Sigeumchi namul
시금치나물 · Blanched spinach seasoned with garlic, soy sauce and toasted sesame
Sigeumchi namul (시금치나물) is a quick side dish of blanched spinach dressed with garlic, a little soy sauce and plenty of toasted sesame. It is one of the banchan found on tables all over Korea, and it is also one of the toppings in bibimbap. The spinach is blanched for just a few seconds so it stays bright green, then squeezed dry so it takes on the dressing. Serve at room temperature with rice and other banchan. Chef's tip: squeeze the spinach really hard before seasoning. Any water left in it dilutes the sesame dressing and makes the namul taste watery.
- Total time
- 10 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
Method
0/3 doneStep 1: Bring a large pan of water to the boil with half the ¼ tsp salt. Add 14 oz spinach and blanch for 20–30 seconds, just until it wilts.
2 minStep 2: Drain and plunge into cold water to stop the cooking. Squeeze the spinach firmly in handfuls to get out as much water as you can, then cut into 5 cm lengths.
Step 3: Loosen the spinach with your fingers and toss with the rest of the ¼ tsp salt, 1 clove garlic, 2 tsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil, 2 tsp toasted sesame seeds and 1 spring onion. Taste and add a little more soy sauce if needed.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 60 kcal
- Protein
- 3 g
- Carbs
- 4 g
- Fat
- 4 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does sigeumchi namul take?
- About 10 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 5 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
- What can I use instead of soy sauce?
- Tamari, same amount (gluten free).
Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to cook it.
Rate this recipe
Sign in to rate and review this recipe.
You might also like
Tteokbokki
Tteokbokki (떡볶이) is Korea's best-loved street snack: chewy cylinders of rice cake simmered in a thick, glossy, sweet and spicy red sauce. It became a classic in Seoul, where it is sold from street stalls and snack bars in every neighbourhood. Street versions use anchovy stock and fish cakes; this vegan version uses a quick kelp and shiitake stock with cabbage and spring onions, and has all the same punch. Eat it hot, while the rice cakes are soft and stretchy. Chef's tip: keep stirring and scrape the bottom; the rice cakes release starch that thickens the sauce but also catches. The sauce is right when it clings to the spoon in a glossy coat.
Baked sweet potato
Sweet potato baked whole until soft and caramelised, then mashed with milk and a pinch of ground coriander. Naturally sweet and smooth, it's a favourite first food for babies of 4–8 months. One sweet potato makes more than a baby can eat, so freeze the rest in small portions.
Herb croutons
Golden, crunchy cubes of day-old bread, brushed with olive oil and baked with parsley. Scatter them over any soup just before serving, or toss them through a salad. Swap the parsley for garlic powder to make garlic croutons.




