched Spinach Salad with Mirin-Sesame Dressing)
This dish is commonly served in Japanese restaurants as a carefully shaped, packed tangle of blanched and well-drained spinach either bathing in or covered with a creamy, easy-peasy sesame-seed sauce. Make extra and store the spinach and sauce separately for instant snacks or side dishes later.
Prep Time 4 minutes
Cook Time 1 minute
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 2
Calories 129 kcal
Ingredients
- 2 5-ounce bags baby spinach leaves
- 1/4 cup toasted sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon gluten-free tamari
- 1 tablespoon mirin (Japanese sweet cooking sake)
- 1-1/2 teaspoons sugar
Instructions
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Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
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Meanwhile, in a small food processor or mortar and pestle (or a sealed baggie with a rolling pin), process or mash the seeds until they are mostly crushed (it’s fine if some whole seeds remain). Add the tamari, mirin, and sugar and mix to combine. Taste and adjust flavor, if desired. Set aside.
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Add the spinach to the boiling water and let wilt, about 30 seconds. Drain to a colander and let cool until cool enough to handle. Working in bunches, squeeze as much water as you can out of the spinach.
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In a bowl, toss together the spinach and sesame dressing, and serve.
Nutrition Facts
Gluten Free Gomae (Japanese Blanched Spinach Salad with Mirin-Sesame Dressing)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 129
Calories from Fat 81
% Daily Value*
Fat 9g14%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 571mg25%
Potassium 107mg3%
Carbohydrates 9g3%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 94IU2%
Calcium 183mg18%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
3 Comments on “Gomae (Japanese Spinach Salad with Mirin-Sesame Dressing)”
That’s an awful lot of salt for a world that needs far less or even salt free
Thanks for your comment! If salt is a concern, you can always use low-sodium GF soy sauce and less sauce–it’ll still be delicious, especially if you’re used to less salt. Always good to season to your liking!
Thats not very much salt. 1 tablespoon of tamari is less than you’d use as a condiment with most japanese foods, doesn’t even come close to table salt normal usage.
How boring life would be without salt. If you can’t handle salt, then by all means – don’t eat it. But please leave the rest of us to make our own way….