3 Easy Japanese Spinach Recipes, #SundaySupper

Farmers’ markets are the fashion these days in Santa Monica, CA.  Sporting sunglasses, designer jeans and Christian Louboutin shoes, couples stroll the aisles, sniffing flowers, sampling fruits and savoring omelets made with local farm eggs. It makes me giggle to see that purchasing fresh produce is en vogue with the hip and cool. In Japan, buying fresh produce was a daily ritual. Sadly, supermarkets have replaced many mom-and-pop shops in Tokyo - including the ones in my old neighborhood. But, I'm happy to say that some grocers (similar to the ones I remember) still survive today.

Spinach and other lovely veggies on sale at a grocers
near Togoshi subway station in Tokyo.

At today’s #SundaySupper Twitter event we’re celebrating locally produced foods and Farmers’ markets. (Love to have you join the discussion around the virtual table led today by health expert, TR of No One Likes Crumbley Cookies. Scroll down for details.) I've picked spinach as the vegetable to celebrate. From childhood I've relished the deep green colored leaves which are packed with a bit of flavor but blends well so many other ingredients. Love to hear how you fare with the following easy and tasty spinach recipes.

Tamago Toji Egg Soup with Spinach

Tamago Toji Egg Soup with Spinach

My friend, Akio-san, is spoiled (deservedly so) with his wife Takako-san's meals. Sometimes she is called away to deal with family business in Japan. So, Akio-san is left to fend for himself. He very generously shared this easy yet stomach-warming recipe for egg soup (tamago toji) with spinach recipe.

Ingredients:

• 5 handfuls of pre-washed baby spinach
• Water to just cover the spinach
• 1 egg, slightly beaten
• Dashi (click here for the recipe)
• Japanese togarashi chili pepper, salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Steam spinach with water in a covered pan for 3 to 5 minutes.
2. Drain and squeeze out excess water.
3. Bring dashi soup to a boil.
4. Drop the egg and spinach into the dashi and stir.
5. Sprinkle togarashi, salt and pepper in to taste.

Spinach leaves drizzled with wasabi dressing.
A garnish of red and yellow peppers with olive centers adds more taste to the plate.

Spinach Salad with Wasabi Dressing
Dressing adapted from FoodandWine.com

Fresh spinach makes a salad so flavorful. Even more so with wasabi dressing.  (Wasabi is referred to as Japanese horseradish at times but it’s actually from a different root.) As sushi lovers are well aware, wasabi can be pretty hot. However, the sweetness of the mayonnaise and the rice vinegar tames the spicy taste in this dressing.

In a small bowl, whisk ½ cup of mayonnaise with a ¼ cup of rice vinegar, 2 ½ tablespoons of wasabi powder, 1 ½ teaspoons of Asian sesame oil and 1 ½ tablespoons of water. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Ninja Note: Add more wasabi powder if you like a bit of a bite.

Summer Spinach

Too hot and tired to cook? Steam up a bit of spinach. Squeeze out any excess water. Let the spinach cool. Sprinkle with soy sauce and sesame seeds. Serve and take the rest of the night off!

Here are a few more ideas of how to enjoy farm fresh fruits and vegetables.

Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter each Sunday. We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm EST. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos. Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. 
Sign up by clicking here → Sunday Supper Movement

Wishing you the delights of nature.