Korean Spinach Salad “Banchan”

What is Banchan?  Banchan are side dishes traditionally served with a Korean meal.  
Most often, they are little dishes of prepared veggies.  Any vegetable can be turned into banchan, including kimchi.  Here are my favorite spinach salad and summer squash banchan recipes:

Spinach Salad Banchan

1 10-oz pack baby spinach
2 teaspoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1 garlic clove, minced, optional
1 tablespoon chopped scallion, optional
1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon rice wine vinegar
toasted sesame seeds

Blanch spinach, rinse with cold water and squeeze dry.  Mix together soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, scallion, brown sugar and vinegar.  Toss with cooked spinach.  Sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Summer Squash Banchan

1 large or 2 medium summer squash (or zucchini)
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 garlic clove, minced
toasted sesame seeds

Halve squash and cut into thin moon shaped slices.  Briefly saute garlic in oil.  Add squash and saute for 2-3 minutes until slightly cooked, but still crisp.  Season with salt and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.  Serve room temperature or cold.

More Banchan Recipes:
ifood tv’s Korean Side Dish Recipes (lots of recipes here!)
Anna’s Korean Kitchen’ Diary’s Quick and Korean Style Cucumber Pickle
Sunny Side Up’s Korean Pan Fried Tofu 

Anticancer Ingredients:  Spinach, Garlic, Scallion, Sesame Seeds, Garlic, Summer Squash, Zucchini