Japanese Spinach with Sweet Sesame Seeds

You will need a Japanese mortar and pestle (suribachi and surikogi) for this recipe, as the sweet flavor of the roasted sesame is most intense when ground. This can also be made with asparagus instead of spinach.

• Preparation Time: 5 mins
• Cooking Time: 2 mins
• Total Time: 7 mins
• Calories: 101 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• 10 cups fresh spinach leaves
• 4 tablespoons black sesame seeds, toasted

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Heat the sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat until hot. Add the spinach 3 to 4 cups at a time. Cook and stir to wilt, then add more spinach.

Step 2

Grind the sesame seeds into fine crumbs using a mortar and pestle. When spinach is wilted, move it to the sides of the pan and sprinkle sugar in the center. When the sugar melts, stir in the spinach to coat.

Step 3

Transfer spinach to a serving plate and sprinkle ground sesame seeds on top.