Masala Herb

Flavorful Recipes

  • Home
  • Recipes
  • TRAVEL
  • Contact
  • New? Start HERE!
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • RECIPES
  • Contact
  • New? Start Here!
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    You are Here: Masala Herb » Recipes » Asian

    4 Ingredient Bok Choy Stir Fry Recipe

    Mar 8, 2024 by Helene Dsouza

    11.3K shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Flip
    • Email
    • Share
    • Threads
    • Bluesky
    Helene Dsouza
    Quick and easy bok choy stir-fry with just 4 ingredients. You can use dwarf or mature bok choy to make this Asian side dish.
    Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
    3 servings
    RECIPE
    bok choy stir fry
    cooked bok choy pin photo
    large whole and fresh bok choy

    Just 4 Ingredients to make this bok choy stir-fry at home.

    You will like this recipe if you want to learn to cook with bok choy and if you enjoy Chinese flavors.

    4 Ingredient Bok Choy Stir Fry Recipe cover image
    Recipes from around the world E-Book

    Global Food Recipes

    with Spices and Herbs

    Free E-Book available for a limited time. Grab yours now and get instantly inspired!

    00
    Days
    :
     
    00
    Hours
    :
     
    19
    Minutes
    :
     
    59
    Seconds

    You missed out!

    Recipes from around the world E-Book

    Your Free E-Book 

    was sent to your

    E-Mail Address!

    Please check your Spam folder

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • 🍲 How to clean fresh Bok Choy?
    • 🔪 How to cook it?
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Flavor variations
    • Serving Ideas
    • Storing
    • More Bok Choy Recipe Ideas
    • 💬 Comments

    Ingredients

    • Bok Choy — Use any fresh bok choy variety to make this. You might have to cut larger bok choy leaves into two. I used Shanghai bok choy in my pictures and video, which seems to be the most commonly available bok choy in Western countries.
    • Oil — If you have only regular vegetable oil, canola, or sunflower oil at home, use that. If you want more Asian flavors, get a high smoking point sesame oil or a peanut oil. Cold-pressed oils are better quality oils.
    • Ginger + Garlic — I like to add some ginger and garlic paste because it's effortless, accelerates the cooking process and the paste mixes in seamlessly. On the other hand, freshly grated ginger and garlic are way more flavorful and preferred if you want real flavors.
    • Soy Sauce — Chinese soy sauce or Japanese Kikkoman soy sauce. You can also try this recipe with mushroom soy sauce.

    Tip: Instead of the soy sauce, you can use my universal 3 ingredient stir-fry sauce.

    fresh shanghai bok choy

    🍲 How to clean fresh Bok Choy?

    Bok choy stalks need to be separated from each other because mud and dirt can get trapped in between (just like leeks).

    Washing and cutting the bulb in half without separating the leaves isn't a good idea because mud and impurities get trapped between the leaves.

    I separate the stalks first and remove damaged or yellow leaves (if any) and then I rinse off each leave with clean running water.

    Then pat dry leaves to get rid of the water. This is important because the leaves should not be placed wet into the pan when the oil is hot, or else your oil will jump up.

    I like to trim off the small “root” pieces (hanging from where the stalks were attached to each other) with the help of scissors or a knife.

    Once clean, you can cook your bok choy leaves now!

    bok choy leaves seperated

    🔪 How to cook it?

    This has been the easiest and fastest way so far to prepare fresh bok choy, and it's totally vegan, plant-based.

    You will only need one skillet, 4 ingredients and 10 minutes of your time.

    Step 1

    Heat up a wok or deep pan with oil.

    Add ginger and garlic when hot and place bok choy leaves into your hot pan.

    Cook on one side for a minute over high heat.

    cook bok choy leaves

    Step 2

    Turn your bok choy leaves in the pan to cook on the other side.

    Pour soy sauce over the bok choy and keep on stir cooking over high heat for a minute or so.

    Your stir cooked bok choy is done when the green leaves have reduced in size and the stem is still crunchy but softer.

    bok choy leaves in a pan with stir fry sauce

    Serve up hot as it or with a garnish, such as red chili pepper crushed or powder, sesame seeds or chopped green onion stalks.

    cooked bok choy with soy sauce

    📖 Recipe

    bok choy stir fry

    4 Ingredient Bok Choy Stir Fry

    Quick and easy bok choy stir-fry with just 4 ingredients. You can use dwarf or mature bok choy to make this Asian side dish.
    4.80 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: Asian, Chinese
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 3 servings
    Calories: 82kcal
    Recipe by: Helene Dsouza

    Ingredients

    • 1 Head Bok Choy matured size
    • 1 Tablespoon Oil
    • ½ Tablespoon Ginger + Garlic *see Notes
    • 1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce

    Instructions

    • Prepare your bok choy breaking the white stems from the head.
      1 Head Bok Choy
    • Rinse your bok choy leaves under running clear water to get rid of mud and impurities trapped in the inner side of the leaves. Discard yellow leaves.
    • Pat dry wet leaves and trim off uneven, small root-like parts.
    • Heat up a shallow pan or wok with the oil. Wait for the oil to get hot (but not smoking point).
      1 Tablespoon Oil
    • Add the ginger and garlic to the pan and stir cook real quick.
      ½ Tablespoon Ginger + Garlic
    • Place Bok Choy into the pan and cook over high heat for a short time so that they get a light char on one side.
    • Stir cook and cook on all sides for 1-2 minutes.
    • Pour soy sauce over bok choy and stir cook for another minute.
      1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce
    • Take form the heat and serve hot. You can garnish your cooked bok choy with red pepper flakes, sesame seeds or a drizzle of sesame oil.

    Notes

    1. Use ginger and garlic finely grated (ratio 1:2) or use ginger and garlic paste.
    2. Garnish with Chili flakes, sesame seeds or green onion stalks. See post for flavor and garnish options.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    4 Ingredient Bok Choy Stir Fry
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 82 Calories from Fat 45
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 5g8%
    Saturated Fat 1g5%
    Sodium 361mg15%
    Potassium 706mg20%
    Carbohydrates 7g2%
    Fiber 3g12%
    Sugar 3g3%
    Protein 4g8%
    Vitamin A 12510IU250%
    Vitamin C 126mg153%
    Calcium 294mg29%
    Iron 2mg11%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Flavor variations

    To garnish, you can sprinkle red pepper flakes (as seen in the picture) or sesame seed or sesame oil over the cooked bok choy.

    Another idea is to sprinkle some oyster sauce, hoisin sauce or teriyaki sauce over the cooking bok choy when you add the soy sauce.

    Furthermore, you have the option of adding some honey to the dish during the cooking process if you want to add some sweetness to your dish.

    Another secret tip is using tamarind paste. It's sour, and a small quantity can take your bok choy experience to a whole new level!

    You can also add a protein of your choice, such as chicken, beef, duck, pork, tofu, shrimp, fish, squid, eggs.

    To achieve that, follow my chicken and cabbage recipe but use bok choy instead of the napa cabbage.

    Or you can stir in cooked leftover meats or rotisserie meats at the end of the cooking process. This is a great idea if you have meat leftovers.

    cooked but still crunchy bok choy leaf
    stir-fried bok choy in a plate

    Serving Ideas

    Serve this quick and easy bok choy side dish with Asian main course meals as a side dish.

    • noodle bowls such as chow mein, yakisoba, ramen, udon, soba, pad thai.
    • fried rice, plain rice bowl or a Buddha bowl. I love this stir-fried bok choy with salmon furikake and Japanese cooked rice. So good!
    • kimchi
    • baked or fried tofu
    • Asian curry (with rice)
    • stir cooked shrimp, chicken, or beef
    • baked or pan-fried salmon
    • omelette
    • a fried egg (my personal favorite)

    Storing

    You can keep leftovers of your stir-fried bok choy in an airtight container in your fridge.

    That way, you can add it to your weekly meal prepping plan for your lunch. I do this all the time!

    Reheat it in a skillet over the stove top, in a microwave or in the oven.

    I wouldn't recommend freezing this dish. Instead, prepare it from scratch in a few minutes to make the most of your bok choy.

    More Bok Choy Recipe Ideas

    • Bok Choy Soup
    • Baked Tofu with vegetables
    • Spicy Baby Bok Choy Salad
    4 Ingredient Bok Choy Stir Fry Recipe pin picture
    11.3K shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Flip
    • Email
    • Share
    • Threads
    • Bluesky

    I am Helene, and I created Masala Herb in 2011. Here you will learn to cook with spices and herbs. I share from scratch, international food recipes and my mission is to teach you to cook flavorful food at home. Read More…

    MasalaHerb.com as seen on

    Welcome

    Hi there! I'm Helene and here you will learn how to cook with spices and herbs. Discover global food and learn to season your food like a pro. Read more about my work and mission or head over to my food ingredient space, Unknownbite.com, and our travel space, Paulmarina.com!

    More About Me ->








    Home
    About
    As seen in
    Contact
    Terms and Conditions
    Privacy Policy

    By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies.

    Masala Herb is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

    Copyright © 2025 · Magazine Pro Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required