10 Minute Sesame Garlic Baby Bok Choy - So easy and SO good! (2024)

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Quick and easy sautéed Baby Bok Choy with garlic and sesame seeds, made in less than 10 minutes. Serve this yummy side dish alongside your favorite protein!

Sesame Garlic Bok Choy is an Asian-inspired vegetable recipe that you can serve with Air Fryer Steak, Blackened Shrimp, and I’ve even served it with Air Fryer Chicken.

It’s easy to clean and cut, and comes together quickly!

10 Minute Sesame Garlic Baby Bok Choy - So easy and SO good! (1)

Sesame Garlic Sauteed Bok Choy Recipe

If you’ve never had bok choy before, or have only ordered it at fancy restaurants, you might be feeling hesitant to cooking it at home. I get that!

It’s traditionally found in Asian style dishes, which I didn’t grow up eating at home, so I had to teach myself how to make certain foods (like this) that I love.

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Cooking with miso paste was also something I had never even heard of since my parents never used it at home. I found that it was actually an easy ingredient to use in my recipes like these Miso Mushroom Bowls and even this Air Fryer Candied Bacon.

What is Baby Bok Choy?

Bok choy, also known as pak choi or pak choy, is a type of Chinese cabbage. It’s a cruciferous vegetable that has a green leafy top and a clustered bottom that looks similar to celery.

The entire plant is edible and can be eaten raw or cooked. I prefer it sautéed!

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What’s The Difference Between Bok Choy And Baby Bok Choy?

There isn’t much of a difference between the two other than baby bok choy is harvested earlier, producing smaller, more tender leaves. Bok choy can withstand longer cook times and works well in stir-frys.

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Bok Choy Nutrition

This is an excellent option if you’re looking for a low-carb vegetable. Bok Choy is high in nutrients, too!

1 cup of raw bok choy only has 1.5 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, and 9 calories.

It’s also a good source of fiber, beta-carotene, and vitamins C, K, and A. This leafy green is also high in calcium and vitamin B6.

Why this is the Best Bok Choy Recipe

  • Quick and easy: this recipe takes less than 10 minutes to make from start to finish, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
  • Minimal ingredients: with just six simple ingredients, it’s both budget-friendly and easy to whip up on the fly.
  • Healthy and nutritious: Bok choy is packed with vitamins and minerals, low in carbs. This recipe preserves its nutritional value by keeping the cooking time minimal, ensuring you get the best of both taste and nutrients!

How to prepare Baby Bok Choy

There are several different ways to cut bok choy, all of which are not right or wrong. But in this post, I am sharing the way that I do it!

Like all vegetables, you’ll want to start by washing your bok choy. All you have to do is rinse it under some cold water and run your fingers over the stalks to scrub away any remaining dirt.

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After you have washed the bok choy, use a sharp knife to slice it lengthwise down the center.

Sauteed Baby Bok Choy ingredients

This baby bok choy recipe is so simple, you’ll only need a few ingredients!

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  • 2 heads of baby bok choy
  • toasted sesame oil (you can also use olive oil)
  • garlic
  • shallot
  • soy sauce

If you enjoy a little kick, add some crushed red pepper flakes while the bok choy is cooking.

How to cook Baby Bok Choy

This is a simple one pan recipe that you can make super quick!

  1. Heat the pan. Heat the sesame oil in the pan on medium-high heat, then add the garlic and shallot. Cook until they become fragrant and the shallot begins to soften.
  2. Cook the bok choy. Add the bok choy to the pan, cut side down and let it sear for about 1.5 minutes, until the bottom begins to turn golden brown. Pour 1 tbsp of water and 1 tbsp of soy sauce into the pan, cover and cook for 2 minutes.
  3. Season the bok choy. Remove the bok choy from the pan, season with sesame seeds, salt and pepper.
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Recipe Notes:

  • If you don’t have soy sauce, you can use 2 tbsps of water instead.
  • If you’re using red pepper flakes, add them to the pan with the garlic and shallot.

What to serve with this Easy Bok Choy Recipe

Lately, my favorite way to serve bok choy is alongside this Miso Glazed Chilean Sea Bass recipe. The flavors go SO well together and it’s really the perfect Asian-inspired dish!

Storing Sauteed Baby Bok Choy

Store your leftover bok choy in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

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More Vegetable Recipes To Try

  • Chili Lime Roasted Carrots
  • Broccolini With Marcona Almonds
  • Spaghetti Squash (how to make It)
  • Mexican Street Corn

More Side Dish Recipes

  • Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
  • Air Fryer Eggplant Fries
  • Red Wine Mushrooms
  • Israeli Couscous Recipe

WANT TO TRY THIS BABY BOK CHOY RECIPE?

PIN IT to your vegetable recipes, side dish recipes, or Asian recipes board to save it for later!
Find me onPinterestfor more great recipes. I’m always pinning!

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Did you make this recipe?Post a photo onInstagramand tag me@JZEATS or #JZEATSso I can see! Leave a comment below and let me know what you think, too!

10 Minute Sesame Garlic Baby Bok Choy - So easy and SO good! (10)

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5 from 24 votes

Sauteed Bok Choy Recipe

Quick and easy sautéed Baby Bok Choy with garlic and sesame seeds, made in less than 10 minutes. Serve this yummy side dish alongside your favorite protein!

Prep Time2 minutes mins

Cook Time6 minutes mins

Total Time8 minutes mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Asian American

Keyword: baby bok choy, bok choy

Servings: 2

Calories: 101kcal

Author: Jordan

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat a large non-stick pan on medium-high heat with sesame oil. When hot, add the garlic and sliced shallot. Cook until fragrant (30-60 seconds).

  • Place the bok choy in the pan cut side down and let it cook undisturbed for about 1.5 minutes, until the bottom begins to turn golden brown.

  • Pour the water and soy sauce into the pan and cover immediately with a tight fitting lid. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 2 minutes. Transfer the bok choy to a serving dish and season with sesame seeds, salt and pepper.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 101kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 296mg | Potassium: 432mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is approximate and was calculated using a recipe nutrition label generator.

Tried this recipe?I’d love to see your dish, mention @jzeats or tag #jzeats!

10 Minute Sesame Garlic Baby Bok Choy - So easy and SO good! (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between baby bok choy and regular bok choy? ›

What is the difference between regular bok choy and baby bok choy? There is virtually no difference between regular-sized bok choy and baby bok choy. Baby bok choy is harvested earlier than regular-sized bok choy, and as a result, the vegetable is naturally smaller and overall is a bit sweeter.

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.

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.

Can you eat the bottom of baby bok choy? ›

What part of the bok choy do you eat? The whole bok choy is edible. Bok choy stalks are crisp and have a mild flavor whereas the crinkly leaves are tender after they are cooked a little bit.

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 better for you than cabbage? ›

Flavor: Bok choy is a leafy green and tastes like it. It's more bitter than napa cabbage and has a more assertive flavor, though it gets milder as it cooks. Nutrition: Bok choy is significantly higher in dietary fiber, vitamin C, and vitamin A than napa cabbage.

What part of bok choy do you not eat? ›

All of Bok Choy is edible, so once you get to that point, you can chop up the stem and the bulb.

What does bok choy do for your body? ›

Like other dark, leafy greens, bok choy is an excellent source of the flavonoid quercetin. Quercetin can help to reduce inflammation in the body, which may help to reduce your risk of developing a variety of chronic health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

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.)

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.

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.

What is a fun fact about bok choy? ›

Bok Choy Facts

Bok choy is also called Chinese cabbage and pak-choi. Bok choy has been grown in China for over 6,000 years. It is related to the cabbage family.

What part of bok choy is bitter? ›

Generally speaking, the flavor of bok choy is mild and cabbage-like. Its green leaves are a little bitter, and the white stalks are juicy and retain their crunch even after cooking.

Can you substitute regular bok choy for baby bok choy? ›

Each head of baby bok choy is roughly the diameter of a soda can. You can use regular bok choy instead of baby bok choy, although I prefer the sweeter and more delicate flavor of baby bok choy.

Does baby bok choy taste different? ›

Baby bok choy has a delicate flavor similar to lettuce, and it works great in salads, green mixes, and stir-frys. Fully matured bok choy has more of those delightful bitter flavors that are characteristic of leafy greens. It also has hints of a mustard-like flavor, giving it a unique taste.

Which is more nutritious bok choy or baby bok choy? ›

Are there any nutritional differences between bok choy and baby bok choy? Both bok choy and baby bok choy are low in calories and high in nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin A, and calcium. While there may be slight variations in nutrient content, they are both excellent sources of essential vitamins and minerals.

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