Oshitashi Japanese Spinach Salad with Roasted Sesame
Experience the delicate flavors of traditional Japanese cuisine with Oshitashi, a refreshing spinach salad lightly dressed with a savory blend of soy sauce and mirin. This quick and healthy recipe features tender blanched spinach, carefully chilled to preserve its vibrant green color, and finished with the nutty aroma of toasted sesame seeds. Optional bonito flakes add a subtle umami depth for an authentic touch. Perfect as a light appetizer or a side dish, this dish highlights minimalist Japanese cooking at its finest—simple, elegant, and packed with flavor. Whether you're exploring Japanese recipes or searching for a nutritious vegetarian salad, Oshitashi is sure to impress!
Log this recipe in SnapCalorie
Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 200 g Fresh spinach
- 2 tbsp Soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Mirin
- 5 g Bonito flakes (optional, for garnish)
- 1 L Water
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tbsp Toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
Prepare a large bowl of ice water and set it aside. This will be used to cool the spinach after blanching.
Bring 1 liter of water to a boil in a medium pot. Add 1 teaspoon of salt to the boiling water.
Add the fresh spinach to the boiling water and blanch it for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until the leaves are vibrant green and slightly wilted.
Using tongs or a slotted spoon, transfer the blanched spinach immediately into the bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Let the spinach cool for 1-2 minutes.
Remove the spinach from the ice water and gently squeeze out excess water using your hands. Be careful not to crush the leaves.
Shape the spinach into a compact cylinder on a cutting board. Cut the cylinder into 2-inch-long sections and set aside.
In a small bowl, mix the soy sauce and mirin together to create the dressing.
Arrange the spinach pieces upright on a serving plate. Drizzle the soy sauce-mirin dressing evenly over the spinach.
Sprinkle the toasted sesame seeds over the spinach. If using bonito flakes, sprinkle them on top as a garnish.
Serve immediately as a side dish or salad accompaniment. Enjoy this simple yet elegant Japanese dish!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
163 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 3.5 g | 4% | |
| Saturated Fat | 0.5 g | 2% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 3701 mg | 161% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 18.4 g | 7% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 5.9 g | 21% | |
| Total Sugars | 8.1 g | ||
| Protein | 12.6 g | 25% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 328 mg | 25% | |
| Iron | 8.0 mg | 44% | |
| Potassium | 179 mg | 4% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
