Ohitashi
Chilled blanched spinach steeped in dashi.
Ingredients
- 300 g Spinach
- 1 Kombu (dried kelp)
- 2 tbsp Japanese light soy sauce (usukuchi)
- 1 tbsp Mirin
- 1 tbsp Sesame seeds (optional)
Method
- Steep the kombu in a small pot of cold water, bring slowly to just below a simmer, then lift out the kombu and stir in the usukuchi soy and mirin. Set the seasoned dashi aside to cool, about 6 minutes.
- Blanch the spinach in boiling water until just wilted, about 1 minute, then refresh in cold water and squeeze dry.
- Steep the squeezed spinach in the cooled dashi.
- Serve cold, scattered with sesame seeds.
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About Ohitashi
Ohitashi is a Japanese side dish of blanched greens, most often spinach, steeped in a lightly seasoned dashi and served chilled. The name comes from the verb to steep, and that is precisely the method: the cooked greens rest in a delicate broth until they take on its savory flavor from the inside. Made here with kombu dashi seasoned with light usukuchi soy and mirin, it is a vegan dish that captures the quiet, umami-forward character of Japanese home cooking.
Eaten cold, it is clean, subtle, and refreshing, the tender spinach carrying the gentle salt-sweetness of the dashi with a nutty crunch of sesame on top. It is the kind of small dish that resets the palate rather than dominating it. Ohitashi appears as one of several side dishes in a traditional Japanese meal, alongside rice, soup, and a main, or as a light accompaniment on a warm day. The technique that defines it is restraint: blanching the spinach only until just wilted, refreshing it in cold water to hold its green color, and squeezing it dry so it soaks up the seasoned dashi rather than diluting it.
Ohitashi: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Ohitashi?
A serving has about 51 calories — 3.7g protein, 4.8g carbs, 2.2g fat, 2.2g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Ohitashi gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains Japanese light soy sauce (usukuchi). You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for that ingredient to make it gluten-free.
Do I need every ingredient to make Ohitashi?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out sesame seeds — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Ohitashi make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.