1 Dressing for 3 Best Ways to Cook Tatsoi 

Have you ever wondered the best dressing to cook tatsoi in three different ways? What sauce would complement it: raw, steamed, or sauteed?

Or maybe you’ve never heard of tatsoi? If you haven’t, it’s a dark, leafy green vegetable in the same family as Brussels sprouts and mustard greens. 

It can be served raw or cooked and is fantastic in salads, steamed, or sauteed, which we’ll discuss below.  

Sesame Dressing for Salads, Steaming, and Sautéing Tatsoi

Use this mouthwatering dressing for all three recipes below:

Ingredients 

• ¼ cup Sesame oil 

• ¼ cup white wine vinegar 

• ¼ cup soy sauce 

• ¼ cup maple syrup or ¼ cup orange juice

• ¼ cup water 

• 1 tsp fresh minced ginger

•  ½ teaspoon fresh minced garlic 

Blend ingredients in a bowl or blender, and you have a lovely, light dressing or a rich, glossy sauce.

Salads 

Tatsoi is excellent raw. It has a crisp, light flavor with a hint of mustard flavor—pair it with the sesame dressing to compliment the vegetable’s subtle notes. 

Pro Tip: Opt for orange juice instead of maple syrup to give your dressing a lovely citrus flavor that will dazzle your taste buds. 

Steamed

Tatsoi is an excellent vegetable to steam. It has a similar texture to bok choy but has a slender stem. Once your steamer is ready, place the tatsoi over boiling water for 3 to 5 minutes tops.

Check after the first minute and remember to rotate so the side closest to the steam isn’t left getting soggy.  

After steaming, add the sesame dressing above for a light, fresh flavor. Top with toasted sesame seeds. 

Sauteed 

Sautee the tatsoi with a neutral oil like grapeseed, soy, or peanut—and if you like garlic and ginger—toss in a ¼ teaspoon of garlic and ginger. 

After 3 to 5 minutes, remove from heat. Pour the dressing into the pan and heat until the dressing begins to simmer. 

Once the dressing is simmering, add a slurry of 1 teaspoon arrowroot and ¼ cup water to thicken the sauce. 

After the sauce has thickened (it should take approximately a minute), remove from heat and coat the tatsoi. 

Tofu is an excellent protein to pair with your meal. Sesame dressing will also pair well with tofu. If you plan on adding tofu, I suggest pan-frying it with a neutral oil after you have set your tatsoi aside. 

Remove the tofu from the pan while prepping the dressing. Then, combine the tatsoi and tofu once the dressing has become glossy.   

Are You Ready to Try Tatsoi?

This deep green vegetable is growing in popularity, and I get mine from my CSA. If you can’t find it at your CSA, farmer’s market, or grocery store, try checking out an Asian grocer. However, be sure to check if it is organic.

If you’re still wondering about other ways to cook tatsoi, Foodie52 suggests, “Just use tatsoi anywhere you’d use spinach.”