Easy Korean Spinach Side Dish (Sigeumchi-namul) (VIDEO)
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Korean Spinach Side Dish (Sigeumchi-namul) is a classic Korean banchan – it is super quick and easy to make, and a great way to eat more vegetables!
Watch the Korean Spinach Side Dish Video!
A Note from CJ
Korean sides (Banchan) are the best!
Have you been to a Korean restaurant where they bring out multiple small plates of food? These are called banchan – and I LOVE them! I have recipes for so many like Korean Bean Sprout Salad, Korean Braised Potatoes, Korean Braised Tofu, Korean Cucumber Salad, Korean Stir Fried Fish Cakes and Korean Egg Roll. Serve with your favorite KBBQ, like Korean Short Ribs (LA Galbi), Beef Bulgogi, or Spicy Pork Bulgogi!
This was such a simple but yummy dish. I had some extra spinach and decided to give it a try and now I am finding excuses to eat my greens and make this delicious side dish to go with my food.
How to Make Korean Spinach Side Dish
Blanch and Squeeze Spinach – Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and blanch the spinach for 30 seconds until just wilted. Immediately transfer it to an ice bath to stop the cooking. Once fully cooled, squeeze out as much water as possible, then chop the spinach into bite-sized pieces.
Mix Spinach With Seasonings – In a mixing bowl, combine the chopped spinach with scallions, soy sauce, minced garlic, sugar, sesame oil, sesame seeds, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly so the spinach absorbs the seasonings, let it marinate for 10–15 minutes, and enjoy!
PRO TIPS
CJ’s Recipe & Storage Tips
Spinach – I recommend using regular sized spinach (not baby spinach) – baby spinach are too small and can get mushy when used for this recipe. If you prefer smaller pieces of spinach, use scissors to give a rough chop before serving.
Don’t Skip the Ice Bath: Blanch the spinach for only about 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until it wilts. Overcooking can result in a mushy texture. Immediately transfer the blanched spinach to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. This helps preserve the vibrant green color and prevents overcooking.
Squeeze! Squeeze out as much excess water using your hands (you’ll be surprised how much comes out) but be gentle to avoid damaging the leaves. If you skip this part, you will end up with a watery Korean Spinach Side Dish.
Store your Korean Spinach Side Dish (Sigeumchi-namul) in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. This dish is usually eaten cold.
If you tried this Korean Spinach Side Dish (Sigeumchi-namul) or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!
Korean Spinach Side Dish (Sigeumchi-namul)
Ingredients
- 10 oz spinach, approximately 1 bunch, washed and trimmed
- 2 tbsp kosher salt
- 1 scallion, chopped
- 2 tsp soy sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp sesame seeds
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt, or to taste
- 1/4 tsp black pepper, or to taste
Instructions
- Wash and trim the root ends of the spinach if still attached. Bring a large pot of water (4 quarts) to a boil and add 2 tablespoons of kosher salt. Add the spinach and blanch in salted boiling water for 30 seconds.
- Prepare a large bowl of ice water. Remove the spinach with a strainer, then transfer the spinach immediately the ice water to shock the spinach and stop the cooking process. Once cooled, squeeze and drain out as much water as possible from the spinach, then cut transfer the spinach to a cutting board and chop it into bite size pieces.
- In a large bowl, add the chopped spinach with chopped scallion, soy sauce, minced garlic, sugar, sesame oil, sesame seeds, and salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly until completely combined. Let marinate for 10-15 minutes and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This Korean Spinach Side Dish recipe was originally published in February 2022, and updated in December 2025.
Super simple and legit banchan recipe
So easy so delicious. Make this weekly
This was such a simple but yummy dish. I had some extra spinach and decided to give it a try and now I am finding excuses to eat my greens and make this delicious side dish to go with my food.