Sweet & Savory Spinach Salad (Seomcho Muchim)
Make a Delicious and Refreshing Spinach Salad with Seasonal Seomcho
Learn how to make ‘Seomcho Muchim’, a delightful seasoned spinach salad, perfect when spinach is in season and at its sweetest. This recipe is a fantastic way to enjoy this healthy vegetable.
Main Ingredients- Seomcho (Spring Spinach) 1 bunch
- Green Onion 1/3 stalk (white part mainly)
Seasoning Ingredients- Soup Soy Sauce 1 Tbsp
- Minced Garlic 1/2 Tbsp
- Tuna Extract (Fish Sauce) 1 Tbsp
- Salt a pinch (adjust to taste)
- Sesame Oil 1 Tbsp
- Sesame Seeds a little
- Soup Soy Sauce 1 Tbsp
- Minced Garlic 1/2 Tbsp
- Tuna Extract (Fish Sauce) 1 Tbsp
- Salt a pinch (adjust to taste)
- Sesame Oil 1 Tbsp
- Sesame Seeds a little
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Begin by preparing the seomcho (spinach). Gently trim off any wilted leaves or roots with soil. Seomcho is often eaten with its roots, so just lightly scrape off any dirt from the root ends with a knife. Thorough cleaning is key as you’ll be eating the whole vegetable.
Step 2
Rinse the prepared seomcho under running water 2-3 times. Make sure to wash them thoroughly, especially around the roots, to remove any remaining soil. Once rinsed, give them a good shake to remove excess water. Your spinach is now ready.
Step 3
Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil and add a pinch of salt. Once boiling, carefully add the seomcho and blanch for exactly 40 seconds. Be careful not to overcook, as it can become mushy. Immediately transfer the blanched spinach to a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking process. Drain well and gently squeeze out as much water as possible.
Step 4
Place the squeezed spinach in a mixing bowl. Add the soup soy sauce, minced garlic, tuna extract, and a pinch of salt. Gently toss and mix with your hands until everything is well combined. Taste and add more salt if needed. The natural sweetness of seomcho is its highlight, so avoid overpowering it with too much seasoning. Finely chop the green onion and add it to the bowl, mixing it in.
Step 5
Finally, drizzle in the fragrant sesame oil and sprinkle with sesame seeds. This adds a wonderful nutty aroma and a pleasant textural contrast. Gently mix one last time to ensure the dressing is evenly distributed.
Step 6
Transfer the beautifully seasoned seomcho muchim to a serving plate. This delightful and fragrant spinach salad is a perfect side dish that pairs wonderfully with rice. Enjoy your delicious homemade dish!
