Easy Bok Choy Recipe (Garlic & Ginger) | Downshiftology (2024)

FAQs

Which is the most recommended method for cooking bok choy? ›

For best results, trim the stalks off before boiling, as the stalks take longer to cook than the leaves. 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.

Bok choy is widely used in Chinese cooking, frequently in soups, salads, stir-fries and fillings for spring rolls, potstickers, steamed buns and dumplings. Its mild flavor shines when it's stir-fried in sesame oil with a little garlic and ginger and a splash of soy sauce or a sprinkle of salt.

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.

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.

Acidity can really bring a pleasant flavor out of bitter greens. If they're being used for a salad, it's good to add a vinaigrette with plenty of acidity to brighten it up. If you are sauteing, add some vinegar or citrus to the greens to finish them off.

February to April and September to October. Bok choy is prone to bolting if planted too early or during warm weather.

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.

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.

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.

Bok choy is an especially good source of vitamins C and K. It also contains some fiber, a critical nutrient found only in plant foods. Fiber supports digestive health and helps reduce the risk of many chronic diseases ( 3 , 4 , 5 ).

Is it okay to eat bok choy every day? ›

A meta-analysis and review of research in the journal Food Chemistry found that eating 100 grams of cruciferous vegetables, such as bok choy, every day was associated with a 10% reduction in the risk of death from any cause. (100 grams of cooked bok choy is a little more than a half-cup.)

If you're storing it next to other fruits and vegetables, make sure that you've thoroughly cleaned its neighboring produce to avoid tainting the freshly washed baby bok choy with dirt or bugs from other food products.

The vegetable is also high in potassium, magnesium, and calcium, all of which help to reduce your blood pressure naturally. Some studies show that eating sufficient potassium can help to lower sodium-induced high blood pressure.

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.

It's low in calories but contains a significant amount of vitamins C and K, making it a welcomed addition to many healthy diets. Bok choy offers many health benefits through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

The major shift in nutrients between raw and cooked bok choy is the level of vitamin C and K depletion when the vegetable is cooked. It's best to consume it raw to get the most nutrients or at the very least only lightly cook it.

To prepare: Roughly chop the leaves into wider strips and the stalks into slightly smaller pieces. To stir-fry, heat 1 tbsp oil in a wok and cook over a high heat for 2 minutes. To steam, place in a steamer over a pan of simmering water for 2 minutes. Serve with ginger and oyster or light soy sauce.