Goma-ae is one of Japan’s classic side dishes, often served as part of a home-cooked meal. 🌱
The name literally means “sesame dressing,” and while spinach is the most popular choice, you can also make it with green beans, broccoli, or other vegetables.
Table Of Contents
Ingredients
Serves 2–3
- 1 bunch spinach (about 200g)
Seasoning
- 2 tbsp toasted white sesame seeds
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sugar
Method
- Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the spinach for about 30–60 seconds.
- Transfer it to cold water, then squeeze out as much excess water as possible.
- Cut into bite-sized pieces.
- Lightly rinse the spinach with a little soy sauce, then squeeze out the excess liquid again. I forgot to include this step in the video, but it really helps enhance the flavour!
- Grind the sesame seeds with a mortar and pestle, or use pre-ground sesame if you prefer.
- Mix the sesame, soy sauce, and sugar together.
- Add the spinach and mix until evenly coated.
Tips
- Squeezing out the excess water is the key to preventing a watery dressing.
- Freshly ground sesame gives the best flavour, but store-bought ground sesame works well too.
