Simple and Delicious Spinach Namul Recipe
A Perfect Side Dish: Easy Spinach Namul with Tender Texture and Nutty Flavor!
Ready in 5 minutes with common pantry ingredients! Introducing a healthy and delicious spinach namul (seasoned spinach) recipe. It’s a fantastic side dish for rice and perfect to accompany any meal.
Main Ingredients
- 1 bunch fresh spinach
- 1 tablespoon coarse salt (for blanching spinach)
Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon soup soy sauce (Guk-ganjang)
- 1 tablespoon tuna extract (can substitute with more Guk-ganjang if unavailable)
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- A pinch of roasted salt (adjust to taste)
- A pinch of sesame seeds (for extra nuttiness)
- 1 tablespoon soup soy sauce (Guk-ganjang)
- 1 tablespoon tuna extract (can substitute with more Guk-ganjang if unavailable)
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- A pinch of roasted salt (adjust to taste)
- A pinch of sesame seeds (for extra nuttiness)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, trim off any yellow or wilted leaves from the spinach. Then, trim off the very bottom of the roots, being careful not to cut too much, and make 1-2 shallow cuts into the root base. This helps the seasoning penetrate better and makes it easier to eat.
Step 2
Fill a pot with plenty of water and bring it to a rolling boil. Add 1 tablespoon of coarse salt to the boiling water. Adding salt helps to maintain the vibrant green color of the spinach and keeps it crisp. Add the prepared spinach and blanch for about 30 seconds. Be careful not to overcook, as it can become mushy!
Step 3
Immediately after blanching, rinse the spinach thoroughly under cold running water. It’s important to rinse it multiple times, paying attention to the roots, to ensure no dirt or residue remains. Gently squeeze out excess water from the spinach with your hands. Avoid squeezing too hard, as this can make it dry; a gentle squeeze is best. Place the squeezed spinach into a nice mixing bowl.
Step 4
Now it’s time to add the delicious seasoning. To the spinach in the bowl, add 1 tablespoon of soup soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of tuna extract, 1 tablespoon of minced garlic, and sesame seeds. We’ll add the roasted salt for final seasoning, so start with a small amount and adjust to your taste after tasting. If you don’t have tuna extract, you can substitute it with more soup soy sauce.
Step 5
Gently mix everything together with your hands until the seasoning is evenly distributed. Make sure the spinach is not clumped and the seasoning is well coated. Drizzle with a little more sesame oil at the end for enhanced aroma and flavor.
Step 6
Transfer the beautifully seasoned spinach namul to a serving dish. It’s now ready to be enjoyed! It’s also delicious served over a bowl of warm rice and mixed in.
