Spinach Ohitashi Recipe

Spinach Ohitashi is a popular Japanese side dish made with blanched spinach soaked in a light, flavorful dashi-based sauce. Spinach is an incredibly nutritious vegetable, making it a great addition to your meals as often as possible. Since it cooks almost instantly, this dish is perfect for when you need to get dinner on the table in a hurry.

What is Ohitashi?

Ohitashi (おひたし) is a traditional Japanese vegetable side dish that pairs well with almost any meal. The word ohitashi literally means “soaked” in Japanese, referring to the method of blanching vegetables and soaking them in a light, dashi-based sauce.

How to make Ohitashi

1. Make the Sauce:
   In a bowl, combine dashi, soy sauce, and a little sugar or your preferred sweetener. You can also use mirin as a sweetener and flavor enhancer.
2. Blanch the Vegetables:
   Quickly boil the vegetables (spinach is used in this recipe) just until wilted. Immediately cool them in running water or an ice water bath to stop the cooking process and preserve the color.
3. Remove Excess Water:
   Gently squeeze the vegetables to remove any excess water, then cut them into bite-sized pieces.
4. Soak and Serve:
   Place the vegetables in a bowl and pour the sauce over them. Serve immediately, or let them soak in the refrigerator for a deeper flavor.

It’s easier to eat more vegetables when they’re cooked!

Short Video

A full recipe video is also available in the recipe box below and on our YouTube channel.

More Ohitashi Recipes

• Moyashi Ohitashi Recipe
• Asparagus Ohitashi

Print Pin

Spinach Ohitashi

5 from 1 vote

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 4 servings

Spinach salad with lightly sweeten soy sauce

Ingredients

• 1 bunch spinach
• 1/4 cup Dashi
• 1 Tbsp soy sauce
• 1/2 tsp sugar (or Mirin or preferred sweetener)
• Katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes)

Instructions 

• Mix Dashi, soy sauce and sugar in a small bowl.
• Boil water in a large pot, then add spinach. After 15-30 seconds, remove from heat and drain water.
• Cool spinach in running water, and squeeze water out from spinach.
• Cut spinach into 2″ sections and place in a bowl. Add Dashi sauce mixture and mix well.
• Chill or serve right away with a sprinkle of Katsuobuhi.

Video

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Japanese

Keyword: ohitashi, spinach

This recipe was originally published in May 2012. The post was updated on May 13, 2025 with more useful content, new photos and a short video.