Quick Stir-Fried Garlic Bok Choy with Soy Glaze

By , Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · ·

A simple and flavorful stir-fried bok choy dish enhanced with garlic and a savory soy glaze, perfect for a quick vegetable side. This chinese-inspired vegetarian ready in about 12 minutes pairs baby bok choy, garlic cloves, minced, vegetable oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 60 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 5 min Cook: 7 min Serves 4 Chinese cuisine 60 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Rinse 1 lb baby bok choy thoroughly and slice each in half lengthwise.
  2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large wok over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and stir-fry for 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
  3. Step 3: Add the bok choy halves cut side down and stir-fry for 2 minutes until edges begin to crisp.
  4. Step 4: Pour in 2 tbsp light soy sauce and 3 tbsp water, cover the wok, and steam for 2 minutes until bok choy stalks are tender but still crisp.
  5. Step 5: Remove lid, drizzle 1 tsp sesame oil, sprinkle 1/4 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp white pepper, then toss everything together for 30 seconds until sauce coats the greens and evaporates slightly.

Frequently asked questions

How long does Quick Stir-Fried Garlic Bok Choy with Soy Glaze take to make?

Total time is about 12 minutes (5 min prep + 7 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.

How do I store leftover Quick Stir-Fried Garlic Bok Choy with Soy Glaze?

Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep baby bok choy from drying out.

Can I substitute ingredients in Quick Stir-Fried Garlic Bok Choy with Soy Glaze?

Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.

How do I scale Quick Stir-Fried Garlic Bok Choy with Soy Glaze for a different number of people?

The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.

What goes well with Quick Stir-Fried Garlic Bok Choy with Soy Glaze?

Chinese vegetarian like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.

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