Charred Pak Choi Recipe (Easy Griddled Pak Choi Side Dish)

Bursting with the flavours of soy, chilli and garlic glaze, this Griddled Pak Choi Side Dish is a fantastic addition to Chinese, Japanese and Korean main courses! So if you are looking for a tasty sidekick to an Asian-style crispy chicken, sticky tofu or glazed fish, this charred pak choi recipe has your name written all over it! 6 ingredients, 15 minutes and you have a side that is exciting in both the flavours and the textures!

Jump to:

• But What Is Pak Choi (Bok Choy)? 
• How To Cook Pak Choi?
• Ingredients and Substitutes
• The Best Way To Cook Pak Choi
• Ingredients and Substitutes
• Method
• What Does Pak Choi Taste Like? What Does It Go Well With? 
• Recipe FAQs
• Serving Suggestions
• Other Asian-Style Side Dishes
• Charred Pak Choi (Griddled Pak Choi Side Dish)

We absolutely love this pak choi recipe with Gochujang Tofu and Sticky Soy Salmon. But we have plenty of other serving suggestions to try in the sections below. 

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But What Is Pak Choi (Bok Choy)? 

Pak choi is not the only name this nutritious vegetable goes by. If you heard of bok choy or horse's ear, it's the same humble vegetable! It is sometimes referred to as Chinese celery cabbage or even white mustard cabbage. 

Whichever name you prefer, pak choi is a member of the cabbage family, but it looks a lot like a cross between celery and spinach. Regular Pak Choi is one of the most essential ingredients in Chinese cooking but is widely used across the globe.  

How To Cook Pak Choi?

Cooking pak choi is never boring, as you can use various different methods, and add new flavours every time. Our favorite ways are to:

1. Grill/ Griddle. Just like in this simple recipe, otherwise mild-tasting pak choi benefits from the extra depth of flavor from charring on a hot griddle pan/ grill. Cut the pak choi in half lengthways (or slice in quarters lengthways). Griddle it for 4-6 minutes on each side, depending on the size of your vegetable. Quick-cooking pak choi is the best cooking method to make the crunchiest version of pak choi, in our opinion. 
2. Stir-fry. Chop your pak choi into bite-size pieces and keep the white part and leafy greens separately. Stir fry the white stalks on high heat in a large skillet with your chosen extras (like fresh garlic, ginger) for 2-3 minutes. Then add the dark green pak choi leaves and continue cooking for another 30 seconds. Make sure to add some delicious flavors in the form of oyster sauce, hoisin sauce or other stir-fry sauce. 
3. Steam. If you're looking for a mild-tasting pak choi side dish, you can steam it. Separate the tender leaves and steam for a couple of minutes to soften for an easy side dish.  
4. Eat Raw. Young pak choi (a.k.a. baby bok choy) can be used in salads or relishes raw. It's a delicious way to add extra crunch to your salad.  

Ingredients and Substitutes

Only 6 simple ingredients are needed for this extremely flavoursome pak choi recipe. And I bet you, you will find half of them in your cupboards already. Here's what you'll need for this flavourful plate of greens:

• toasted sesame oil: a little oil goes a long way. Toasted sesame oil is one of the strongest-tasting ingredients, so use it carefully. You will only need 1 teaspoon of it for 2 heads of pak choi. You may substitute it with olive oil or vegetable oil. 
• garlic cloves: peeled, minced or very finely chopped. 
• chilli flakes (red pepper flakes): adjust the spice level by adding more or less chilli. 
• soy sauce: you can use dark or light soy sauce in this recipe. For a gluten-free option, choose Tamari.
• caster sugar: can be replaced with brown sugar, half a teaspoon of honey, maple syrup or agave nectar. 
• pak choi: the star of the show. There are a few different varieties of this nutritious leafy green vegetable and they can come in different shapes and sizes. We used a typical European-grown pak choi that you can get at most larger supermarkets in the UK. You may use baby pak choi too. 
• sesame seeds: to garnish.

The Best Way To Cook Pak Choi

Cooking pak choi is never boring, as you can use various different method, and add new flavours every time. Pur favorite ways are to:

1. Grill/ Griddle. Just like in this recipe, otherwise mild-tasting pak choi benefits from the extra flavour of charring on a hot griddle pan/ grill. Cut the pak choi in half lengthways (or slice in quarters lengthways). Grill it for 4-6 minutes on each side, depending on the size of your vegetable. This cooking method makes the best crunchiest version of pak choi, in our opinion. 
2. Stir-fry. Chop your pak choi into bite-size pieces and keep the white part and leafy greens separately. Stir fry the stalks on high heat with your chosen extras (like garlic, ginger, chilli or stir-fry sauce) for 2-3 minutes. Then add the dark green leaves and continue cooking for another 30 seconds. 
3. Steam. If you're looking for a mild-tasting pak choi side dish, you can steam it. Separate the leaves and steam for a couple of minutes to soften for an easy side dish.  
4. Eat Raw. Young pak choi (a.k.a. baby pak choi) can be used in salads or relishes raw. It's a delicious way to add extra crunch to your salad.  

Ingredients and Substitutes

Only 6 ingredients are needed for this extremely flavoursome pak choi recipe. And I bet you, you will find half of them in your cupboards already. Here's what you'll need:

• toasted sesame oil: a little oil goes a long way. Toasted sesame oil is one of the strongest-tasting ingredients, so use it carefully. You will only need 1 teaspoon of it for 2 heads of pak choi. 
• garlic clove: peeled, minced or very finely chopped. 
• chilli flakes (red pepper flakes): adjust the spice level by adding more or less chilli. 
• soy sauce: you can use dark or light soy sauce in this recipe. For a gluten-free option, choose Tamari.
• caster sugar: can be replaced with brown sugar, half a teaspoon of honey, maple syrup or agave nectar. 
• pak choi: the star of the show. There are a few different varieties of this nutritious vegetable and they can come in different shapes and sizes. We used a typical European-grown pak choi that you can get at most larger supermarkets in the UK. 
• sesame seeds: to garnish.

Find the quantities, full instructions and nutritional information in the recipe card at the bottom of the post. 

Method

In a small bowl, combine sesame oil, minced garlic, chilli flakes, soy sauce and caster sugar.

Brush a griddle pan with oil using a pastry brush. Heat it on medium-high heat.

Brush the pak choi halves (cut side) with the soy glaze and add them to the hot griddle pan cut side down. Cook for 4-5 minutes, then brush the tops with the remaining glaze and them over. Carry on cooking for another 3-4 minutes. You can also cook the pak choi on an outdoor grill or simply in a large frying pan. 

Your pak choi should have visible charred lines and softened tops, but still have plenty of crunch at the base. Squeeze some fresh lime juice (or lemon juice) over the top if you wish, place the Asian greens on a serving plate and serve it as a vegetable side dish with your favourite main dish!

What Does Pak Choi Taste Like? What Does It Go Well With? 

Pak choi (also spelt pak choy, bok choi, pok choi or bok choy) comes from a cabbage family, so it is no surprise that it tastes like very mild cabbage. Some say that it is a cross between spinach and cabbage, but I would say it tastes more like spinach and bean sprout stir fry. 

Pak Choi is not the most flavoursome vegetable out there. That's why it is always a good idea to add lots of flavour in the form of sauce, marinade or glaze. 

What pak choi can offer, though, is tons of crisp texture! This makes it an easy vegetable to cook and pair with. Our Garlic Pak Choi makes a great accompaniment to Crispy Honey Chicken, teriyaki salmon, Crispy Chilli Beef, Tofu Sushi (recipe coming soon) and other Asian-style mains!

Recipe FAQs

Serving Suggestions

Full of flavour, this Grilled Pak Choi Side Dish makes a perfect side dish for both a strong-tasting dish and a milder-tasting main course, that can use an exhilarating sidekick to liven it up. We love serving Charred Pak Choi with:

• Miso Butter Salmon 
• Tofu and Pineapple Skewers
• Crispy Chilli Beef
• Kung Pao Tofu (Vegan)

Other Asian-Style Side Dishes

If you are looking for more ideas of vegetable sides that go well with Asian-inspired recipes, we have a few of our favourite veggie sides that may tempt you. Why not try:

• Stir-Fried Chinese Pea Shoots (Dou Miao Recipe)
• Korean Cucumber Salad
• Asian-Style Sesame Broccoli
• Asian Cabbage Slaw With Sesame Mayo