Easy, healthy Bok Choy Pasta recipe that you can throw together in minutes! The bok choy tastes great in this olive oil and garlic sauce!
If you love easy dinner ideas, this bok choy pasta is going to be perfect for you (especially on busy weeknights). It’s as simple as sauteeing the bok choy and placing it over your pasta. Despite its simplicity to make (and grow!), it’s rich, full of savory flavor and incredibly satisfying as a main dish. You can pair it with a side, but like most pasta dishes, it can leave you full in of itself!
Bok choy dates back to 5th century AD, China. It was imported to Korea in the 14th century and was one of the first vegetables to be fermented into kimchi. It then became known for its medicinal properties across China in the 1500s—and it’s been used in popular Chinese dishes since. Given its longstanding history, it should be no surprise that it’s still just as beloved today. It’s light, nutritious, and versatile—perfect for many different recipes and dishes.
Once you see how easy this bok choy is to saute and cook for yourself, this bok choy pasta will be an easy go-to on those busy nights when you are looking for something flavorful and filling but don’t have the time to go all out and make something more elaborate.
The Best Bok Choy Pasta Recipe
What’s great about this recipe is the rich flavors that stem from the garlic, soy sauce, and red pepper flakes. The brown sugar will enhance the flavors of all of those rich ingredients around it. When marinated in chicken broth, all of the flavors intensify and the bok choy soaks it all in. Once placed over a bowl of pasta, it only gets better. There are few delicacies in life much better than delicious food like this easy recipe full of flavor!
How to Make Bok Choy Pasta
Wash and chop bok choy into 1 inch bite size pieces. You can use anywhere from 8 ounces to 1 pound of bok choy for this recipe, depending how much you have on hand.
Combine the broth, sauces, spices, ginger and garlic into a bowl.
Over medium-high heat, add the olive oil and sesame oil in a large nonstick skillet. Next, add the bok choy and fry until it wilts. Toss and lightly douse in the sauce.
When done, pour bok choy mixture over cooked pasta. Serve and enjoy!
Optional Bok Choy Pasta Toppings
Garnish with green onions or sesame seeds if desired. You can even add sautéed shiitake mushrooms or oven roasted mushrooms to add on top too!
How to Wash Bok Choy
To properly wash your bok choy leaves, first cut off the ends. Then wash each stalk and leaf individually under running water, rubbing off any dirt you might find. You can also use a salad spinner to wash quickly! Pay close attention to dirt that collects at the bottom of the stalks or in the crevices of the leaves. The more dirt left on the leaves, the more bitter the taste will be when cooked.
Storing Leftovers
Store leftover bok choy pasta in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator. If stored properly, it can last up to three to four days.
Bok Choy Pasta FAQs
What does sauteed bok choy taste like?
Bok choy is also known as Chinese white cabbage. These leafy greens taste very similar to cabbage. It can be slightly bitter but mild. Once cooked and sauteed, it will easily take on whatever sauce and spices you decide to use. In this recipe, it will offer a savory and sweet umami taste tossed with garlic and ginger.
Do you eat the white part of bok choy?
The white part of bok choy is known as the bulb or the bok choy stems. You can definitely eat both the stem and the bok choy leaves, raw or cooked, it’s entirely up to you!
Can you overcook bok choy?
Yes, you can and you shouldn’t. If you do, the leaves will become too soggy and less appealing to taste. By cooking the bok choy for just a few minutes like in this recipe, you will cook it just enough to not compromise the texture and taste.
What else does bok choy taste good with?
Bok choy is most known for being great in stir frys, mixing with other veggies, and rice. It also goes great with seasoned and crispy tofu, quinoa, salad, or with eggs. It’s very versatile so you can use it in many dishes!
More Pasta Vegetable Recipes
- Bok Choy Stir Fry In Brown Sauce
- Broccoli Spaghetti Pasta
- Fresh Veggies Pasta Dish
- Pasta And Peas (Pasta E Piselli)
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Bok Choy Pasta
PrintIngredients
- 1 pound package pasta of your choice (we like spaghetti)
- 1 pound bok choy washed, chopped into 1 inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon ginger minced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet heat olive oil and sesame oil over medium high heat. Add bok choy and sauté for about 5-7 minutes until it wilts.
- In a small bowl combine chicken broth, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, oyster sauce, brown sugar and red pepper flakes.
- Turn heat to low and add sauce you made in bowl to the bok choy in the skillet. Toss bok choy lightly to cover in sauce.
- Pour bok choy mixture over pasta and stir to fully coat the pasta.
- Serve on plates and enjoy!
Choc Chip Uru says
Mmmm I need to try this, bok choy is my favourite 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Laura @ Raise Your Garden says
I love your bok choy plants. Wow. Gasp. Can’t believe how big they are! So impressive. So cute (can bok choy be cute, seriously, what’s wrong with me.) Bok choy is so delicious, but with garlic and pasta, you can’t beat it. Nutritious and delicious! Plus, I love the many spins you could put on this recipe. You could add broccoli or beans or red peppers or whatever else is growing in your garden. To me, those are the best recipes, the ones that are on the forgiving side…and come out tasty no matter what =) Would love to chow down on this with you on your root top! Will share with cats. Promise.
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
You seriously had me at Garlic! Looks amazing!
Cindy @ Pick Fresh Foods says
That bok choy is huge! That is so awesome. I love this recipe it seems so light and delicious. I could go for some of this for lunch 😀
Ashley @ QLCC says
I love how light and summery all your recipes are. I need to finagle a patio garden or something. I miss fresh greens!
Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Health says
bok choy is easily one of my favorite greens and suateeing with garlic sounds delicious.
Jersey Girl Cooks says
Wow, what cool bok choy plants! I need to make your candied jalapenos. They look delish!
Kelly @ Trial and Eater says
Those are huge! I have never had bok choy before but if I could grow it like you I would totally make this 🙂
Donalyn@TheCreeksideCook says
Pamela, this sounds really good! I love very simple and tasty meals like this, that have way more flavor that you would expect from how easy they are to prepare – this looks perfect! And I agree that bok choy is awesome to grow – very rewarding for sure!
Joanne says
I find bok choy to be all kinds of beautiful! Love this simple pasta!
Kelly says
Oh my goodness, your bok choy plant is gorgeous, Pamela! What a great pasta dish too, love all the bok choy and flavors in here 🙂
Chris @ Shared Appetite says
Wow those bok choy are beautiful and huge!!!! Awesome! What a great summer pasta 🙂
Koko says
I love bok choy!! But it totttaaallly needs a good kick of garlic to go along with it- this looks perfect!!
Abbe@This is How I Cook says
I had no idea bok choy could get so big! And I love how you made it!
Sarah & Arkadi says
very creative and simple! like this a lot!
Anna Johnston says
Ohhh yummy! I am about to kick off operation get fit, swimsuit season is coming at me far too quickly, reckon this tasty will make the list of good eats. 🙂
Suzanne says
The recipe sounds fantastic, I love bok choy, yours is just beautiful.
Norma Chang says
You sure have a beautiful crop of bok choy. great combination of flavors and lovely photos.
Lindsey @ American Heritage Cooking says
Holy cow! Those are the largest bok chou plants that I have EVER seen!!! You must have 2 green thumbs because everything you grow looks magical and almost fake in its perfection. This recipe looks easy and perfect for a quick vegetarian dinner! Pinned!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
Can you believe I’ve never had bok choy? This pasta looks amazing! Especially with that garlic! Wish I had this for dinner tonight!
Melanie @ Carmel Moments says
Ok! Just shoot me now but I’ve never eaten bok choy unless it was disguised and I had no idea. Which is probably very likely. 🙂
Looks delish! And I can’t believe how big your plants are. CRAZY!
John@Kitchen Riffs says
Fun way to use bok choy! Very creative recipe. And tasty! This looks terrific — thanks.
Gwen @simplyhealthyfamily says
Wow!! I would love to have those ginoromous bok choy in my garden. This sounds like a perfect dinner!
Marta @ What should I eat for breakfast today says
Bok choy is such a funny name, isn’t it 🙂 But it’s yummy for sure.
Emma | Fork and Good says
Goodness me that looks good! I love simple pastas like these and I’m loving looking at your giant veggies! Amazing.
Stephanie says
Oh my woooord they are huge!! I’ve only worked with baby bok choy and had no idea the plant even got that gigantic. Garlic and noodles were an excellent choice
PassTheKnife says
I love bok choy, usually use it in soups or stir fries, this recipe look simple and delicious!
Jamie | Jamie's Recipes says
Greens and pasta are so tasty. I’ve been grooving on swiss chard, garlic, pasta, and occasionally topped with a fried or poached egg. Mmmm.
Mary Frances says
The pasta and veggie queen reigns again! Ditto Amy, the flavor combo here is fantabulous. What a delicious and nutritious way to use the bok choy!
Amy | Club Narwhal says
OMG, I am loving this combination of flavors! I usually only eat bok choy in soup so seeing it in pasta is a total lightbulb moment. So awesome!