Cold Spinach with Toasted Peanuts

Name: Cold Spinach with Toasted Peanuts
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 lb, tough stems removed fresh spinach; 1/2 cup raw peanuts; 1 link, thinly sliced ham; 2 cloves, minced garlic; 2 tbsp vegetable oil; 1 tsp sesame oil; to taste salt; 1 tbsp, optional garnish white sesame seeds

A refreshing northern Chinese appetizer featuring tender spinach paired with crunchy toasted peanuts. The ham adds a savory note while a simple garlic-sesame dressing ties everything together.

20 min

Easy

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Story

This classic northern Chinese dish makes a wonderful make-ahead appetizer. The spinach is briefly blanched to maintain its vibrant green color and tender-crisp texture, then cooled quickly to stop the cooking. Toasting the peanuts in a dry pan brings out their natural oils and creates that irresistible crunch.

Ingredients

fresh spinach 1 lb, tough stems removed

raw peanuts 1/2 cup

ham 1 link, thinly sliced

garlic 2 cloves, minced

vegetable oil 2 tbsp

sesame oil 1 tsp

salt to taste

white sesame seeds 1 tbsp, optional garnish

Instructions

Toast the peanuts

Heat a dry skillet over medium-low heat. Add the peanuts and stir frequently for 5-7 minutes until golden and fragrant. Transfer to a plate and let cool completely—they'll become crisp as they cool. Roughly chop if desired.

Blanch the spinach

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the spinach and cook for just 20-30 seconds until wilted but still bright green. Immediately drain and plunge into ice water to stop the cooking. Once cool, squeeze out excess water gently.

Prepare the ham and dressing

Slice the ham into thin matchsticks. In a small bowl, combine the minced garlic with vegetable oil and sesame oil.

Assemble and serve

Place the spinach on a serving platter. Top with the chopped peanuts and ham strips. Drizzle the garlic oil dressing over the top. Toss gently to combine. Sprinkle with sesame seeds if using. Serve immediately or chill for 30 minutes for flavors to meld.