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Sigeumchi namul

Seasoned spinach

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
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Ingredients

Serves4

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Fresh ingredients (3)

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Method

0/3 done
  1. Step 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 min
  2. Step 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.

  3. 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.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

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).

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