In Korea, spinach seasoned with sesame oil is a very common home-style side dish,
often served as part of a traditional meal with rice and soup.
However, for many Korean children, it used to be one of the vegetables they disliked the most.
To encourage their kids to eat spinach, Korean mothers often talked about Popeye,
a famous cartoon character known for gaining strength after eating spinach.
They would say, “If you eat spinach, you’ll grow strong and healthy like Popeye.”
Believing the story, children would close their eyes and eat it — sometimes reluctantly.
As time passes, tastes change.
What was once a disliked childhood dish often becomes a comforting and familiar side dish in adulthood,
frequently appearing on everyday Korean dining tables.
The recipe shared here is the basic version of Korean spinach side dish (Sigeumchi Muchim).
From this simple base, many variations are possible —
such as adding ground perilla seeds for a nutty flavor,
or mixing in mashed tofu to create a softer, creamier texture.
🥬 Spinach Side Dish (Sigeumchi Muchim) – No Sugar
✔️ Ingredients (2–3 servings)
- 1 bunch of spinach
(about 250–300g raw / 120–150g after blanching) - 1 teaspoon soup soy sauce
(or ½ teaspoon regular soy sauce) - ½ teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
- A small pinch of salt (for adjusting seasoning)
✔️ Instructions
1️⃣ Blanch the spinach
- Bring a pot of water to a boil and add a small pinch of salt.
- Add the spinach and blanch for 30–40 seconds only.
- Immediately rinse under cold water and squeeze out excess moisture.
2️⃣ Prepare the spinach
- Trim off any tough roots.
- Cut into bite-sized pieces.
3️⃣ Season
- Add soy sauce, garlic, sesame oil, and sesame seeds.
- Gently mix by hand.
- Adjust seasoning with a tiny amount of salt if needed.
✔️ Tips for Best Flavor (No Sugar Needed)
- Soup soy sauce adds natural umami without sweetness.
- Add sesame oil at the end to keep its aroma fresh.
- Too much garlic can make it bitter — stick to ½ teaspoon.
✔️ Mild / Kid-Friendly Version
- Skip the garlic.
- Season with salt, sesame oil, and sesame seeds only.