Garlic Ginger Bok Choy
Bok choy can be prepared many ways but my favorite is a quick stir-fry with garlic and ginger. In less than 10 minutes you’ll have a tasty side dish that’s full of nutrients and anti-inflammatory health benefits.
If you’re looking for a main dish to go with the bok choy I recommend my Scallops with Citrus Ginger Sauce, Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs and Dijon Baked Salmon.
Boy choy has always been one of my favorite side dish recipes. Why do I love it? It’s easy to prepare and the garlic ginger combination is so darn flavorful. I also love that a quick stir-fry makes the leaves tender but crisp. It’s that same crispiness you would expect from a vegetable from the cabbage family.
Also known as “Chinese Cabbage” there are several varieties of bok choy. But what you’ll find in the market usually comes in two sizes, regular bok choy and baby bok choy. Both are wonderful, but I tend to grab baby bok choy.
Bok Choy Recipe Video
Want to know how to make the tastiest bok choy recipe? Watch the quick tutorial video below!
The Health Benefits of Bok Choy
Bok choy truly is a powerhouse of vitamins, minerals and nutrients. It’s loaded with vitamin A, C and K and contains antioxidants which protect the eyes and a significant amount of calcium and magnesium for strong bones. As a cruciferous vegetable it provides the same health benefits of cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts for cardiovascular health and fighting cancer.
And that’s not even considering the bonus anti-inflammatory benefits of both garlic and ginger! So next time you want a healthy green side dish, switch up your normal spinach, green beans and zucchini routine with this boy choy recipe.
How to Prepare and Cut Bok Choy
Similar to leeks, bok choy can sometimes harbor dirt and debris under its leaves. To prepare the baby bok choy cut it in half, then rinse it under the faucet. If you’re using regular size bok choy, you can cut a small portion off the base then remove the individual leaves to rinse.
Baby bok choy can be cooked as halves, but I’d recommend slicing regular bok choy into smaller pieces before cooking.
How to Cook Bok Choy
Because it only takes a couple of minutes to cook, make sure to have your fresh ginger and garlic already minced. Then just follow these steps:
- Heat two tablespoons of oil in a wok or sauté pan
- Add the minced garlic and ginger and stir for 30 seconds
- Add the bok choy and use tongs to toss and stir-fry for 2 minutes
- Pour two tablespoons of water (or broth) into the pan, cover with a lid and cook for 2 minutes more
- Turn off the heat, sprinkle a little sea salt and black pepper, stir and serve!
More Healthy Side Dish Recipes
- Garlic Sautéed Swiss Chard
- Mashed Cauliflower with Garlic and Herbs
- Green Beans with Shallots and Lemon
- Baked Sweet Potato
The BEST Bok Choy Recipe (Garlic & Ginger)
Recipe Video
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp avocado oil
- 4 baby bok choy, sliced in half
- 1 tsp minced ginger
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp water
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Heat the avocado oil in a wok or sauté pan on medium.
- Add the minced ginger and minced garlic and stir for 30 seconds.
- Add the bok choy and use tongs to turn and stir fry the bok choy in the garlic and ginger for 2 minutes.
- Pour two tablespoons of water into the pan, cover and let cook for 2 minutes more.
- Turn off the heat, add salt and pepper and serve.
Lisa's Tips
- It's much easier to turn and stir fry the bok choy with tongs rather than a spatula. My favorite tongs are these ones.
This is so easy that the hardest part is cleaning the bok choy! Thank you for such a simple recipe to learn what to do with this vegetable that I’ve been a bit unsure of until now!
You’re welcome! I’m glad you loved it.
Yum! I topped this off with a drizzle of chili oil and it was so tasty. I could have eaten the whole batch! Thanks for the recipe. :)
Love the idea of adding chili oil on top!
Hi! I’m looking forward to trying this recipe. I don’t use avocado oil for anything. Can a different oil be substituted? Thank you.
Yep, you can use any oil that you normally cook with on the stovetop :)
Loved it!!! I did add a bit more water to help the steaming process. Thanks so much.
I enjoy your recipes! I’m also a huge fan of bok choy. You refer to it as “Chinese cabbage” at the beginning of your recipe. I thought Napa cabbage was also called Chinese cabbage. Please educate me as to the difference. Thank you.
Delicious!!! I can’t believe how fast it cooked. I usually cook bok choy in the oven but this was way better and easier!
Simply delicious! And no added sugar.
I just read another recipe for baby bok choy that would have you roast it in oven. Basically you could use your mehtod of preparation and roast instead of using stove top. Either way you have a winner!
What brand wok do you use (in the video)?
(Link to Amazon would be great)
Hi Susan – that’s an All Clad wok. :)
I have just made this. So gentle, crispy, flavoursome, aromatic and just very nice!! A good side to an Asian roasted jumbo quail and some Jasmine rice. Thank you
This article is really helpful thank you. 😊
you go ahead like this good luck
Glad this was helpful Dinesh!
Thank you for this! I always wondered how my mother in law cooked this. She would make it as a Korean side dish. But in hers I also tasted sesame oil. I will try first the way you do it, then see if what happens if I also use sesame oil, hope I don’t mess it up lol!
You can definitely cook this with sesame oil as well – it will taste delicious!
That was great lesson on how to cook bok choy. Thanks again.
Hope you enjoy the recipe Mary :)
Thanks for this, it was delicious- all the guests at dinner table asked for the recipe – I gladly shared your website.
Tried was easy and very good!
Glad you enjoyed this bok choy recipe Shirley :)
Love the Bok Choy recipe, never cooked with it before ….. delicious.
Wonderful! I’m so glad you enjoyed it and gave it a try. :)
Delicious! Easy to prepare and very tasty! I will make this again! Great recipe!
Glad you enjoyed this ginger bok choy :)
Yes, it is so good, I pretty much do that to all the Chinese leafy greens, I add little bit chicken broth too to soften hard stems…. I make stir fry Kale from Costco, bok choy etc
Stir fry greens is always a win!
EXCELLENT RECIPE. The garlic and ginger added just enough flavor to compliment the delicate bok choy without overpowering. Will make this again. I served with rice and fish though the flavor is so subtle it would pair easily with most any type of dish.
Glad you enjoyed this garlic ginger bok choy recipe Jessica!
I used this ginger garlic recipe with my cabbage tonight. It was good but not great so I added fresh parsley and it popped! Thank you for all your great recipes!
You can always add more herbs to amp up the flavor in this :)
Been growing bok choy and now have beautiful bokchoy growing in the garden. Your recipe is very handy, thank you!
I plan to try this tonight! Have you ever placed the baby bok on a grill?
I haven’t yet! But it could be delicious. Just make sure to keep an eye on them as they can cook fast
I loved this recipe. Added some red pepper flakes for a little kick. Very easy and delicious. A keeper!
So glad you enjoyed this recipe!
Cant wait to try it .I have never seen it before ! just got garlic and ginger ready now for the bok! Sheila
You’re gonna love this! :)
Been missing Bok Choi … last time I had it was in China so I had to get some here in USA
Nice recipe too
Loved it, made it twice now with the large book choy. Thanks
First time cooking bok choy and my husband and I liked it. The recipe is easy and I had all the ingredients. I will make this again.
Comes out perfect. I added a thinly sliced carrot and it was all good.
Hi Marina – Happy to hear this recipe came out perfectly! This sounds great with thin carrots tossed in :)
First time I made it and oh my goodness! It is so easy and so delicious. I sliced the garlic and also the ginger. They softened up and ate them all! Will definitely be making this over and over again. Hubby loved it, too!
Hi Gem- So glad you and your hubby loved this bok choy recipe!
This is a great recipe!! I added a bit of sesame oil at the end and it was perfect! Thank you for the clear, informative instructions.
Sesame oil would be a great addition to this recipe :) So glad you enjoyed it!
We did not find this dish to have much flavor. I did use a large bok choy as that is what the grocery delivery service sent for baby bok choy. Not bad, just not something I would want to have again.
Hi Patric – If you’re using large bok choy versus baby bok choy you would likely need to increase the amount of garlic and ginger. You can always adapt the spices to suit your individual flavor preference.
Great site! I love to make these. They are my favorite dish.
It’s the third time for me enjoying this delicious recipe. So simple and nutritious!
New favourite side dish!
Coud you tell the difference between the Avocado Oil you use (Chosen Foods) and the one from Whole Foods (365 Everyday Value) is the one you use Refined & Expeller pressed?
Hi Laura – I’m so happy you love the bok choy recipe! Yes, the avocado oil I use is expeller pressed and naturally refined.
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Bok choy is my favorite! Could I sub dried roasted ginger powder for the fresh ginger?
Mine too! And yes, no problem with that substitution.
So simple yet delicious!! This will be on the roster of sides to make. Thank you as always!!!!
Wonderful! It’s a great side dish to keep in frequent rotation. :)
I really love baby bok choy! I rarely make it on it’s own but love these ingredients and how this recipe will fit in perfectly with my keto diet!
Yes, bok choy is great for a keto diet and the flavors help to keep things jazzed up!
I’ve been getting this in my CSA box like crazy–I love how simple and tasty this flavor combo is!
Oh awesome! You’ll definitely have to give this bok choy recipe a try then. :)
I love bok choy. Thank you so much for sharing this! Very helpful!
You’re welcome Toni! I hope you enjoy the recipe. :)
What a fabulous recipe! So simple and it sounds delicious. A new side dish is starting in this house! – Debbie, VA
Wonderful! Enjoy the recipe Diana!
Bok Choy is one of my favorite vegetables — I especially love the baby bok choy. I can’t think of a more delicious combination than garlic and ginger to go with it. Delicious!
Sometimes those simple combos are best. :) Hope you enjoy it Valentina!
Maybe just a little red pepper flakes aswell!
Yes, red pepper flakes would be delicious too, Diane! :)