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Looking for a quick and delicious vegetable side dish to complement your meal? Choy sum is a great choice. This versatile vegetable, which I often purchase from the Asian supermarket, is not only tasty and inexpensive, but also has a good shelf life in the fridge.
One of my favorite ways to prepare choy sum is to stir-fry it using simple pantry seasonings. This dish doesn’t yield any sauce. Instead, all the flavors are sautéed directly into the choy sum.
It’s a side dish that’s a hit with us adults and is also mild enough for children to enjoy. In essence, it’s a win-win for everyone.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Fast Prep: This recipe comes together in less than 15 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
Healthy and Nutritious: Choy sum is packed with vitamins and minerals. It’s rich in vitamins A, C, and K, B-complex vitamins, calcium, and iron. It also contains antioxidants and is low in calories.
Flavorful and Customizable: The basic stir-fry technique can be easily adapted to your taste preferences. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a kick, or throw in some protein like tofu or shrimp for a more filling meal.
What You Will Need
Choy Sum: Choy sum, also known as Yu Choy or Chinese flowering cabbage, is a popular Asian leafy green vegetable. It’s very similar looking to Gai Lan, another popular Asian green leafy vegetable, but there are key differences. Choy sum has a slimmer stem and has a milder taste when cooked. Gai Lan has a thicker stem and a stronger, slightly bitter flavor. If you’re not a fan of strong veggie flavors, you might love choy sum.
Garlic: Freshly minced garlic is key to add the aromatic base. It lightly gets fry with a small amount of vegetable oil to bring out its aroma before tossing it with the choy sum.
Salt: The main seasoning here is salt. Sea salt to be exact. It’s not as salty and in my opinion, much tastier than regular table salt.
Chicken/Mushroom Bouillon Powder: The other seasoning is bouillon powder (Hat Nem). It’s a must-have in Vietnamese home cooking that gives that amazing umami flavor that you didn’t know was missing. I normally simply use chicken bouillon powder, and mushroom bouillon powder for a vegetarian option.
If you like to eat simple, go ahead and skip this, but I highly recommend it for that authentic taste.
Sesame oil, Ground White Pepper, and Fried Garlic (Optional): The sesame oil imparts a nutty aroma, while a sprinkle of white pepper adds a subtle kick. If I have fried garlic on hand, I like to sprinkle it on top of the finished dish for extra crunch.
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