Easy Bok Choy and Garlic Sauce – A Flavorful Stir-Fry!

Bok Choy and Garlic Sauce makes a healthy, delicious dish that is easy to prepare at home. It’s the perfect Chinese dish to accompany any meal. We’ll show you how to prepare it step-by-step with some tips that will help you achieve results of restaurant quality. It’s no wonder this Bok Choy and Garlic Sauce dish is so popular in Asian cooking. It’s nutritious, versatile and full of flavor. Here’s everything you need in order to make it perfect.

Easy Bok Choy and Garlic Sauce – A Flavorful Stir-Fry!

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Bok Choy and Garlic Sauce is a quick, healthy, and flavorful Chinese side dish. Crisp-tender bok choy is coated in a fragrant garlic soy sauce, perfect with rice, noodles, or any protein. Ready in under 15 minutes!

• Total Time: 13 minutes
• Yield: 2–4 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

1 pound Bok Choy

4–5 Garlic Cloves, minced

2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce

1 teaspoon Sesame Oil

1 teaspoon Sugar

1 teaspoon Cornstarch

1/4 cup Water

1 Tablespoon Vegetable Oil

1/4 teaspoon Salt

Optional:

1 teaspoon minced Ginger

Sliced Green Onions for garnish

Pinch of Red Pepper Flakes (optional)

Instructions

1. Wash bok choy thoroughly under cold water to remove any dirt. Trim ends. Slice larger bok choy in half or quarters. Pat dry.

2. Boil water with a pinch of salt. Blanch bok choy for 1-2 minutes until bright green. Transfer to ice water to stop cooking. Drain and set aside.

3. Heat a wok or skillet on medium-low heat. Add vegetable oil.

4. Sauté garlic (and ginger if using) for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Do not burn.

5. Add soy sauce, sugar, and water. Stir and bring to a gentle simmer.

6. Mix cornstarch with a small amount of water to form a slurry. Add to sauce and stir until thickened.

7. Add blanched bok choy to the sauce. Stir-fry for 1-2 minutes until coated and heated through.

8. Drizzle sesame oil for extra aroma. Optionally garnish with green onions and red pepper flakes.

9. Serve hot as a side with rice, noodles, or your favorite protein.

Notes

For best results, blanch bok choy first to maintain crisp texture and bright color.

Control the heat to avoid burning garlic—medium-low is ideal.

Add mushrooms, tofu, or chili for extra variation.

Great for meal prep—blanch bok choy and prep sauce ahead of time.

Use a wok for authentic flavor, but a large skillet also works.

• Author: Emily
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 8 minutes
• Category: Side Dish
• Method: Stir-Fry
• Cuisine: Chinese

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 small plate
• Calories: 90
• Sugar: 2g
• Sodium: 500mg
• Fat: 5g
• Saturated Fat: 0.5g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4.5g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 7g
• Fiber: 3g
• Protein: 3g
• Cholesterol: 0mg

Keywords: bok choy and garlic sauce, Chinese bok choy stir-fry, healthy Asian side dish, quick bok choy recipe

Why Bok Choy Should be cooked and Garlic Sauce

This Bok Choy and Garlic Sauce is a great recipe to add to your weekly menu rotation for many reasons:

• Healthy : Bok Choy is low in calorie but high in Vitamins and Fiber. It also contains Antioxidants which are good for your overall health. It is a superfood that anyone who wants to improve their diet can benefit from. Bok choy contains a high amount of Vitamin C as well as Vitamin K. This makes it a good addition to boost immunity and maintain bone health.
• Quick & Easy This dish is ready in less than 15 Minutes. It’s perfect for a hectic weeknight, or to add a little something extra to a meal. It’s easy to make and doesn’t take long.
• Great Taste The Garlic Sauce transforms the bok Choy into a savory and crisp vegetable. You’ll keep coming back for more with the balance of Soy Sauce and Garlic. The umami tastes work together to create a perfect balance of sweet and salted.
• Versatile Side dish: Bok Choy goes well with a variety of dishes, from fried Rice, Noodles, and Protein, such as beef, chicken, or tofu. This versatile side dish goes with anything. It can be served as a light meal or to bulk up a main course.
• Perfect For Meal Prep : Bok Choy is perfect for Meal Prepping. You can cook it in advance and then reheat it during the week with different main dishes, making meal planning easier.

Ingredients for Bok Choy and Garlic Sauce

You’ll need these ingredients to make Bok Choy and Garlic Sauce. This Bok Choy and Garlic Sauce recipe is easy to prepare because most of the ingredients are kitchen staples. This recipe uses fresh ingredients to enhance flavor and nutrition.

Optional Ingredients

• Ginger : Finely chopped. Ginger is a flavor enhancer that adds a robust taste to the Bok Choy and Garlic Sauce dish.
• Green Onions : Sliced for garnish. Green onions bring a freshness and color to the Bok Choy and Garlic Sauce dish, as well as a mild onion flavor.
• Red Pepper flakes If you prefer it spicy a pinch of flakes will add a nice warmth that compliments the garlic sauce.

Step-by-Step instructions for Bok Choy and Garlic Sauce

Make sure you follow these instructions carefully to ensure that your Bok Choy and Garlic Sauce comes out perfect.

1. Bok Choy: Prepare it

• Thoroughly wash bok choy under cold water, to remove dirt and grit from between the leaves. Bok choy is close to the soil, so you need to clean it well.
• Trim to the ends of bok choy in order to keep it fresh and tender. You can leave the bok Choy whole if it’s baby. If you are using regular bok Choy, you might want to slice them lengthwise in half or quarters. By cutting them, you can ensure that the leaves and stems cook at the same rate.
• After washing, use a paper towel to pat the bok-choy dry. This will give it a crisper textur. Stir-frying can be affected by excess water.

2. Blanching the Bok Choy

• Add a pinch of salt to boiling water. Salt brings out the flavors of the bok-choy.
• Add the bok choy, and blanch for 1-2 minutes or until the leaves are bright green. Blanching preserves color and texture of the bok-choy, so it stays vibrant.
• Place the bok-choy in iced water. This will stop the cooking process, and help maintain the crisp texture and vibrant colour.
• Drain the bok-choy once it has cooled. Set aside. Blanching vegetables is an excellent way to keep them fresh and crisp-tender. This helps to prevent overcooking when making stir-fry.

3. Garlic Sauce

• Heat a Wok, or a Large Skillet on Medium Low heat. A wok is perfect for stir-frying because it allows even heat distribution.
• Add oil to the pan and heat it for a couple of seconds. Before adding the garlic, you should see the oil shimmer.
• Add the ginger and garlic to the wok. Sauté about 30 second, until the garlic is fragrant . Keep the heat low, as burning garlic can cause the dish to taste bitter. Stir constantly to prevent scorching.
• Add Soy Sauce, Sugar and Water. Stir all ingredients together, and bring to a gentle boil. The sweetness balances out the salty flavors and gives the sauce an overall taste that is both sweet, and salty.
• Mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and a small amount water to make a slurry. Pour it slowly into the sauce, while stirring. This will make the sauce thicker, giving it a nice consistency to cling to the bok Choy. Stir well to avoid any lumps.
• Try the Sauce and adjust the seasoning as needed. Add an extra splash of Soy Sauce if you like a saltier taste.

4. Bok Choy stir-fried

• Add the blanched bok Choy to the wok once the sauce thickens.
• stir fry the bok Choy for 1 to 2 minutes, until it is coated with the sauce de garlic. The sauce should be able to lightly glaze both the stems and leaves without overpowering them. Stir-frying the bok Choy at high temperatures for a brief period of time will help maintain its crispness.
• Pour a nutty and aromatic finish, drizzle the dish with sesame seed oil. The dish gets its distinctive Chinese taste from sesame oil.
• To add more texture to your dish, toast sesame seeds before serving and sprinkle on top.

5. You can also serve

• Place the bok-choy neatly on a plate for a pleasing presentation.
• Add green onion to as a garnish or sprinkle white powder on top for an extra kick. The garnish gives the Bok Choy and Garlic Sauce dish a splash of color, and adds an extra layer freshness.
• Serve with noodles or fried risotto. This dish pairs well with proteins such as tofu or chicken. This bok choy can be added to a large spread of Chinese dishes, for a family style meal.

How to cook perfect Bok Choy and Garlic Sauce

• Do Not Overcook : Bok Choy should be tender and crisp with a little bite. Overcooking will make it mushy, and its color will be reduced. Keep the stems as crisp as possible, while allowing the leaves to soften.
• Control Heat : To prevent the garlic from burning, cook it at Medium-Low. Burnt Garlic will make your Bok Choy and Garlic Sauce dish bitter. Stir frequently.
• Fresh Inputs Use fresh Bok Choy, and Garlic to get the best taste. Fresh bok-choy leaves should be crisp and bright green. Look for signs of wilting and yellowing.
• Blanching is an important step. This helps to maintain a crisp texture as well as a vibrant green color. It also makes stir-frying easier and quicker.
• Seasoning Feel free to adjust soy sauce and sugar to your personal taste. Some people like a sweeter, while others prefer it more savory.

Various Variations to Try

This Bok Choy and Garlic Sauce recipe can be customized to suit your tastes by adding other ingredients.

• Vegetarian version: To make a vegan version use vegetable oyster sauce. Or, simply add more Soy sauce. Vegetarian oysters sauce has a similar umami taste without the seafood.
• Add Mushrooms Stir-fry some Shiitake mushrooms, or Button mushrooms with the garlic. Mushrooms give the dish a rich earthy flavor, and extra umami. Oyster mushroom are also good and have a unique texture.
• Spicy Bok Choy If you want some heat, add a pinch of red pepper flake or a teaspoon of chili garlic sauce while sauteing garlic. This gives the bok-choy a nice spicy kick to complement its sweetness. For an extra kick of spice, you can add fresh chilli.
• Tofu addition You can add cubes of tofu as a way to boost the protein content. Tofu should be fried until golden brown in a pan before being added to the wok. The tofu gives this Bok Choy and Garlic Sauce dish a nice texture.
• Cashews or Peanuts For an extra crunch add some roasted nuts. The nuts give the sauce a rich flavor and texture.

Nutritional Benefits of Bok Choy and Garlic Sauce

Bok choy has a lot of health benefits and is an excellent addition to your diet.

• Low Calories It’s low in calories and is perfect for people who are watching their weight. It is low in calories but high in nutrition. This makes it highly nutritive.
• High Fiber Fiber helps in digestion and prevents constipation. It also maintains a healthy gut. It’s perfect for keeping your digestive system functioning well.
• Rich In Vitamins and Minerals : Bok Choy is a good source of Vitamin C which helps boost the immune system and Calcium which promotes bone health. The bok choy also contains Iron and Vitamin K. Antioxidants protects the body against harmful free radicals.

Bok choy has a high folate level, which reduces homocysteine in the blood and contributes to cardiovascular health.

Treat yourself to this hearty and flavorful garlic parmesan stuffed spaghetti squash with chicken and spinach.

Cooking Tips

• Wok hei If you’re looking for the authentic smoky taste known as wok hei then make sure that your wok has reached a high temperature before adding blanched bok-choy. The intense heat gives the dish a slightly charred taste that is often found in restaurant-style stir-fries.
• Layering Flavor Add ingredients in stages – garlic first, soy sauce second, sesame oil third. It creates complex flavors that make every bite delicious. The key is to layer the flavors and achieve the perfect umami harmony.
• Proper equipment : A wok would be highly recommended to make this Bok Choy and Garlic Sauce recipe. The wok evenly distributes heat, allowing you to achieve the perfect texture for stir-fry. A large skillet will work if you don’t own a wok. However, it won’t get the high heat needed for wok-hei.
• Do not Overcrowd Your Wok: Be careful not to overcrowd your wok. Small batches of cooking ensure that the bok choy is evenly cooked, and keep the wok warm.

Conclusion

Bok Choy and Garlic Sauce makes a delicious, easy and healthy dish. This quick and nutritious dish goes well with noodles, rice or proteins such as tofu or poultry. This recipe is easy enough for beginners to follow and has a flavor that rivals the best restaurant dishes. This Bok Choy and Garlic Sauce recipe will satisfy your craving for a quick and easy side dish, or as a way to prepare greens.

It is a delicious addition to any meal. The combination of sesame oil , garlic and soy paste creates a flavor profile that’s irresistible. You can adjust it to your taste, whether you like something spicy, umami rich, or with extra protein.

Listen to what you have to say!

Have you tried it? What modifications did you make to the Bok Choy and Garlic Sauce recipe? What extra ingredients did you add? You may have found that blanching the bok-choy helped to keep it crispy. Share your ideas, your experiences and your creations in the comments section below.

It’s all about sharing and experimenting when it comes to cooking. You can customize the dish to your liking and make it unique. Enjoy cooking!

FAQs about Bok Choy and Garlic Sauce