We are really enjoying all the amazing vegetables that come home with us each week as part of our Community Supported Agriculture share that we have purchased for the season. I love the challenge of having to think outside of the box and use vegetables in new and exciting ways.
And if I’m being completely honest with you, I also hate having to think outside of the box and come up with different ways to prepare vegetables, many of which I’ve never even purchased on my own, so I have no idea what to do with them!
It definitely takes some research and some creativity to make sure we eat all the vegetables we are given every week. But on the bright side, I do think my cooking skills are improving a bit, as is my ability to think about what flavors might pair well together.
Last week we got bok choy. This is a very easy thing to throw into a stir fry. But that’s what I did with the bok choy we received the week before, and I wasn’t interested in repeating the same dish.
So I put my thinking cap and suddenly realized that the bok choy would be a great addition to a coleslaw recipe. Which, of course, would go wonderfully well with barbecue, which is one of my favorite dishes!
Farmer’s Market Slaw with Bok Choy
Ok, so here’s what I used to make my slaw:
One of the delightful and disgusting things about organic produce is that they are not as immune to little bugs who like to taste test. This year the bok choy was one of their very favorites. So…a little less for me to eat, but still plenty to work with! You’ll see here that in addition to the bok choy, I have an onion (the only thing not grown locally) and some beautiful carrots, a small head of red cabbage (I only used half of it), and a few green onions.
First, I shredded the cabbage using a grater. Next time I’ll just throw it in the food processor (I’ve used the same model for 10 years and it’s still going strong!)!
Next, I cut up some green onions. I actually used my beloved Kitchenaid Shearsto do the chopping here. So easy! Those are a major workhorse in my kitchen, so if you don’t have a pair, strongly consider adding them to your wish list!
Now it was time to chop up the bok choy. I should add here that everything you are preparing needs to be washed thoroughly before you chop it up. Bok choy tends to be really dirty around the bottom, so give it extra care. Gritty slaw is not so tasty. Be sure to cut off the very tough bottoms of your bok choy, and then chop them a few times before putting them in the food processor, just to help it out a bit. The above picture shows what mine looked like after just a few pulses.
Now let’s deal with these gorgeous carrots, shall we? Cut off the very bottoms as well as the very tops, then chop each carrot 3 or 4 times, depending on its size. And chop ’em up really good in the food processor until they look like this:
Aren’t these colors just awesome? I was SO excited as I was putting it all together! It just looks like summer!
Next I chopped up half an onion. The next time I do this, I’d just go with 1/4 of an onion. It wasn’t bad with 1/2 an onion, but for me, less is more when it comes to this particular vegetable. You may feel differently!
This is the sauce I made for the slaw. It is 1/4 cup mayo, 1/4 cup plain yogurt, 2 tsp sugar and 2 tsp apple cider vinegar. That’s it! It is yummy!!!!
When you combine all these great elements, this is your reward for your hard work:
Definitely give bok choy a try the next time you make coleslaw. It is absolutely delicious and is now my go-to for when it comes in my weekly basket. After all, it means barbecue is on the menu! 🙂
How do you use bok choy?
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FAQs
Bok choy, a Chinese cabbage, is tender, sweet, and stands up well to heat — making it perfect for stir-frying. Cook it simply with garlic, black bean sauce, or shiitake mushrooms for a delicious side dish, or incorporate it into a frittata or bowl of ramen for a more substantial bite.
What is the healthiest way to eat bok choy? ›
In fact, bok choy may be beneficial for heart health, bone health, and thyroid function. It may even have anticancer properties. You may want to eat it in cooked form to reduce your intake of myrosinase, a compound that could interfere with iodine absorption.
What to do with a bunch of bok choy? ›
Try tossing it into a stir fry or soup. Steam it and add it to a grain bowl. Or enjoy it raw in a salad, sandwich, or wrap! If you'd like some more specific suggestions for how to cook bok choy, don't worry, I've got you covered.
What does bok choy do to your body? ›
Like other dark, leafy greens, bok choy is an excellent source of the flavonoid quercetin. Quercetin can help to reduce inflammation in the body, which may help to reduce your risk of developing a variety of chronic health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Is bok choy a laxative? ›
Bok choy also contains a fair bit of fiber, which accounts for about two-thirds of the carbs in the veggie. We all know fiber can help you poop more easily (and that's reason enough to make sure you're getting plenty), but it's got 💩-loads of other benefits too.
Is bok choy healthier than spinach? ›
In equivalent raw weight, bok choy contains more vitamin C, vitamin A, and some other nutrients than spinach and around the same amount of calcium. Spinach, however, contains higher amounts of some other nutrients, including vitamin K, than bok choy.
Is bok choy anti-inflammatory? ›
Bok choy offers many health benefits through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It may support cardiovascular and bone health while potentially reducing the risk of certain types of cancer.
Is it okay to eat bok choy every day? ›
A meta-analysis and review of research in the journal Food Chemistry found that eating 100 grams of cruciferous vegetables, such as bok choy, every day was associated with a 10% reduction in the risk of death from any cause. (100 grams of cooked bok choy is a little more than a half-cup.)
How do you keep bugs out of bok choy? ›
A lot of these pests can be combatted with row covers and crop rotation. Another useful method is growing bok choy as a fall crop, when pests are past their natural growing season lifecycle. This is especially effective when combatting vegetable weevils. If natural methods fail, use insecticides.
When should I throw out bok choy? ›
Bok choy is a vibrant green vegetable. If the leaves are dull or light green, the bok choy has gone bad. Other signs to look for are if the stems have turned yellow and if spots have begun to appear on the leaves and stems.
The cool thing is that both the leaves and the stalks can be eaten, and this wonderful little plant is an excellent go-to for fiber, as well as for beta-carotene and vitamins C, K and A. It's also a good source for calcium and vitamin B6.
What part of bok choy do you not eat? ›
All of Bok Choy is edible, so once you get to that point, you can chop up the stem and the bulb.
What part of bok choy is bitter? ›
Generally speaking, the flavor of bok choy is mild and cabbage-like. Its green leaves are a little bitter, and the white stalks are juicy and retain their crunch even after cooking.
How long does bok choy last in the fridge? ›
In the Refrigerator: Bok choy typically lasts 1-2 weeks when stored correctly in the refrigerator. It should be rinsed, patted dry, wrapped in a damp towel, and placed in a plastic bag in the crisper drawer.
How should you eat bok choy? ›
Summary. Bok choy is a type of Chinese cabbage and a cruciferous vegetable. It's best known for its uses in Asian cuisine, like soups and stir-fries, but bok choy can be consumed raw or cooked.
What vegetable does bok choy taste like? ›
Bok choy, also known as pak choi, is a crunchy, emerald green cabbage that has a subtle "cabbagey" flavor that can sometimes taste like celery, and is packed full of vitamins.
What does bok choy taste similar to? ›
Bok choy tastes similar to cabbage. It has a mild, fresh, and grassy flavor with a slight peppery kick. The stalks have a celery-like crunch, while the leaves are soft and crisp.
to do the chopping here. So easy! Those are a major workhorse in my kitchen, so if you don’t have a pair, strongly consider adding them to your wish list!