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Garlic Bok Choy

Name: Garlic Bok Choy
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon oil (any kind such as olive, canola or avocado); 2 tablespoons minced ginger; 1 clove garlic (minced); 1 teaspoon chili garlic paste; 1 large Bok Choy (or 3 small, cored and cut in 1-inch pieces); 2 tablespoons soy sauce; 2 tablespoons water; 1 teaspoon sesame oil; sesame seeds, minced scallions (optional garnish)

LIZ DELLA CROCE

05/30/2024

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Updated:

02/21/2025

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This 5-minute vegetable side dish recipe is a staple in my house. Ideal for any greens you have on hand, Garlicky Bok Choy is tossed with garlic, ginger, and soy sauce until tender and fragrant.

Garnishing garlicky bok choy with chives.

Table of Contents

Bok choy is one of my favorite veggies to enjoy for a quick lunch or a busy weeknight side dish. Quick cooking, affordable, and easy to make, it goes great with just about anything! I love making low carb side dish options with dinner, and this has quickly become one of my favorites! This time of year at my farmers market, I often see a wide variety of sizes and colors including this beautiful baby bok choy I picked up. I used it to make this deliciously simple Garlicky Bok Choy.

Ingredients

Olive oil: Any cooking oil would work, but I use olive oil as it’s the most heart healthy.
Ginger: Fresh ginger adds a wonderful sweet and spicy flavor. If you don’t have fresh ginger, ginger paste is a wonderful ingredient to keep in your fridge.
Garlic: As the name of the recipe suggests, this pungent, aromatic ingredient is the star of the show.
Chili paste: Adds a wonderful kick of heat to the dish. If you aren’t a fan of spiciness, only use a little, or omit it all together!
Bok choy: Baby bok choy is simply harvested when the bok choy is still small, resulting in a more tender, slightly sweeter flavor.
Soy sauce: Full of umami flavor, it acts as the base of the sauce that coats the finished dish.
Sesame oil: Has a very strong, nutty flavor, so a little goes a long way.

How to Make Garlicky Bok Choy

Start your garlic bok choy by taking the vegetable and washing it, then trimming and cutting in halves.

Then in a wok or large skillet, heat the olive oil, minced garlic, chili paste, and grated ginger.

Add the bok choy along with a pinch of salt and pepper. Sauté for about 2 minutes, then add in the soy sauce, water, and sesame oil. Cook another couple minutes, then remove from heat.

To serve, garnish with scallions and a sprinkle of sesame seeds for crunch. Enjoy your Garlicky Bok Choy!

Tips From the Chef

For a bigger punch of flavor, try drizzling with hoisin sauce before serving!
Be careful not to overcook the bok choy, as it will get mushy. Once it gets nice and bright green, remove it from the heat!

Frequently Asked Questions

Are bok choy leaves good to eat?

Bok choy is a variety of Chinese cabbage, popular in southern China and Southeast Asia. Bok Choy has white or green, thick, crunchy stems with light to dark green wide leaves. All parts, stems and leaves, are eaten.

What benefits does bok choy have?

Bok choy is a great source of vitamin C and vitamin K, as well as fiber and other nutrients.

What’s the best way to store bok choy?

Store in the vegetable bin of your fridge in a paper or perforated plastic bag. Do not wash until you are ready to use, and use within 3-4 days.

Complimentary Main Dishes

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The easiest and fastest side dish, my Garlicky Bok Choy will become a new staple in your dinner rotations. Or pair it with some rice for a quick, vegetarian meal!

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Garlic Bok Choy

4.34 stars average

Liz Della Croce

Ideal for any greens you have on hand, bok choy is tossed with garlic, ginger, and soy sauce until tender and fragrant. Ready in 5 minutes!

PREP: 5

COOK: 5

TOTAL: 10

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Ingredients

▢ 1 tablespoon oil (any kind such as olive, canola or avocado)
▢ 2 tablespoons minced ginger
▢ 1 clove garlic (minced)
▢ 1 teaspoon chili garlic paste
▢ 1 large Bok Choy (or 3 small, cored and cut in 1-inch pieces)
▢ 2 tablespoons soy sauce
▢ 2 tablespoons water
▢ 1 teaspoon sesame oil
▢ sesame seeds, minced scallions (optional garnish)

Instructions

Pre-heat a wok or large saute pan over medium-high heat and add oil. Stir in garlic, ginger, and chili paste until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Add bok choy to the pan along with a pinch of salt and pepper. Saute for 2 minutes then add in soy sauce, water, and sesame oil. Saute an additional 2 minutes or until bok choy is bright green. Serve with sesame seed and scallions on top if you wish.

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Hi, I’m Liz!

Hey there, I’m Liz Della Croce and I’m thrilled to have you here! My aim is to motivate and ignite your passion for cooking amazing meals for your loved ones. I believe in the power of real, wholesome ingredients that are bursting with flavor and won’t break the bank. Whether it’s a traditional Lebanese recipe from my family or a culinary creation from across the globe, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to discover that nutritious food can be exciting, affordable, and easy to prepare.

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