Garlic Choy Sum

Name: Garlic Choy Sum
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 0.25 tsp ground white pepper; 1 tsp soy sauce, light or regular; 0.13 tsp fine salt; 2 tsp cornstarch; 1 tsp toasted sesame oil; 2 tbsp cold water; 6 clove garlic cloves, finely minced; 1 lb choy sum, cleaned and chopped into 2-inch pieces; 2 tbsp neutral vegetable oil for stir-frying

Wok-Tossed Choy Sum with Aromatic Garlic

The blanch-then-stir-fry technique keeps these Chinese greens vibrant while the garlic-laden sauce coats every stem. This is how to get restaurant-quality results at home — bold flavor without any bitterness.

ChineseAsianLunchDinnerSide DishVegetarianQuick MealsHealthyStir Fry

Prep10 min

Cook5 min

Total15 min

Servings4

Difficultyeasy

Ingredients

¼ tspground white pepper
1 tspsoy sauce, light or regular
⅛ tspfine salt
2 tspcornstarch
1 tsptoasted sesame oil
2 tbspcold water
6 clovegarlic cloves, finely minced
1 lbchoy sum, cleaned and chopped into 2-inch pieces
2 tbspneutral vegetable oil for stir-frying

Instructions

Make the sauce by whisking together white pepper, soy sauce, salt, cornstarch, sesame oil, and water in a small bowl until no cornstarch lumps remain. Fold in the minced garlic and set aside where you can grab it quickly during cooking.
Get a large pot of salted water rolling at a vigorous boil. Drop in the choy sum and cook just until the leaves turn brilliant green and the stems start to soften — they'll finish cooking in the wok.
⏱ 40 sec
Drain the choy sum thoroughly in a colander, shaking off excess water. Pat dry with paper towels if needed — water droplets will cause dangerous splattering in the hot oil.
Heat your wok or largest skillet over high heat until wisps of smoke appear, then swirl in the vegetable oil. Add the drained choy sum immediately and toss constantly with a spatula to coat with oil. Season lightly with salt as you go.
⏱ 2 min
Create a well by pushing all the choy sum up the sides of the wok. Give your sauce mixture a quick stir to redistribute the cornstarch, then pour it into the cleared center. Let it bubble and thicken for 10 seconds, then toss everything together until the greens are glossy and coated. Taste and adjust salt, then serve right away.