Seasoned Spinach

Seasoned Spinach Recipe

What is Seasoned Spinach?

Soft and fragrant seasoned spinach(spinach namul) is one of the easiest side dishes to make. You can prepare it in advance and enjoy it conveniently during a busy week. Today, I’ll introduce two seasoned spinach recipes: one with a soy sauce base for a rich umami flavor and another using doenjang and gochujang for a deeper, more complex taste.

  • Version 1 : Soy sauce - based Spinach
  • Version 2 : Doenjang & Gochujang - based Spinach

Version 1. Soy sauce Spinach

INGREDIENTS

  • 150g(5.3oz) Spinach
  • 1 tsp Soy sauce
  • 1/2 tsp Minced garlic
  • 1 tsp Sesame seeds
  • 1 tsp Sesame oil

DIRECTIONS

STEP1. Prepare the Spinach

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Trim: Cut off the tough roots, and if the spinach is too large, tear it into smaller pieces.
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Blanch: Once the water is boiling, add the spinach and blanch it for about 30 seconds. 
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Rinse: Then, quickly rinse it under cold water to keep the bright green color and fresh texture.
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Squeeze: Gently squeeze out the moisture with your hands. And that’s it for Step 1! Now, let’s make the sauce.

STEP2. Make the sauce.

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Mix 1 teaspoon of soy sauce, 1/2 teaspoon of minced garlic, 1 teaspoon of sesame seeds, and 1 teaspoon of sesame oil.

STEP3. Mix well

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Add the sauce to the spinach and mix well. Take a taste—if it needs more flavor, add a little more soy sauce.
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Plate it nicely, and it’s ready to serve!

Version 2. Doenjang & Gochujang Spinach 

INGREDIENTS

  • 150g(5.3oz) Spinach
  • 1/2 tsp Doenjang
  • 1/2 tsp Gochujang
  • 1/2 tsp Minced garlic
  • 1 tsp Sesame seeds
  • 1 tsp Sesame oil

DIRECTIONS

STEP1. Prepare the Spinach.

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Trim: Cut off the tough roots, and if the spinach is too large, tear it into smaller pieces.
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Blanch: Once the water is boiling, add the spinach and blanch it for about 30 seconds. 
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Rinse: Then, quickly rinse it under cold water to keep the bright green color and fresh texture.
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Squeeze: Gently squeeze out the moisture with your hands.

STEP2. Make the sauce.

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Mix 1/2 teaspoon of doenjang, 1/2 teaspoon of gochujang, 1/2 teaspoon of minced garlic, 1 teaspoon of sesame seeds, and 1 teaspoon of sesame oil.

STEP3. Mix

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Add the sauce to the spinach and mix well
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Plate it nicely, and it’s ready to serve!

Got questions?

Our Taiger Spoon team is here to answer some frequently asked questions about the Recipe

Q1. What are the differences between the two spinach namul versions?

TAIGER: Version 1 (soy sauce-based) has a light, savory, and slightly sweet umami flavor, making it mild yet flavorful.
Version 2 (doenjang & gochujang-based) has a deeper, richer taste with a balance of earthy, fermented soybean flavor from the doenjang and a hint of spiciness from the gochujang.

Harry: Version 1 is easier to prepare since it requires fewer ingredients, and soy sauce is a common pantry staple.
Version 2 may be a bit harder to prepare, as both doenjang and gochujang are less commonly available outside of Korean grocery stores, making them harder to find if there's no nearby Korean market.

Q2. What can I use if I don’t have sesame oil?

TAIGER: If you don’t have sesame oil, you can use olive oil instead. However, to enhance the nuttiness, it’s best to add toasted sesame seeds as well.

HAN: While this substitution works, it won’t fully replicate the unique aroma and deep nuttiness of sesame oil. Keep in mind that there will be a slight difference in flavor.

Q3. How should I eat seasoned spinach?

TAIGER: It goes great with rice! You can enjoy it as a side dish with a bowl of warm rice or mix it into bibimbap for a flavorful and nutritious meal.

AMY: It also pairs well with meat. The light and savory taste of Seasoned spinach balances out the richness of grilled or stir-fried meats, making it a great side dish for Korean BBQ or any protein-based meal.

Closing remarks

How was today's Seasoned Spinach recipe?
Seasoned spinach is a nutritious and convenient side dish that you can prepare in advance and enjoy anytime!😊

See you in the next newsletter.

Best regards,
TaigerSpoon

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