Stir-Fried Baby Bok Choy with Garlic and Soy Sauce Recipe
A simple and flavorful stir-fried baby bok choy recipe enhanced with garlic, soy sauce, and Chinese mushroom sauce. This quick and healthy side dish features tender, vibrant greens garnished with toasted sesame seeds, perfect for a nutritious addition to any meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Total Time: 17 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stir-frying
- Cuisine: Chinese
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Vegetables
- ½ pound baby bok choy
Sauces & Seasoning
- ½ Tablespoon soy sauce
- ½ Tablespoon Chinese mushroom sauce
- salt and pepper, to taste
- optional: crushed red pepper flakes to taste
Other
- 2 teaspoons canola or vegetable oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- sesame seeds for garnish
Instructions
- Blanch the bok choy: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the baby bok choy and cook for one minute to brighten the color and tenderize the greens.
- Shock in ice water: Quickly drain the bok choy and transfer it to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Once cooled, drain again and dry thoroughly with a clean towel or paper towels to prevent excess moisture during stir-frying.
- Heat oil and sauté garlic: In a skillet over high heat, heat 2 teaspoons of canola or vegetable oil. Add the minced garlic and stir-fry until fragrant, approximately 30 seconds, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Stir-fry bok choy: Add the blanched and dried bok choy to the skillet. Toss to coat in the garlic oil and cook while stirring until the edges start to brown slightly, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add sauces and finish cooking: Pour in the soy sauce and Chinese mushroom sauce, stir well to coat all the bok choy evenly. Cook while stirring for an additional 1 minute to blend flavors.
- Season and garnish: Transfer the cooked bok choy to a serving dish. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Optionally sprinkle with crushed red pepper flakes for heat and garnish with sesame seeds before serving.
Notes
- If baby bok choy is unavailable, use regular-sized bok choy cut lengthwise to help the sauce infuse the leaves.
- Blanching before stir-frying locks in the greens’ bright color, improves tenderness, and sweetens the flavor.
- Prepare all ingredients beforehand to ensure quick and efficient stir-frying, preventing burning and uneven cooking.
- Taste before adding salt as soy sauce and mushroom sauce already contain significant saltiness.
