Have you ever had Yu Choy before? This is another one of those veggie side dishes that's often on my rotation growing up in an Asian household. It tastes a little similar to baby spinach with a little peppery note and more crunch! If you would like to try making some, this Yu Choy Stir Fry with Ginger recipe is how we make it at my house - easy and yum.
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What is Yu Choy?
Yu choy is a very common Chinese green leafy vegetable in China and Taiwan. It's name in Chinese (油菜) directly translates to “oil vegetable” in English. It is named this because this vegetable is closely related to rapeseed, which is what is used to make canola oil.
Is Yu Choy the same as Chinese broccoli?
No, Yu Choy is not the same vegetable as Chinese broccoli.
If you’ve never had Gai Lan, it’s also known as Chinese Broccoli or Chinese Kale! In Chinese, there’s also several dialects or spellings – so it’s also known as Jie-Lan and Kai-Lan too.
Whatever it is called, it’s a very delicious leafy green veggie and pretty common in Chinese food.
Fun fact! Broccolini is actually a hybrid between broccoli and gai lan.
What does Yu Choy taste like?
Yu choy has a similar taste to baby spinach, but it is a lot more of a crunchy texture. It also actually can also have a subtle bitter and peppery taste.
Where to buy Yu Choy?
You can find Yu Choy in your local Asian supermarket!
How healthy is Yu choy?
This vegetable is a great source of folate and also vitamin B6. It also contains beta-carotene which is an antioxidant that gets converted to vitamin A after yout eat it. It's also packed with fiber, calcium, and iron!
How to cook Yu Choy?
The way I cook it is with ginger! I feel the ginger goes really well with Yu Choy. Another way I cook Yu Choy is with smashed garlic. Both are delicious. In this recipe - I'm going to show you how to stir fry yu choy with sliced ginger.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
- 1 inch of ginger, julienne
- 1 pound Yu Choy
- Salt, as desired
Instructions
Cut the Yu Choy greens into 1 to 2 inch sections, and keep the stem section separate from the leafy section.
In a large cooking pan or wok, add oil and ginger. Let it cook for about a minute.
Add the stems to the pan / work first. Stir fry for a minute. The stems take a little longer to cook so that's why we are cooking them first.
Now, add the leaves and stir fry for another 2 minutes or until all of the yu choy is tender and bright green.
Remove from heat and serve!
Yu Choy Stir Fry with Ginger
Yu choy is a popular vegetable in Chinese cuisine. It is also known as choy sum and you can stir fry it with ginger or garlic as a healthy veggie side dish!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
- 1 inch of ginger, julienne
- 1 pound Yu Choy
- Salt, as desired
Instructions
- Cut the Yu Choy greens into 1 to 2 inch sections, and keep the stem section separate from the leafy section.
- In a large cooking pan or wok, add oil and ginger. Let it cook for about a minute.
- Add the stems to the pan / work first. Stir fry for a minute. The stems take a little longer to cook so that’s why we are cooking them first.
- Now, add the leaves and stir fry for another 2 minutes or until all of the yu choy is tender and bright green.
- Remove from heat and serve!
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 55Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 153mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 3gSugar: 1gProtein: 1g
The nutrition information for this recipe is an approximate total per serving. Please double check the nutrition information for your exact ingredients and brands for more precise nutrition information.
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More Delicious Chinese Vegetable Stir Fry Recipes!
Simple, fresh, and full of flavor — these easy stir fry veggie dishes make perfect sides or light meals any day.
- Chinese Broccoli Stir Fry with Garlic — Crisp Chinese broccoli (gai lan) stir-fried with smashed garlic and seasoned simply. A classic green veggie dish that’s quick and delicious.
- Chinese Green Beans Stir Fry — Fresh green beans quickly stir-fried with garlic for a crunchy, savory dish that pairs well with any meal.
- Stir Fry A Choy (Taiwanese Lettuce) — Tender A Choy stir-fried with garlic, a favorite easy-to-make home vegetable dish that’s both mild and satisfying.
- Okra Stir Fry — Bite-sized okra stir-fried with garlic and dried chili peppers for a slightly spicy, flavorful veggie side.