10 Minute Garlic Bok Choy Recipe (2024)

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Crisp, fresh, and bursting with loads of unexpected flavor, this Garlic Bok Choy Recipe is guaranteed to be your new favorite side dish. Ready in just 10 minutes, enjoy this easy vegetarian side dish with chicken, beef, or fish.

10 Minute Garlic Bok Choy Recipe (1)

Sometimes the simplest things are the best things. This Garlic Bok Choy Recipe- totally simple, easy, and delicious– is made with just a handful of ingredients including ginger, garlic, and soy sauce. Ready in just 10 minutes, all you need is a hot skillet and a spatula.

What is Bok Choy (Pak Choy)

Bok choy, also known as pakchoy or pokchoi, is a type of Chinese cabbage, that has smooth, wide, flat leaf blades at one end with the other end forming a cluster similar to that of celery. May be eaten cooked or raw.

What is the between Bok Choy and Baby Bok Choy?

Since several of you have asked, I did a little research and this is what I have found.

  • They are basically the same.
  • The difference is that baby bok choy is harvested earlier producing smaller, more tender leaves.
  • This means thatbaby bok choy is much sweeterthan and is often served directly in soup or in salads.
  • Bok choy, on the other hand, is much heartier, perfect for longer cooking times as in stir-frys.

Bok Choy Nutrition

Bok Choy is high in nutrients and low in carbohydrates. As such, it is an excellent option when trying to eat more healthy, low-calorie foods.

  • 1 cup raw bok choy- 1.5 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 9 calories

High in fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin A, and beta-carotene, this wildly popular green is also an excellent source of folate, calcium, and vitamin B6. It is also considered both a cruciferous vegetable and a leafy green vegetable.

10 Minute Garlic Bok Choy Recipe (2)

Ingredients in this Garlic Bok Choy Recipe

  • oil
  • garlic
  • shallots
  • baby bok choy
  • soy sauce
  • sesame oil
  • crushed red pepper (optional)

If you prefer a more mild vegetable side dish, I recommend skipping the crushed red pepper. In my experience, even with jarred, store-bought crushed red pepper, the heat level can be somewhat unpredictable, so unless you love a little extra heat, leave it out.

Other fantastic additions would include crushed ginger, a splash of fish sauce, or a sweet chili dipping sauce.

10 Minute Garlic Bok Choy Recipe (3)

How to cook bok choy

  1. We want to keep our baby bok choy somewhat intact, so the first thing we want to do is either halve or quarter each stalk (depending on the size of the bok choy) and wash under cold running water.
  2. Heat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat and add the oil. Swirl to coat the entire surface of the pan. As soon as the oil is hot, add the garlic and the shallots, and sautè for 1-2 minutes, stirring continuously.
  3. Add the bok choy, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Toss and cover. Cook for approximately 2 minutes before uncovering, tossing, and covering. Continue to cook the bok choy until white parts reach desired doneness (I have found that this varies from person to person as some people prefer crunchier bok choy, while others prefer a more well-done stir-fry).
  4. Sprinkle with crushed red pepper, if using, and drizzle with additional sesame oil, if desired.

What to serve with bok choy

Aside from how easy this recipe is to make, one of my favorite parts about it is that it goes with just about everything!

  • Add some shrimp for a low carb, high protein meal.
  • Serve with your favorite chicken or steak and a side of rice.
  • Add onions, carrots, bell pepper, and broccoli for a veggie-packed stir-fry the whole family will love.
  • Toss with ramen and drizzle with chili sauce for a meal guaranteed to taste better than take-out.

10 Minute Garlic Bok Choy Recipe (4)

If you try making this 10 Minute Garlic Bok Choy Recipe, please leave me a comment and let me know!I always love to hear your thoughts.

For morebok choy recipescheck out,

  • Ginger Garlic Noodle Soup with Bok Choy (Bok Choy Soup)<— reader favorite!
  • Easy Sheet Pan Thai Chicken with Bok Choy
  • Sweet Chili Tofu with Coconut Rice and Bok Choy
  • Spicy Stir Fried Tofu with Bok Choy
  • Udon Noodle Soup with Bok Choy and Poached Egg

For moreAsian-inspired recipes check out,

  • Easy Korean Beef Bibimbap Recipe (Mixed Rice)
  • Easy Thai Fried Rice Recipe (Khao Phat Kaphrao)
  • Bulgogi Korean BBQ Beef Lettuce Wraps
  • Pho Recipe- How to Make Vietnamese Noodle Soup
  • Kimchi Ramen Noodle Soup (30 minutes)

10 Minute Garlic Bok Choy Recipe (5)

RECIPE CARD

10 Minute Garlic Bok Choy Recipe (6)

10 Minute Garlic Bok Choy Recipe

4.86 from 2756 votes

AuthorAuthor: 10 Minute Garlic Bok Choy Recipe (7)Jessica Randhawa

Crisp, fresh, and bursting with loads of unexpected flavor, this Garlic Bok Choy Recipe is guaranteed to be your new favorite side dish.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe Save

Prep Time 2 minutes mins

Cook Time 8 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Asian

Servings 6 as a side

Calories 54 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 5 cloves garlic - minced
  • 2 large shallots - minced
  • 2 pounds baby bok choy - halved or quartered
  • 2 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper - optional

Instructions

  • Add the oil to a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Swirl to coat the entire surface of the pan. Add the garlic and shallots, stirring continuously for 1-2 minutes, or until fragrant.

  • Add the bok choy, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Toss to coat and cover. Cook for 1-2 minutes, uncover and toss, and then cover and continue to cook until bok choy is cooked to desired doneness (approximately 3-5 minutes more).

  • Sprinkle with crushed red pepper and serve immediately. Enjoy!

Jessica's Notes

  • You may use bok choy or baby bok choy for this recipe. If you use bok choy, I recommend chopping into smaller pieces to expeditecooking time.
  • To make this recipe gluten-free, substituteregular soy sauce with gluten-free Tamari.

Nutritional Information

Calories: 54kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 439mg | Potassium: 29mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 6825IU | Vitamin C: 68.8mg | Calcium: 171mg | Iron: 1.3mg

(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.)

Keyword Baby Bok Choy, Bok Choy

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10 Minute Garlic Bok Choy Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long does bok choy need to be cooked for? ›

Bring a pot of water to the boil and drop the bok chop into the water. Cook for 1-2 minutes or until just tender. Avoid overcooking as this will reduce the nutritional value and alter the texture.

How to remove bitterness from bok choy? ›

Blanching your greens is key to getting that bitterness level down. Because glucosinolates are water-soluble compounds, a lot of them are leached out into the water, allowing for a less bitter green.

Is bok choy better steamed or boiled? ›

The best way to eat bok choy is to lightly steam or stir-fry it to retain its crisp texture. Overcooking makes it mushy. Bok choy has a delicious, mild flavor that pairs well with garlic, ginger, sesame oil, oyster sauce, soy sauce, chiles, or Whole30 peanut sauce.

What is the best way to eat bok choy? ›

Bok choy, a Chinese cabbage, is tender, sweet, and stands up well to heat — making it perfect for stir-frying. Cook it simply with garlic, black bean sauce, or shiitake mushrooms for a delicious side dish, or incorporate it into a frittata or bowl of ramen for a more substantial bite.

Are you supposed to eat the stems of bok choy? ›

Traditional bok choy has dark, crinkly leaves and crisp, white stems; Shanghai bok choy has spoon-shaped leaves and jade green stems. The cool thing is that both the leaves and the stalks can be eaten, and this wonderful little plant is an excellent go-to for fiber, as well as for beta-carotene and vitamins C, K and A.

Is bok choy OK to eat raw? ›

There are plenty of ways to try adding bok choy to your diet. You can consume bok choy raw, roasted, or cooked on the stovetop in a soup, stir-fry, or fried rice dish. You can incorporate bok choy into your diet in Asian dishes and many other ways.

Which part of bok choy is bitter? ›

The rich flavors of the soy sauce compliment the light bitterness in the leaves, and the hot water quickly cooks the veggie to make it tender. Cook until the leaves are bright green and the stalks are just slightly soft.

Should I soak bok choy before cooking? ›

The simplest way to prep bok choy is to cut it in half lengthwise and submerge it in cold water for a few minutes. This will soften the dirt and allow you to remove it easily. Drain the water, check for dirt between the stalks, and run each half of bok choy under cold water.

Can you eat overcooked bok choy? ›

Although it can be braised or stewed, it is best when exposed to a short blast of high heat—roasted, steamed, stir-fried or stirred into the hot soup right before serving. Overcooking destroys its fresh flavor and texture. Here are three simple methods for cooking bok choy.

Which is healthier spinach or bok choy? ›

In equivalent raw weight, bok choy contains more vitamin C, vitamin A, and some other nutrients than spinach and around the same amount of calcium. Spinach, however, contains higher amounts of some other nutrients, including vitamin K, than bok choy.

Is bok choy healthier than green cabbage? ›

Nutrition: Bok choy is significantly higher in dietary fiber, vitamin C, and vitamin A than napa cabbage. Texture: Bok choy stalks are more fibrous than the leaves of napa cabbage, and you'd therefore be less likely to encounter them raw.

Is bok choy good for high blood pressure? ›

Eating bok choy is a great way to add more health-promoting nutrients and compounds to your diet. The vitamins and minerals found in bok choy offer additional benefits, such as: Potassium, magnesium, and calcium help support normal blood pressure regulation, an important factor in heart health.

Is there any part of bok choy you can't eat? ›

Bok Choy, also known as Chinese White Cabbage, is a cruciferous vegetable that is a member of the cabbage family. It has a round tender white bulb on the bottom with long celery-looking stalks and dark leafy greens on top. The entire vegetable is edible and can be enjoyed either raw or cooked.

How do you know when bok choy is done cooking? ›

Heat oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat; cook garlic in hot oil until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Mix in bok choy; cook and stir until the leafy green parts turn bright green and the stalks become slightly translucent, 5 to 8 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and serve.

How do you know when bok choy is ready? ›

Bok choy only takes 45 days to reach maturity, so you can enjoy your leafy greens relatively quickly after planting them. Harvest the bok choy before the hot weather sets in, because the hot weather will make the bok choy go to seed very fast. Bok choy is ready to harvest when it reaches 12 to 18 inches tall.

Is bok choy better raw or cooked? ›

It packs potassium, lutein, folate and 70 antioxidants, which makes it a candidate for cancer prevention, according to research. Bok choy loses a smidge of its nutrients when it's cooked, but it's also easier to eat more cooked than raw, so you'll probably come out about even.

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