Spinach Gomaae (Sesame Spinach)

Gomaae is a Japanese side dish of vegetables tossed in a nutty, savory-sweet sauce of ground sesame seeds. A bunch of mature market spinach is perfect here, and it's lovely with a bowl of white rice.

Serves 4 · 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons toasted white sesame seeds
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 bunch mature spinach (8 to 10 ounces), ends trimmed

Instructions

1. Grind the sesame seeds to a coarse powder in a spice grinder or mortar, or crush them on a cutting board under a heavy pan. Stir them together with the soy sauce and sugar in a medium bowl.
2. Bring 4 cups water to a boil. Rinse the spinach and leave it in a colander set in the sink.
3. Slowly pour the boiling water over the spinach to wilt it. Drain, then wring out the extra water in a clean kitchen towel, or press it out with a spoon.
4. Toss the spinach with the sesame sauce. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

Tips

• If your sesame seeds are raw, toast them in a small skillet over medium-low, shaking the pan, until light brown and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
• The same dressing is great on lightly boiled green beans, sugar snap peas or broccoli.

Adapted from NYT Cooking.