Salads
Spinach Salad with Goji Berries and Sesame Dressing
A refreshing Chinese-style spinach salad featuring tender blanched spinach, sweet goji berries, toasted sesame seeds, and a savory sesame-soy dressing. Simple, nutritious, and perfect as a cold appetizer or side dish.
- Total
- 15 minutes
Quick Recipe Summary
- Cuisine
- Chinese
- Category
- Salads
- Method
- Salads
- Total Time
- 15 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Main Ingredient
- (1/2 lb) Spinach
Introduction
A refreshing Chinese-style spinach salad featuring tender blanched spinach, sweet goji berries, toasted sesame seeds, and a savory sesame-soy dressing. Simple, nutritious, and perfect as a cold appetizer or side dish.
This Spinach Salad with Goji Berries and Sesame Dressing recipe is written for Chinese home cooking, with attention to timing, texture, and the small cues that make the method easier to follow. Read through the ingredient notes and cooking tips before you start so the steps feel familiar once the pan, steamer, or pot is hot.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ready in about 15 minutes, so it can fit into a busy cooking day.
- Beginner-friendly enough for cooks who are still building confidence in the kitchen.
- Gives the dish a clear salty and fresh flavor profile without making the method feel complicated.
- Useful as a reference recipe because the steps explain both what to do and what to watch for.
Ingredients
- 225 g (1/2 lb) Spinach
- 6 berries Goji Berries
- 1 tbsp Toasted Sesame Seeds
- 1 1/2 tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1/2 tsp Granulated Sugar
- 1 tbsp Rice Vinegar
- 1 tsp Fish Sauce
- 1 tbsp Sichuan Pepper Oil
- 1 tsp Sesame Oil
- 2 tsp Salt
- 1 tbsp Vegetable Oil
Ingredient Notes
These notes explain the role of the main ingredients so the recipe is easier to adjust without losing its Chinese home-cooking character.
(1/2 lb) Spinach
This ingredient helps define the flavor, texture, or structure of the dish.
berries Goji Berries
This ingredient helps define the flavor, texture, or structure of the dish.
Toasted Sesame Seeds
This ingredient helps define the flavor, texture, or structure of the dish.
Soy Sauce
Soy sauce seasons the dish with salt and umami while helping the sauce taste more rounded.
Granulated Sugar
A small amount of sugar rounds out saltiness and helps create a more balanced finish.
Rice Vinegar
This ingredient helps define the flavor, texture, or structure of the dish.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1
Toast the sesame seeds in a dry pan until fragrant and lightly golden.
Step 2
Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the salt and vegetable oil, then blanch the spinach briefly until just tender.
Step 3
Drain the spinach thoroughly. Briefly blanch the goji berries and set aside.
Step 4
In a bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, sugar, rice vinegar, fish sauce, Sichuan pepper oil, sesame oil, and toasted sesame seeds to make the dressing.
Step 5
Add the blanched spinach to the dressing and toss until evenly coated.
Step 6
For a neat presentation, pack the dressed spinach into a small cup or mold and press gently.
Step 7
Invert onto a serving plate and garnish with the blanched goji berries before serving.
Cooking Tips
- Adding salt and oil to the blanching water enhances flavor and helps preserve the spinach's vibrant green color. Blanch spinach only briefly to maintain a tender-crisp texture. Drain thoroughly before dressing to prevent a watery salad. For everyday meals, simply toss and serve without molding.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve it with steamed rice when you want a simple Chinese home-cooked meal.
- Pair it with one vegetable dish and one soup or tofu dish for a balanced Chinese meal.
- Use the recipe card below when you want a quick cooking reference after reading the full notes.
Recipe Card
A refreshing Chinese-style spinach salad featuring tender blanched spinach, sweet goji berries, toasted sesame seeds, and a savory sesame-soy dressing. Simple, nutritious, and perfect as a cold appetizer or side dish.
Ingredients
- 225 g (1/2 lb) Spinach
- 6 berries Goji Berries
- 1 tbsp Toasted Sesame Seeds
- 1 1/2 tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1/2 tsp Granulated Sugar
- 1 tbsp Rice Vinegar
- 1 tsp Fish Sauce
- 1 tbsp Sichuan Pepper Oil
- 1 tsp Sesame Oil
- 2 tsp Salt
- 1 tbsp Vegetable Oil
Method
- Toast the sesame seeds in a dry pan until fragrant and lightly golden.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the salt and vegetable oil, then blanch the spinach briefly until just tender.
- Drain the spinach thoroughly. Briefly blanch the goji berries and set aside.
- In a bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, sugar, rice vinegar, fish sauce, Sichuan pepper oil, sesame oil, and toasted sesame seeds to make the dressing.
- Add the blanched spinach to the dressing and toss until evenly coated.
- For a neat presentation, pack the dressed spinach into a small cup or mold and press gently.
- Invert onto a serving plate and garnish with the blanched goji berries before serving.
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