Baek Jong-won's Spinach Side Dish Recipe: The Perfect Korean Side for Grilled Meat

An essential traditional side dish on Korean tables, spinach salad! Following Baek Jong-won's recipe, anyone can easily make a fragrant and savory spinach salad. This recipe is a perfect side dish for grilled meat or Korean BBQ, enhancing the flavor of the meat. The spicy and pungent taste of chili peppers and garlic makes it ideal to enjoy with meat.

The Allure of Spinach Salad

Spinach salad is a representative Korean side dish that is simple yet delivers a deep flavor. The soft texture of spinach, the savory aroma of sesame oil, and the pungent flavor added by chili powder and garlic are perfect for stimulating the appetite. Especially when eaten with grilled pork belly or galbi (short ribs), it plays a refreshing and clean role in balancing the richness of the meat.

Introducing the Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• Spinach: 200g
• Cheongyang chili peppers: 3 (20g)
• Garlic: 3 cloves (20g)

Seasoning Ingredients

• Coarse chili powder: 1/2 tbsp (3g)
• Sesame oil: 2 tbsp (14g)
• Toasted sesame seeds: 1 tbsp (5g)
• Salt: 1 1/2 tbsp (7g)
• Black pepper: To taste

How to Make Spinach Salad

1. Preparing the Spinach

• Rinse the spinach several times under running water to remove any impurities.
• Remove the roots from the cleaned spinach and finely chop it into bite-sized pieces.

2. Preparing the Chili Peppers and Garlic

• Thinly slice the cheongyang chili peppers to add spiciness.
• Remove the stems from the garlic and finely mince it.

3. Mixing the Seasoning

• Add the chopped spinach, cheongyang chili peppers, and minced garlic to a large bowl.
• Evenly sprinkle salt, black pepper, and coarse chili powder, mixing well to season the spinach.

4. Finishing Up

• Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds and add sesame oil, then gently toss with your hands.
• Once the seasoning is evenly distributed throughout the spinach, it's complete!

Cooking Tips

1. Selecting Fresh Spinach

• Using spinach with dark green leaves and firm stems will result in a more delicious dish.

2. Adjusting the Spiciness

• Cheongyang chili peppers are the key ingredient for spiciness. If you prefer a less spicy side dish, adjust the amount of chili peppers.

3. Various Uses

• Spinach salad can be used as an ingredient in bibimbap (mixed rice with vegetables and meat), or enjoyed as a wrap with grilled meat.

Perfect Match with Meat Dishes

This spinach salad is the perfect side dish to enjoy with Korean BBQ. It cleanses the palate after rich grilled meats such as pork belly, galbi (short ribs), and grilled chicken, and the savory and spicy flavors of sesame oil and chili powder elevate the savory taste of the meat.

When enjoying with meat, place the spinach salad on a piece of meat and eat it with other wrap vegetables for the best combination.

Healthy Choice: The Benefits of Spinach

Spinach is rich in Vitamin A, iron, and calcium, making it excellent for fatigue recovery and preventing anemia. It also contains many antioxidant components that boost immunity and benefit skin health.

Baek Jong-won's spinach salad recipecreates a healthy and delicious Korean dish. This simple yet deeply flavorful side dish pairs well with any cuisine.

Create a happy dinner table tonight with a bowl of warm rice and spinach salad!