Mustard Spinach

Mustard spinach, also called tendergreen or komatsuna, is a leafy green brassica that combines the hardiness of mustard greens with the mild, approachable flavour of spinach. The leaves are smooth, dark green, and tender, with a subtle peppery note that is much gentler than true mustard greens.

It is a versatile cooking green that works anywhere you might use spinach or bok choy — in stir-fries, soups, steamed as a side dish, or wilted into pasta and grain bowls. It’s particularly popular in Japanese and Chinese home cooking, where it’s valued for its quick cooking time and pleasant texture.

In Australia, mustard spinach can be found at some Asian grocers and farmers’ markets. It grows well in Australian conditions and is a popular choice for home gardeners looking for a productive, easy-to-grow leafy green.

Farmed
photograph to come — from twenty years of markets, farms and kitchens

How it's made

Mustard spinach is a fast-growing crop that matures in as little as 30 to 40 days from seed. It is grown in garden beds or commercial fields and harvested by cutting the whole plant at the base or picking outer leaves progressively. The harvested leaves are washed and bundled for sale, requiring no further processing.

Nutrition (per 100g)

Energy 22kcal
Protein 2.2g
Carbs 1.1g
Fat 0.3g
Fibre 2.8g Sugar 0g
Mass Distribution

1 cup, chopped is about 150 g — roughly 30 kcal of this.

What it costs the planet (per kilo)

Carbon ≈0.5kg
Freshwater ≈130L
Land ≈0.4

≈ Estimated — worked out from a category-typical value further up its supply chain. Where this comes from →

Where it comes from

In the kitchen

Used as

mild cooking green

Classic dishes
  • Stir-Fried Greens
  • Miso Soup
  • Japanese Ohitashi

Keeping one at home? Track yours in your cubud →

Where this data comes from

Nutrition data from

USDA

How it was calculated

SR Legacy

Full credits, licences, and methods: the sources page →

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