If you’re looking for an easy tasty veggie recipe, check this Bok Choy with Garlic Sauce. Blanched bok choy served with a garlicky, soy and oyster sauce mix.

What is Bok Choy?

Bok choy is a type of Chinese vegetable. It is also known as Chinese cabbage, but unlike regular cabbages, they do not form heads and have leafy greens with bulbs at the bottoms.

Some describe the flavor as somewhere between spinach and water chestnuts with a slight hint of sweet and peppery undertone.

One thing to know is that when people say Bok Choy, they usually mean Shanghai Bok Choy, which is one variety of bok choy. There are several varieties of bok choy such as white dwarf bok choy, sweet bok choy, and more!

Usually, this healthy veggie (which is packed with Vitamin A and C) is stir fried in traditional Chinese dishes and makes a great side dish.  Here’s how we make it at my house – making it the perfect amount of doneness, and flavorful!

If you’re looking for more bok choy recipes – check out these:

• Bok Choy Stir Fry with Dried Shrimp
• Bok Choy Beech Mushrooms Stir Fry
• Bok Choy Shiitake Mushrooms Stir Fry
• Shrimp Bok Choy Stir Fry

If you’re interested in learning more about Chinese veggies – here’s a whole article on various Chinese vegetables such as snow peas, celtuce, sweet potato leaves, Chinese broccoli and more!

Oyster Sauce

One of the ingredients I use is Oyster Sauce, so I thought I’d introduce it to you in case you’re not familiar with this sauce.

I get this question a lot – is Oyster sauce actually made with Oysters?

Short answer – yes! Oyster sauce is actually literally made by cooking oysters! It’s usually made from oyster extracts, sugar, salt and cornstarch. If you think that’s gross because you hate the taste of seafood, for some reason, the fishy seafood taste isn’t actually… noticeable. I legit grew up not realizing that oyster sauce even had seafood in it. The flavor of oyster sauce is sweet and savory.

However, if you are vegan or vegetarian, you are in luck!

There are vegan / vegetarian oyster sauces – they are made with mushrooms instead of Oyster sauce. And this sauce is actually very tasty. I normally don’t prefer the vegetarian/vegan version of things that are normally not vegetarian/vegan, but I actually prefer the mushroom oyster sauce to the normal one!

On Amazon:

L.k.k Panda Brand Oyster Sauce

Lee Kum Kee Premium Oyster Flavored Sauce

Kikkoman Oyster Flavored Sauce

Vegetarian Mushroom Oyster Sauce (Vegan/Vegetarian)

Sauce Options

There’s actually two ways you can make the sauce:

Sauce Option 1 – This option is serving the sauce without cooking it. We usually go with this option because it’s easy, and we love fresh garlic. This style is also more like “Liang Ban” style which is almost like a salad, as the food is served raw or cold. Such as the Chinese Cucumber Salad!

Sauce Option 2 – The second option is to simmer the sauce. This is also tasty as it will bring out cooked garlic flavor. The only thing is if you go with this option be sure to NOT burn the sauce. Make sure your heat is on lowest setting.

How to make Bok Choy with Oyster Sauce and Garlic

First gather your ingredients:

• 3 bunches of bok choy, cut in half lengthwise
• 1 tsp of cooking oil
• 1 tsp of salt
• 6-8 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp of sesame oil
• 3 tbsp of oyster sauce (I prefer vegetarian oyster sauce because it’s made with shiitake mushrooms!)
• 2 tbsp of soy sauce
• 1 tbsp of sugar

If you haven’t already slice the bok choy in half length wise.

Sauce Option 1 – In a bowl mix together sesame oil, oyster sauce, soy sauce and sugar and mix well.

Sauce Option 2 – In a small sauce pan, add sesame oil, oyster sauce, soy sauce and sugar and let it simmer for about 1-2 minutes (do not let it burn). Remove from heat and set aside.

Then, bring a pot of water to boil. Add oil and salt in to the water, and then add bok choy. Let it blanch for about 1-2 minutes. The color should be vibrant green. Remove and drain.

Place bok choy on plate and then drizzle the sauce over it.

Serve!

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