Looking for a Japanese side dish that’s simple, stunning and seriously addictive? This Goma-ae is a classic Japanese sesame sauce usually served over spinach but Rich has switched it up with tender stem broccoli and once you try it, you’ll want to put it on everything.

Goma-ae is one of those dishes that looks effortlessly impressive but comes together in minutes. The rich, nutty sesame paste combined with the savoury depth of Kikkoman Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce creates a sauce that is quite simply irresistible.

This recipe is ideal as a side dish, a starter, or part of a Japanese-inspired spread at home.

We created this recipe in partnership with our friends at Kikkoman, the official soy sauce partners of The Avenue Cookery School. You can read more about our partnership here. If you love Japanese food and want to learn to cook it properly, come and join us for our Japanese Cooking Class, Sushi Workshop, Katsu Curry Class or our brilliant Sushi & Cocktails Class here at The Avenue!

Why You’ll Love This Goma-ae

Incredibly simple – just a handful of ingredients, big flavour
Naturally vegan – a brilliant plant-based dish that doesn’t compromise on taste
Versatile – works beautifully with spinach or green beans too
Restaurant quality at home – looks and tastes like something from a Japanese izakaya

Ingredients
300g tenderstem broccoli
6 tbsp sesame seeds
2 tbsp mirin or sake
2 tbsp Kikkoman Soy Sauce
2 tbsp white sugar

Method

Peel the ends of the broccoli stalks to remove any tough parts.
Steam or boil in salted water until tender, then drain and refresh in iced water to keep the colour vibrant and stop the cooking.
When the broccoli is fully cool leave to drain.

Toast the sesame seeds in a dry frying pan over a medium heat, shaking regularly, until golden and fragrant. Keep a close eye – they can catch quickly!
Grind the toasted sesame seeds using a pestle and mortar until they start to come together.
Add the mirin or sake, Kikkoman soy and sugar, and continue grinding to form a thick, fragrant paste.
Add a little water to loosen if needed.

Serve the drained broccoli on a plate with the sesame sauce spooned generously over the top. Scatter with a few extra toasted sesame seeds to garnish. Serve cold.

Tips & Variations

Traditional version Goma-ae is traditionally made with spinach rather than broccoli – both are delicious!
Spice it up  Add a teaspoon of chilli oil or a finely chopped fresh chilli to the sesame paste for a fiery twist on the classic
Serve with meat Spoon the sauce over sliced grilled chicken breast or duck for a more substantial dish
Stir fry twist  Toss through a vegetable stir fry right at the end as a sauce — it coats everything beautifully and adds incredible depth of flavour
Make ahead  The sesame sauce can be made in advance and kept in the fridge for up to 3 days
Sesame tip Don’t skip the toasting – it makes a huge difference to the flavour

Want to learn more Japanese cooking?

If you loved this recipe, come and cook with us! Our Japanese Cooking Class and Sushi Workshop are some of our most popular classes – hands-on, delicious and always a brilliant night out. 🍣

Check out more of our recipes here and sign up to our newsletter at the bottom of our home page for special offers and new class announcements.

Want to know more about us? Visit our About Us page to meet the team!