Chili Garlic Bok Choy

4.99 from 55 votes
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This Chili Garlic Bok Choy is the perfect side dish for any meal! The bok choy is nicely stir fried with a hint of kick from the chili oil. It’s a perfect side dish ready in 10 minutes!

Chili Garlic Bok Choy Plated on a plate

Watch the Chili Garlic Bok Choy Recipe Video Below!

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Raw Ingredients for Chili Garlic Bok Choy

Ingredients for Chili Garlic Bok Choy

This Chili Garlic Bok Choy comes out delicious every time! The bok choy is crisp and delicious with a slight kick from the chili oil. They’re absolutely incredible!

  • baby bok choy
  • garlic
  • neutral oil
  • kosher salt
  • sugar
  • msg
  • chili oil – homemade or store bought, both work!

What is Bok Choy?

Bok choy, also known as Chinese cabbage or pak choi, is a leafy green vegetable that is commonly used in Asian cuisine. Here are its key characteristics:

  1. Appearance: Bok choy has thick, crisp stalks and dark green leaves. The leaves are similar in shape to spinach or lettuce, and they grow in a cluster, forming a bunch with white stems.
  2. Taste: Bok choy has a mild, slightly peppery flavor. The leaves are tender and have a subtle sweetness, while the white stalks are crunchy and slightly earthy.
  3. Varieties: There are two main varieties of bok choy: baby bok choy and standard bok choy. Baby bok choy is smaller and more tender, while standard bok choy is larger and has thicker stalks.
  4. Nutritional Benefits: Bok choy is a nutritious vegetable. It is low in calories but rich in vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, and folate. It also contains fiber and various antioxidants.
  5. Cooking: Bok choy is versatile and can be cooked in various ways. It can be stir-fried, sautรฉed, steamed, or added to soups and stews. The leaves cook faster than the stalks, so it’s common to separate them and add them at different times in cooking.
  6. Health Benefits: Bok choy is often considered a healthy choice because of its low calorie content and nutrient density. It is associated with various health benefits, including supporting bone health, improving digestion, and promoting healthy skin.
  7. Culinary Uses: Bok choy is a staple in many Asian dishes, such as stir-fries, hot pots, and noodle soups. It pairs well with various flavors and ingredients, including garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and sesame oil.
Ingredients for Chili Garlic Bok Choy prepped on a tray

Cooking Chili Garlic Bok Choy: Recipe Instructions

Prior to cooking, an important tip for a quick and easy stir fry like this is to have your ingredients prepped and accessible within arms reach! The cooking process is fast so timing of ingredients is key.

Sautรฉ the garlic

Heat 3 tbsp of neutral oil in a pan over high heat. Add garlic and saute for 15 seconds. Then immediately add in your bok choy and cook for 2-3 minutes until slightly wilted and browned.

Cook out the water and season the bok choy

This next step is crucial: cook the water out of the bok choy! You likely see a pool of water at the bottom of the pan when the bok choy hits the heat. It’s important to cook out all the water prior to continuing so that you don’t end up with watery bok choy.

Continue cooking so that the water is cooked out and the bok choy is looking slightly wilted. Next, season the bok choy with salt, sugar, and msg. Finally, add a couple tablespoons of chili oil (click here for my homemade version)

Chili Garlic Bok Choy cooked in a wok

Top Tips for Making the Best Bok Choy

Here are a few of my top tips for making sure your bok choy stir fry comes out delicious every time!

  1. Choose Fresh Bok Choy: Select bok choy that looks fresh and vibrant. The leaves should be crisp and free from wilting, and the stalks should be firm.
  2. Prep Bok Choy Properly: Wash the bok choy thoroughly under cold running water to remove any dirt or grit. Trim the tough ends of the stalks, and separate the leaves from the stalks for even cooking.
  3. Cut Evenly: Cut the bok choy into uniform-sized pieces to ensure even cooking. You can slice the stalks diagonally and chop the leaves into smaller pieces.
  4. Use High Heat: Heat your wok or a large skillet over high heat. Stir-frying requires high heat to cook quickly and retain the crispness of the vegetables.
Chili Garlic Bok Choy on a plate with chopsticks

If you liked this Chili Garlic Bok Choy recipe, check out some of my other popular meat and side dish recipes!

If you tried this Chili Garlic Bok Choy or any other recipe on my website, please leave a ๐ŸŒŸ star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!

4.99 from 55 votes

Chili Garlic Bok Choy

Servings: 2
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 5 minutes
Chili Garlic Bok Choy Plated on a plate
This chili garlic bok choy is the perfect side dish for any meal! The bok choy is nicely stir fried with a hint of kick from the chili oil. It's a perfect side dish ready in 10 minutes!

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Wash the baby bok choy and peel off outer leaves until stem and the closest leaves remain. Slice the stems in half with a knife and then drain excess moisture from bok choy. Set the vegetables aside in a large bowl.
  • Chop 10 cloves of garlic and set aside.
  • Heat 3 tbsp of neutral oil in a pan over high heat. Add garlic and saute for 15 seconds. Then immediately add in your bok choy and cook for 2-3 minutes until slightly wilted and browned.
  • Season with kosher salt, sugar, and msg and cook for another minute
  • Add chili oil and toss until combined. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 194kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 4gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gSodium: 1387mgPotassium: 61mgFiber: 4gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 15140IUVitamin C: 158mgCalcium: 402mgIron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Chinese
Tried this recipe?Mention @cj.eats_ or tag #cjeatsrecipes!

About CJ

Iโ€™m a third generation Chinese-American home cook who has always loved cooking & eating! Welcome to my food blog, where you can find trusted, tested, easy & approachable recipes for the everyday home cook that taste delicious! I am so glad you're here!

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4.99 from 55 votes (9 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




55 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This is one of many recipes Iโ€™m absolutely in love with!! I love bok choy a this garlicky version is nothing shy of brilliant! The smell while making this is so addicting as is the taste! I love this by itself or in Pho!! Give it a go ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿผ @basmati4u on insta

  2. 5 stars
    Bok choy is my favorite leafy greens to eat!! It absorbs so much flavor and itโ€™s so easy to cook! This chili flavor and the garlic recipe is a must try!! Perfect side dish to your main course!

    IG: lifewith_jaly

  3. 5 stars
    Bok choy is one of my favorite leafy greens to eat because it absorbs so much flavor than most. I love it with soups and now I love it like this!! My kids even love eating it and itโ€™s hard to get them to eat any greens.

  4. 5 stars
    Love this recipe. It’s my go to side dish and great healthy eating Addison to any meal ๐Ÿœ๐Ÿฅข๐Ÿซถ
    zigshar22

  5. 5 stars
    A favourite with my family. Goes well with stir fry beef dishes! Easy and simple and flavourful.

  6. In the ingredient list it says 1 tbsp. of neutral oil but in the steps, it says heat 3 tbsp. in the pan?

  7. 4 stars
    This was the best recipe for bok choy I’ve had. My only comment is that it says 10 garlic cloves at the top but then says chop 6 in the directions. I didn’t see instructions for the other 4 cloves. (so I deducted one star for that.. otherwise it would be a 5) However, I used 6 and it was the perfect amount of garlic.