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.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Japanese

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

Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
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.
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.
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.