Japanese Cold Spinach Salad with Sesame Dressing (Goma-Ae)

This is a traditional Japanese salad that is a perfect hot-weather side dish or appetizer. Chard works as well as spinach, or you can use steamed green beans instead.

Ingredients
1 pound baby spinach, stems removed
1/4 cup roasted white sesame seeds
1 ½ tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon sugar
½ cup sake or dry white wine (omit sugar)
½ tsp. mirin

Directions

Wash fresh spinach. Blanch spinach in boiling water for 3 minutes, then drain and rinse with cold water.

Grind sesame seeds in a food processor, blender, or with a mortar and pestle. Stir all ingredients except spinach in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for five minutes.

Squeeze all the water from the spinach and arrange in individual serving dishes. Pour sesame mixture over the salad, and serve.

Makes 4-6 side salads.