Sesame Garlic Sauteed Bok Choy makes a lovely vegetable side dish to any main dish! Serve it with your choice of protein for a healthy balanced meal.
Wondering what to do with your bok choy? I’ve got you!
This easy sautéed bok choy recipe comes together in a jiffy and pairs beautifully with just about any main dish.
Serve it with Asian Baked Chicken Thighs, Air Fryer Lemon Garlic Salmon Bites, or Broiled Ribeye Steak for a lovely meal.
I love the snappy texture of bok choy and the freshness it brings to any meal. Perfect for adding to soups and stir fry recipes, it is a versatile ingredient. Its mild flavor makes it the ideal canvas for a flavorful savory sauce.
Bok choy contains a good source of calcium, zinc, and copper. We often forget about these trace minerals, but they are essential to maintaining a healthy body.
Let’s discuss the simple ingredients for this sauteed bok choy recipe.
Bok Choy Ingredients:
Baby Bok Choy: Our main ingredient! Also known as pak choi or pok choi, bok choy is a type of Chinese cabbage. Use either one large bok choy or three baby bok choy for this easy recipe.
Most grocery stores carry both versions. I used baby bok choy because they are what I received in my CSA box, but regular bok choy works just as well.
Avocado Oil and Sesame Oil: Toasted sesame oil brings classic sesame flavor which cannot be mimicked with any other ingredient!
I like using a combination of avocado oil and sesame oil because avocado oil has a high smoke point and is a neutral oil so the sesame flavor isn’t overpowering. I don’t recommend vegetable oil due to its high omega 6 content.
Fresh Garlic: Finely mince a few fresh garlic cloves to bring a burst of garlicky flavor to this healthy side dish. Feel free to increase or decrease the amount according to your preference.
Liquid Aminos or Soy Sauce: Bringing salty, umami flavor, we need soy sauce, tamari, or liquid aminos to serve as a big flavor booster. Use coconut aminos for some sweet flavor if you prefer.
Rice Vinegar: I like adding a splash of vinegar for tangy sour flavor. I find this works magically in Asian-inspired stir fry recipes. White wine vinegar works too.
Red Pepper Flakes: Adding a touch of heat rounds out the flavor profile. Skip it if you prefer mild food.
Sesame Seeds: Optional, but fun for sprinkling on top at the end.
Recipe Customizations:
- Add lemon zest or a little fresh lemon juice for some citrus flavor.
- Toss in some shiitake mushrooms, onions, Chinese broccoli, green beans, and red bell peppers to make a quick stir-fry.
- Add one tablespoon of oyster sauce or brown sugar to bring a little sweetness to this bok choy stir fry recipe.
Now that we’ve covered the fresh ingredients, let’s make sautéed baby bok choy!
How to Cook Bok Choy:
Chop off the tough ends of the baby bok choy. Chop the white bottoms into small 1/2 inch to 1 inch pieces, then chop the dark green leaves into 2-inch pieces.
Heat the avocado oil and sesame oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Allow the skillet to heat up for a few minutes. Transfer the chopped bok choy and garlic to the skillet and sauté, stirring occasionally, for 1-2 minutes.
Add in the soy sauce (or liquid aminos), rice vinegar and red pepper flakes. Continue sautéing until the bok choy reaches your desired level of doneness.
I like cooking mine until the edges are golden brown, the veggie is slightly caramelized and the liquid has evaporated, about 3 to 5 minutes total.
If you’d like, sprinkle the finished product with sesame seeds and chopped green onions. If the vegetable gets too dark at any point, turn the heat down to medium heat.
Serve sauteed bok choy with your choice of main dish and enjoy!
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
With just a few minutes of prep and cook time, this simple recipe is a great way of getting in your veggies on any busy weeknight.
If you enjoy bok choy, also try my Egg Drop Soup with Bok Choy and Mushrooms!
Looking for more healthy vegetable side dishes? Here are some of my personal favorites.
More Vegetable Side Dish Recipes:
- Sauteed Broccoli and Mushrooms with Crispy Bacon and Parmesan
- Eggplant Caponata
- Mediterranean Green Bean Salad
- Roasted Asparagus Salad
- Kimchi Fried Rice
- Mayo-Free Coleslaw
- Ratatouille
Enjoy this tasty, healthy easy side dish!
Sautéed Bok Choy Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp avocado oil
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 3 baby bok choy chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 Tbsp liquid aminos or low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp rice vinegar optional
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes optional
Instructions
- Chop off the bottom 1/2 inch of the baby bok choys and discard them. Chop the white bottoms into small 1/2 inch to 1 inch pieces, then chop the dark green leaves into 2-inch pieces.
- Heat the avocado oil and sesame oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Allow the skillet to heat up for a few minutes. Transfer the chopped bok choy and garlic to the skillet and sauté, stirring occasionally, for 1-2 minutes. Add in the soy sauce (or liquid aminos), rice vinegar and red pepper flakes. Continue sautéing until the bok choy reaches your desired level of doneness, about 3-5 minutes.
- If you’d like, sprinkle the finished product with sesame seeds and chopped green onions. Serve with your main dish, and enjoy!
Nutrition
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Delicious! Such a simple side!
Thanks, Erica!