Indulge in the delightful flavors of restaurant-style Yu Choy with this quick and easy recipe.
In just 10 minutes, you can enjoy tender and sweet Yu Choy perfectly seasoned with aromatic garlic.
This dish is a wonderful addition to your dining table, offering a harmonious blend of flavors and a vibrant burst of freshness.
It’s a delicious and nutritious option for those following a vegan diet or looking for plant-based meal ideas.
WHAT IS YU CHOY?
Yu Choy, also known as choy sum in Cantonese or you cai in Mandarin, is a leafy vegetable that belongs to the Brassica family. It is similar in appearance to Chinese broccoli, with long, slender stalks and vibrant green leaves.
Yu Choy has a mild and slightly bitter taste, and its tender stems and leaves are commonly used in Asian cuisine, particularly in Chinese and Cantonese dishes.
It is often stir-fried, blanched, or used in soup recipes. Yu Choy is highly nutritious and is valued for its rich vitamin and mineral content.
A staple vegetable in dim sum restaurants
Choy Sum, a popular vegetable in dim sum restaurants, is a must-try when dining there.
One of my personal favorites is Choy Sum with garlic sauce, which adds a delightful savory flavor to the tender greens. The combination of the vibrant Choy Sum and aromatic garlic sauce is a perfect pairing that will satisfy your taste buds.
Now you can recreate the delightful Choy Sum with garlic sauce right in the comfort of your own home.
With this recipe, you can enjoy the tender and flavorful Choy Sum just like the one served in dim sum restaurants.
It’s a simple and satisfying dish that you can easily prepare in your own kitchen.
How to prepare yu choy (Choy Sum)
Trim off any tough or discolored parts of the yu choy stems using a sharp knife. You can also remove any damaged or wilted leaves.
Rinse them under running water to remove any dirt or debris.
Fill a clean sink or bowl with water. Add a teaspoon of salt to the water and stir to dissolve.
Place the yu choy stems and leaves into the saltwater mixture and let them soak for about 5-10 minutes. This helps to remove any remaining dirt or impurities.
After soaking, rinse the yu choy thoroughly under running water to ensure all the salt and dirt are removed.
Shake off any excess water and gently pat dry the yu choy with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel.
Once dry, the yu choy is ready to be used in your desired recipe.
What you need for the recipe.
Ingredients:
400g yu choy (choy sum)
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp cooking oil
1 tbsp minced garlic
20g fresh chili pepper, julienned
2 tbsp seasoned soy sauce (or 1 tbsp light soy sauce and 1 tbsp Chinese black vinegar as an alternative)
Yu Choy Recipe Instructions:
prepare the yu choy
Start by preparing the yu choy. Trim off any tough stems.
In a bowl of water, dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt. Soak the yu choy in the saltwater for about 5 minutes. This helps remove any impurities.
Meanwhile, bring a pot of water to a boil. Add 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of cooking oil to the water. Stir well.
This will help maintain the vibrant green color of the vegetables.
Carefully add the soaked yu choy to the boiling water. Blanch for 1 minute until the leaves are slightly wilted but still crisp. Remove the yu choy from the boiling water and drain.
Prepare the sauce
In a separate bowl, combine the minced garlic and julienned chili pepper.
Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of cooking oil in a small saucepan until hot. Pour the hot oil over the garlic and chili mixture, allowing it to sizzle and release its aroma.
Drizzle the seasoned soy sauce (or the combination of light soy sauce and Chinese black vinegar) over the blanched yu choy.
Finally, pour the garlic and soy sauce mixture over the yu choy.
Toss the yu choy gently to evenly coat it with the flavorful sauce and oil.
Serve the yu choy immediately as a delicious and vibrant side dish.
Pro Tips for Perfect Yu Choy with Garlic Sauce:
Submerge fully in water: When blanching Yu Choy, ensure that all the leaves and stems are fully submerged in water. This will help to cook the vegetable evenly and maintain its vibrant color.
Blanch quickly to retain the crispness and texture of Yu Choy. Ensure that there is enough boiling water to fully submerge the vegetable and add a teaspoon of cooking oil. This helps to keep the greens vibrant and prevents them from turning dull. Remember to drain the water thoroughly after blanching to maintain the desired texture.
Serve immediately: Enjoy the Yu Choy with garlic sauce while it’s still hot and the greens are crisp. Prompt serving ensures the best texture and taste.
Recipe FAQs
What does yu choy taste like
How long to boil yu choy
10-Minute Choy Sum with Garlic Sauce
Ingredients
- 400 g yu choy Or choy sum
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp cooking oil
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 20 g fresh chili pepper julienned
- 2 tbsp seasoned soy sauce or 1 tbsp light soy sauce and 1 tbsp Chinese black vinegar as an alternative
Instructions
Prepare The Yu Choy
- Start by preparing the yu choy. Trim off any tough stems.
- In a bowl of water, dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt. Soak the yu choy in the saltwater for about 5 minutes. This helps remove any impurities.
- Meanwhile, bring a pot of water to a boil. Add 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of cooking oil to the water. Stir well.
- Carefully add the soaked yu choy to the boiling water. Blanch for 1 minute until the leaves are slightly wilted but still crisp. Remove the yu choy from the boiling water and drain.
Prepare The Sauce
- In a separate bowl, combine the minced garlic and julienned chili pepper.
- Heat the remaining 1 tablespoons of cooking oil in a small saucepan until hot. Pour the hot oil over the garlic and chili mixture, allowing it to sizzle and release its aroma.
- Drizzle the seasoned soy sauce (or the combination of light soy sauce and Chinese black vinegar) over the blanched yu choy.
- Finally, pour the garlic and soy sauce mixture over the yu choy.
- Toss the yu choy gently to evenly coat it with the flavorful sauce and oil.
