Spinach rolls

Tools:

Sushi rolling mat

Recommended ingredients:

Broad-leaf spinach (a big bunch will make up to 8 pieces)
Sesame seeds
Avocadoes (optional)

About the recipe:

This is a great way to eat spinach. Spinach has cancer-preventative properties when eaten daily. It's great for the heart and kidneys. It is high in iron, vitamin B9 (folic acid), vitamin C, and vitamin A. Note that spinach water can be drunk or used as a soup base, as it is tasty and contains iron that has leached from the spinach. Avocadoes and sesame seeds are both sources of healthy oils. Sesame seeds are a rich source of minerals (copper, zinc, manganese, calcium) and contain other health-beneficial substances found only in sesame. (Source: Biggs, et al. Vegetables, Herbs, and Fruit)

Short Directions:

1. Toast sesame
2. Prepare soy sauce, mustard, vinegar mixture
3. Blanch the spinach for 15 seconds (not more!)
4. Drain, squeeze, and arrange into a roll on the mat
5. Roll spinash with avocado in the center and cut into pieces
6. Dip in soy mixture
7. Dip ends in sesame

Detailed Directions and Tips:

Toast sesame seeds:
1. Put a tea spoon of sesame seeds in a frying pan and toast until browning (after this point, the seeds must be removed from the pan immediately or they will start to burn)

Prepare dip:
2. Put table spoon soy sauce, vinegar, and a few drops of mustard in a small container
3. Shake to make emulsion

Cook spinach:
4. Put 1 inch of water in a pot and bring to boil
5. Cut large stems from spinach bunch and wash
6. Boil for 15 seconds (if you boil it even a few seconds longer, the spinach will turn to mush)
7. Remove spinach, cool (or dunk in cold water)
8. Squeeze as much water as possible from spinach in your fist

Put together:
9. Spread spinach on rolling mat (about 2 inches wide)
10. If using avocado, put small strip in the middle
11. Roll spinach over the avocado
12. Carefully, with sharp knife, cut roll into 1 inch pieces (if spinach comes loose, unfold the spinach slightly and put the loose pieces inside)

Tip: This can be tricky. If the roll falls apart as you are cutting it, then you can reshape the rolls by hand and straighten them with the mat after cutting. Also, keep the roll inside the mat, poke the spinach out an inch at a time, and cut close to the mat edge. This helps to keep it together.

13. Arrange spinach rolls in a row on the mat and roll again to firm up the shape
14. Dip the spinach rolls in the dipping liquid on all sides
15. Dunk the ends of each piece into the sesame.
16. Arrange on plate.

It's not as hard as it sounds. It takes 3 minutes overall and is very tasty.