Goma-ae
胡麻和え
Blanched spinach in a sweet sesame dressing — the banchan-shaped side that belongs next to rice.
Recipe by I Want Some Food · Reviewed by the editorial kitchen. Native name preserved: 胡麻和え.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 3 min
- Rest
- None
- Total
- 13 min
- Difficulty
- Very easy
- Spice
- No chilli
- Cost
- Cheap nightUnder $8 USD · indicative, not a store price
About
Goma-ae is greens, usually spinach, squeezed dry and tossed with ground sesame, soy and a little sugar. It should taste toasted, not wet. This is the Japanese cousin of sigeumchi-namul, and it is allowed to sit in the fridge.
What you'll need
5 ingredients. Tap each one once it's out on the bench.
Ingredients
- Spinach300 g
- Sesame seed, toasted and roughly ground30 ml
- Soy sauce15 ml
- Sugar4.9 ml
- Toasted sesame oil (optional)2½ ml
Scaling multiplies the written quantities. Baking still prefers a scale.
Steps
Step 1
Blanch spinach 30–45 seconds. Cold water. Squeeze until almost dry, then cut into short lengths.
4 min
Step 2
Mash sesame with soy and sugar. Toss through the spinach. Taste: nutty, a little sweet, not salty soup.
Nutrition
Per serving · estimate
- Calories
- 51 kcal
- Protein
- 3.3 g
- Carbs
- 4.9 g
- Fat
- 2.8 g
- Saturated fat
- 0.4 g
- Fibre
- 2.2 g
- Sugar
- 1.3 g
- Sodium
- 307 mg
Calculated from canonical ingredient data (USDA FoodData Central averages and equivalent published tables). Estimates only.
Allergens
Informational only. Not a medical guarantee. Cross-contamination happens in real kitchens.
- Sesame
- Soy
- Wheat
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
Adapt this recipe
The original recipe stays as it is. Personal versions are labelled. Serving changes are simple maths.
Adaptations · 0 / 15 used. Resets 12 November.
Substitutions
Spinach → Blanched green beans
Ingen goma-ae.
Tips
- Green beans or chrysanthemum greens take the same dressing.
- Grind the sesame so the dressing clings. Whole seeds bounce off.
History & culture
A standard home okazu (side). Also how you use a bag of spinach before it slumps.
Sesame dressings on vegetables are temple and home cooking. The sweet-soy balance is the modern home standard.
Traditional
Provenance: Editorial adaptation.
Questions about this recipe
Answers taken from this dish's times, amounts, swaps and tips.
How long does Goma-ae take?
13 min all in — 10 min prep, 3 min cook. Cook and rest follow the method. Leftover storage and optional extra waits are not included.
How many does it serve?
The recipe is written for 4 plates. Scale the ingredient list on the page if you are cooking for a different number.
How hard is it?
Very easy.
How spicy is it?
No chilli.
What allergens should I watch?
This recipe is labelled for Sesame, Soy, Wheat. Labels are informational — check the packets in your kitchen. This is not medical advice.
Does it fit a diet?
The published recipe is labelled Vegetarian, Vegan.
9 more questionsFewer questions
What does it cost to cook?
Cheap night — about Under $8 USD, as a grocery budget for this recipe, not a restaurant price.
What equipment do I need?
Saucepan, Mixing bowl.
How much salt do I put in?
This recipe does not list salt as its own ingredient. Saltiness comes from Soy sauce — 1 tbsp. Taste at the end rather than adding a number we did not write.
How much soy sauce?
1 tbsp of Soy sauce.
How much sugar?
1 tsp of Sugar.
How much toasted sesame oil?
½ tsp (optional) of Toasted sesame oil.
What can I use instead?
Spinach → Blanched green beans. Ingen goma-ae.
Any tips from this recipe?
Green beans or chrysanthemum greens take the same dressing. Grind the sesame so the dressing clings. Whole seeds bounce off.
Can I use an air fryer?
This method is not written for an air fryer. The core technique on the page still applies.
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