This delightful dish combines the crispiness of bok choy with the vibrant colors of carrots and bell peppers. The garlic sauce adds a rich, savory flavor that ties everything together beautifully. It's a quick and healthy option for a weeknight dinner.
If you don't usually cook with bok choy, you might need to look for it in the produce section of your supermarket. It's a type of Chinese cabbage with a mild flavor and crunchy texture. Soy sauce is a common ingredient, but make sure you have a good quality one for the best flavor.
Ingredients For Bok Choy With Vegetables And Garlic Sauce
Bok choy: A type of Chinese cabbage with a mild flavor and crunchy texture.
Carrots: Adds sweetness and a vibrant orange color to the dish.
Bell peppers: Provides a sweet and slightly tangy flavor along with a pop of color.
Garlic: Adds a rich, aromatic flavor to the sauce.
Soy sauce: A salty, umami-rich sauce that enhances the overall flavor.
Olive oil: Used for stir-frying the vegetables.
Cornstarch: Mixed with water to thicken the sauce.
Technique Tip for This Recipe
When stir-frying garlic, make sure to keep the heat at medium to prevent it from burning, which can impart a bitter taste to the dish. Additionally, when adding the cornstarch mixture, ensure it is well-dissolved in water to avoid clumping and achieve a smooth, glossy sauce.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
bok choy - Substitute with napa cabbage: Napa cabbage has a similar texture and mild flavor, making it a great alternative in stir-fries.
carrots - Substitute with zucchini: Zucchini has a similar crunch and can absorb flavors well, providing a good textural contrast.
bell peppers - Substitute with snap peas: Snap peas offer a sweet flavor and crisp texture, similar to bell peppers.
garlic - Substitute with shallots: Shallots provide a milder, slightly sweet flavor that can complement the dish well.
soy sauce - Substitute with tamari: Tamari is a gluten-free alternative to soy sauce with a similar umami flavor.
olive oil - Substitute with sesame oil: Sesame oil adds a nutty flavor that enhances the overall taste of the dish.
cornstarch - Substitute with arrowroot powder: Arrowroot powder works similarly to cornstarch as a thickening agent and is often preferred in vegan and gluten-free cooking.
Other Alternative Recipes Similar to This Dish
How to Store / Freeze This Dish
Allow the bok choy with vegetables and garlic sauce to cool completely before storing. This prevents condensation, which can make the dish soggy.
Transfer the cooled dish into an airtight container. For best results, use a glass container to avoid any potential staining or odor retention from the soy sauce.
If you plan to consume the dish within a few days, store it in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to 3-4 days.
For longer storage, consider freezing. Place the dish in a freezer-safe container or a resealable plastic bag. Make sure to remove as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn.
Label the container or bag with the date of preparation. This helps you keep track of how long the dish has been stored.
When ready to eat, thaw the frozen bok choy with vegetables and garlic sauce in the refrigerator overnight. This ensures even thawing and maintains the texture of the vegetables.
Reheat the dish in a skillet over medium heat, adding a splash of water or vegetable broth if needed to prevent sticking. Stir occasionally until heated through.
Alternatively, you can reheat in the microwave. Place the dish in a microwave-safe container, cover loosely, and heat in 1-minute intervals, stirring in between, until hot.
For an extra burst of flavor, consider adding a dash of fresh soy sauce or a sprinkle of sesame seeds just before serving.
How to Reheat Leftovers
Stovetop Method:
- Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat.
- Add a splash of olive oil or a bit of vegetable broth to prevent sticking.
- Add the leftover bok choy with vegetables and garlic sauce to the skillet.
- Stir occasionally and heat for about 5-7 minutes until warmed through.
- If the sauce has thickened too much, add a tablespoon of water or soy sauce to loosen it up.
Microwave Method:
- Place the leftovers in a microwave-safe dish.
- Cover the dish with a microwave-safe lid or plastic wrap with a small vent.
- Microwave on medium power for 2-3 minutes.
- Stir the contents halfway through to ensure even heating.
- Check the temperature and heat for an additional 1-2 minutes if necessary.
Oven Method:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Transfer the leftovers to an oven-safe dish.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil to retain moisture.
- Bake for about 15-20 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Remove the foil for the last 5 minutes if you prefer a slightly crispy texture.
Steaming Method:
- Set up a steamer basket over a pot of simmering water.
- Place the leftovers in the steamer basket.
- Cover and steam for about 5-7 minutes until heated through.
- This method helps retain the vegetables' crispness and the garlic sauce's flavor.
Air Fryer Method:
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
- Place the leftovers in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Air fry for 5-7 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
- This method can give the vegetables a slightly crispy texture while reheating evenly.
Essential Tools for Preparing This Recipe
Wok: A large, round-bottomed cooking pan that is ideal for stir-frying the vegetables evenly.
Spatula: A flat, broad tool used for stirring and flipping the vegetables in the wok.
Chef's knife: A sharp knife used for chopping the bok choy, slicing the carrots, and bell peppers.
Cutting board: A sturdy surface used for chopping and slicing the vegetables.
Garlic press: A tool used to mince the garlic cloves quickly and efficiently.
Measuring spoons: Tools used to measure out the soy sauce, olive oil, and cornstarch accurately.
Small bowl: A bowl used to mix the cornstarch with water before adding it to the wok.
Serving dish: A dish used to serve the finished bok choy with vegetables and garlic sauce.
Tongs: A tool used to handle and toss the vegetables while stir-frying.
How to Save Time on This Recipe
Prep ingredients in advance: Chop the bok choy, carrots, and bell peppers ahead of time and store them in the fridge.
Use pre-minced garlic: Save time by using store-bought minced garlic instead of mincing it yourself.
Measure sauces beforehand: Pre-measure the soy sauce and mix the cornstarch with water in advance to streamline the cooking process.
Cook in batches: If you have a small wok, cook the vegetables in batches to ensure even cooking and save time.
Use high heat: Cooking on high heat reduces cooking time and helps maintain the vegetables' crispiness.
Bok Choy with Vegetables and Garlic Sauce
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 heads Bok Choy chopped
- 1 cup Carrots sliced
- 1 cup Bell Peppers sliced
- 3 cloves Garlic minced
- 2 tablespoon Soy Sauce
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 teaspoon Cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoon water
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a wok over medium heat.
- Add the minced garlic and stir-fry for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add the carrots and bell peppers, and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes.
- Add the chopped bok choy and soy sauce, and cook for another 3-4 minutes until the vegetables are tender.
- Stir in the cornstarch mixture and cook for another minute until the sauce thickens.
- Serve hot.
Nutritional Value
Keywords
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