Fresh organic spinach from a farmers’ market is the best bet for this dish, but for convenience you can purchase packaged, prewashed organic spinach from the supermarket. Spinach is considered a superfood by some since it contains a wealth of phytonutrients, antioxidants, minerals, and even plant-derived omega-3 fatty acids. Adding star anise (see note below) or whole cloves to the steaming water imparts a subtle flavor to the dish.
Makes 4 servings
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cook: 5 minutes
| 2 |
star anise, or 2 whole cloves |
| 1 |
pound fresh spinach, cleaned and tough stems removed |
| 1/8 |
teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes |
| 1/2 |
teaspoon dark sesame oil |
| 1 |
teaspoon salt |
| 1 |
teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice |
| 1 |
tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted (see tip below) |
Fill a steamer or saucepan fitted with a steamer basket with about 1 inch of water, add star anise or whole cloves, cover, and bring to a boil. Carefully add spinach and pepper flakes to the steamer basket. Cover the pot and steam until spinach is tender but not overly wilted, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a serving bowl.
Add sesame oil, salt, and lemon juice and toss to mix. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve immediately.
Tip: In a small, dry skillet, toast sesame seeds over medium heat until lightly colored, 2 to 3 minutes. Watch carefully—they burn quickly.
Note:
Star anise is a small, six- to eight-point starlike pod that comes from a tree belonging to the magnolia family and is grown in northern Vietnam and southern China. This spice is often used to infuse cooking broths or steaming liquids with its distinctive licorice flavor, which also has cinnamon and clove overtones. If using the pods in a stew, be sure to remove them before serving as you would bay leaves or whole cloves.
