Grilled Bok Choy Recipe with Sauce
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Grilled bok choy coated with sesame oil and charred on the BBQ, then finished with a savory homemade sauce. A healthy side dish that’s easy to make and works for any occasion.
🥬 What is bok choy?
Bok choy is a Chinese leafy green vegetable from the cabbage family. It has crisp white stems and tender green leaves with a mild, slightly sweet flavor. In Asian cooking, it’s commonly stir-fried, grilled, or added to soups and noodle dishes.
💬 About this recipe
Whether it’s barbecue season, winter, or you’re just looking for a quick side dish, grilling bok choy is always a good idea.
The charred leaves and crispy stems are great next to any meal. Grilled meats, tofu, a spicy stir-fry, you name it.
A couple of things you’ll really like about this recipe:
- It’s super easy to make
- The sauce works with different grilled vegetables
- The char brings out the natural sweetness of the bok choy
Praew ♡
Learn Thai cooking step by step
My cookbook is a combination of authentic Thai recipes and Western dishes cooked with Thai flavors and ingredients. It’s a great starting point if you’re new to Thai cooking or want to cook it more often.
🍚 Ingredient notes & substitutes
✱ Here you’ll find ingredient tips and possible substitutions. See the recipe card for the exact measurements
- Bok choy – Use baby bok choy if possible; it grills quickly and stays tender with crisp edges. Use any extras in my bok choy stir-fry.
- Sesame oil – Used to lightly coat the bok choy before grilling, adding a nutty aroma.
- Chili oil – Adds gentle heat to the sauce. For the best results, use my homemade chili oil.
- Oyster sauce – Forms the savory base of the sauce with a deep umami flavor. Get my favorite brand on Amazon!
- Garlic – Adds aroma and sharpness to balance the richness of the sauce.
- Sugar – Rounds out the sauce and balances the salty and savory flavors.
- Cornstarch – Helps thicken the sauce so it clings nicely to the grilled greens.
- Water – Loosens the sauce and helps dissolve the cornstarch evenly.
Tip: While the grill is hot, throw on a few extra vegetables like mushrooms or zucchini and serve them with the same sauce.
👩🍳 How to grill bok choy
Grill bok choy for 2–3 minutes per side over medium-high heat. It’s ready when the leaves are lightly charred and the stems are tender but still crisp.
- Prep the bok choy. Wash the bok choy well and pat it completely dry. Slice each one in half lengthwise and lightly coat with sesame oil.
- Heat the grill. Preheat your BBQ or grill pan over medium-high heat until hot.
- Grill the bok choy. Place the bok choy cut-side down on the grill and let it char without moving it too soon. Flip and grill the other side until the leaves are slightly crisp, and the stems are tender. Remove from the grill and set aside.
- Mix the cornstarch slurry. In a small bowl, stir the cornstarch and water together until smooth and lump-free.
- Start the sauce. Add the chili oil, oyster sauce, garlic, and sugar to a small saucepan. Heat gently over low-medium, stirring, until everything is combined and fragrant.
- Thicken the sauce. Pour in the cornstarch slurry while stirring and cook briefly until the sauce thickens and turns glossy.
- Serve. Arrange the grilled bok choy on a plate and spoon the warm sauce over the top. Serve right away.
😋 Tips for maximum flavor!
❥ Dry the bok choy well before coating with sesame oil so it chars instead of steaming.
❥ Grill cut-side down first to get nice color and slightly crispy stems.
❥ Don’t move it too early; let the grill do its thing before flipping.
❥ Brush the sauce on at the end so it doesn’t burn over high heat.
❓Frequently asked questions
Can I grill bok choy without a BBQ?
Yes. A grill pan works just as well and gives you similar charred edges.
What other vegetables work with this sauce?
The sauce also works well with grilled mushrooms, zucchini, asparagus, or broccoli.
Grilled Bok Choy Recipe with Sauce
Ingredients
For grilling
- 200 g bok choy
- ½ tbsp sesame oil
For thickening the sauce
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 4 tbsp water
For making the sauce
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp chili oil
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 tsp sugar
Instructions
- Prepare the bok choy. Wash and dry the bok choy, then slice lengthwise and lightly coat with sesame oil.
- Grill the bok choy. Heat a BBQ or grill pan over medium-high heat. Grill the bok choy cut-side down until charred, then flip and cook until the stems are tender but still crisp. Remove and set aside.
- Mix the slurry. Stir the cornstarch and water together in a small bowl until smooth.
- Make the sauce. Heat the chili oil, oyster sauce, garlic, and sugar in a small pan, stirring until combined and fragrant.
- Thicken the sauce. Add the cornstarch slurry and cook briefly, stirring, until the sauce thickens and looks glossy.
- Serve. Spoon the sauce over the grilled bok choy and serve immediately.
Notes
- Use the nutrition card in this recipe as a guideline.
