Japanese Spinach Salad with Sesame Dressing (Horenso Gomaae)

• spinach227 g
• kosher/sea salt0 pinch
• toasted white sesame seeds3 msk
• soy sauce1.5 msk
• sugar1 msk
• sake0.5 tsk
• mirin0.5 tsk

METHOD

1. 01Gather all the ingredients.
2. 02[Optional] For the sesame sauce, put sesame seeds in a frying pan and toast them on low heat. When 2-3 sesame seeds start to pop from the pan, remove from the heat.
3. 03Grind the toasted sesame seeds with a mortar and pestle. Leave some sesame seeds unground for some texture.
4. 04Add 1 ½ Tbsp soy sauce, 1 Tbsp sugar, ½ tsp sake, ½ tsp mirin to the ground sesame seeds and mix all together.
5. 05Put lightly salted water in a large pot and bring to boil. Once boiling, add the spinach from stem side (takes longer to cook) and cook for 30-45 seconds.
6. 06Remove the spinach from the water and soak in iced water to stop cooking with remaining heat. Alternatively, drain and run the spinach under cold running water until cool. Collect the spinach and squeeze water out.
7. 07Cut the spinach into 1-2” (2.5-5 cm) lengths and put in a medium bowl.
8. 08Add the sesame sauce and toss all together. Serve at room temperature or chilled. You can keep in the refrigerator for 2-3 days or freezer for 2-4 weeks.