everything alex cooks

5-second, garlicky greens

(siguemchi namul)

Yes, you read right. 5-seconds.

Korean

Banchan

April 2, 2021

last updated: March 3, 2025

5-second, garlicky greens
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5-second, garlicky greens

Recipe by AlexCourse: BanchanCuisine: KoreanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

10

minutes
Cooking time
Total time

10

minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/2 tsp Garlic salt

  • 1/4 tsp Garlic powder

  • 1 tbsp Sesame oil

  • 1 tbsp Sesame seeds

  • 6oz spinach (but you can use any greens: kale, perilla leaves, beets tops, etc.)

Instructions

  • Bring water to a boil.
  • To blanch greens: Put greens in colander and submerge in boiling water for 5 seconds.
  • Rinse greens under cold water. Squeeze water out of greens so that you form a few tightly formed balls.
  • In a mixing bowl, loosen greens. Season with pantry ingredients to taste. Mix. Voila greens!

Notes

  • Store in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Eat cold.

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non-negotiables

  • garlic powder – don’t use fresh garlic. trust me.

try experimenting with

  • greens – I love changing this recipe up with whatever I have seasonally in the refrigerator.

extra ingredients?

  • Extra sesame oil? Make more banchan.

recipe development notes

March 30, 2021 –

Sigeulmchi translates directly to spinach, but my grandma will use a variety of leafy greens. When kale started trending, my grandma started making 5-second, garlicky kale. When she has leftover beet tops, she makes 5-second, garlicky beet tops. When perilla leaves are on sale, she makes 5-second, garlicky kkaenip (perilla leaves). 

Today, we made the classic iteration with spinach in less than 5 minutes. I walked down to my grandma’s place, and I walked back up in 5 minutes. This recipe is no-frills and three steps. (We live in the same complex. She lives on a unit on the first floor, and I live in a unit on the third floor.) I eat sigeumchi namul with steaming rice or in bibimbap.

What we did right – I learned to season by eye and taste. This recipe does not require you to measure. Its technique and ingredients are simple enough that you can season to taste. I did leave starting measurements though, so you don’t end up adding 1 cup of sesame oil. My measurements were eyeballed to the best of my ability. As a visual learner, I do tout my eyeballing volume measurements though. 

If you decide to cook some greens, please tag me @everythingalexcooks,

(and I mean actually tag me, the new IG update doesn’t notify me when I simply get mentioned in a caption).

I want to see your creations and hear your thoughts!