Do you love spinach? Me too! Spinach is one of those simple vegetables that can be enjoyed in so many ways. This Korean spinach recipe is one of my favorite ways to prepare it because it takes only a few simple ingredients and very little time. It makes an easy, healthy side dish that you can enjoy with a meal or on its own.
Why Spinach Is a Staple in My Kitchen
Spinach has been a staple in my kitchen for years because it is so easy to work into everyday meals. I add it to salads, pasta, stir-fries, soups, and even rice dishes. It cooks quickly, takes up very little space, and can easily become part of a meal without much effort.
However, there are times when I buy more spinach than I can use. When it starts to wilt, I don’t want to throw it away. That’s when I turn to this simple Korean spinach recipe. A big bag of fresh spinach may look like a lot, but once it’s cooked down, it becomes a manageable side dish.
Baby vs. Regular Spinach
You can use either baby spinach or regular spinach for this Korean spinach recipe, but I prefer regular spinach with stems. The leaves are a little sturdier, and the stems add a pleasant texture to the finished dish.
Baby spinach is more tender and cooks faster, so it needs less time in boiling water. Regular spinach usually takes a little longer, especially when the stems are thick. Whichever you choose, the goal is the same: blanch the spinach just until it wilts, then drain and squeeze out the excess water before seasoning.
How to Prepare Korean Spinach
This Korean spinach recipe takes just a few minutes to prepare and is one of the easiest ways to turn fresh spinach into a simple side dish. The key is to keep the spinach tender and let the natural taste of the vegetable come through.
Ingredients
For 1 bunch of spinach:
- 1 bunch fresh spinach
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
- Salt, to taste
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to a boil and add the spinach. Blanch it briefly, just until the leaves wilt.
- Then, immediately drain the spinach and rinse it under cold running water to stop the cooking.
- Once the spinach is cool enough to handle, gather it into a bundle and gently squeeze out as much water as possible.
- If you’re using larger spinach with stems, cut the squeezed bundle in half. If you’re using baby spinach, you can leave it as is.
- Place the spinach in a bowl, then add the minced garlic, sesame oil, sesame seeds, and salt.
- Finally, use your hands to gently mix everything together, separating the spinach as you go so the seasonings are evenly distributed. I prefer mixing it this way because it’s much easier to work the seasonings into the spinach than with a fork or other utensil.
Health Benefits of Spinach
Spinach is one of those foods that gives you a lot of nutrition without adding many calories. It’s a good source of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. It’s also an easy vegetable to add to your regular meals.
Spinach provides vitamin K, vitamin A, folate, and iron, along with other nutrients that support overall health. Vitamin K helps keep your bones strong, while vitamin A supports healthy eyes. The fiber in spinach also helps support good digestion.
One reason I like having spinach on hand is that it’s so easy to add more leafy greens to everyday meals. You can eat it raw in a salad or lightly cooked in this Korean spinach recipe. Either way, it’s a simple way to get more vegetables into your diet.
The seasonings add some nutritional benefits of their own. Garlic and sesame seeds provide beneficial plant compounds and nutrients. Sesame oil adds unsaturated fat and gives the dish its familiar nutty taste.
I think this is one of the best things about this dish: you don’t need a complicated recipe to add a nutritious vegetable to your meal.
Many Ways to Enjoy Korean Spinach
One of my favorite ways to enjoy this Korean spinach recipe is in bibimbap. The seasoned spinach adds a nice vegetable component to the bowl. It pairs especially well with rice, other vegetables, and your favorite toppings.
But you don’t have to make bibimbap to enjoy it. Serve the spinach alongside rice and tofu, or add it to a grain bowl. You can also include it with a simple Korean-inspired meal. It’s usually served at room temperature or straight from the refrigerator, which makes it especially convenient for meal prep.
A Simple Recipe Worth Keeping
I like recipes that don’t require much time or a long list of ingredients. This Korean spinach recipe is one I come back to because it is so easy to prepare and gives me another way to enjoy spinach.
Sometimes, the simplest recipes are the ones we end up making again and again. This is definitely one of those recipes for me. It’s simple, healthy, and worth keeping in your back pocket.
