Garlic Stir-Fried Greens (Suanrong Chao Qingcai)
Local name: 蒜蓉炒青菜
In short: Tender bok choy or choy sum stir-fried over high heat with plenty of garlic, a simple green side that goes with nearly any Chinese meal. It takes about 15 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 5 min
- Total
- 15 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 95 kcal
Suanrong chao qingcai, garlic stir-fried greens, is the vegetable dish that sits beside the rice in most Chinese homes. Bok choy, choy sum or any tender green is cooked in a hot wok for a few minutes with plenty of garlic and a pinch of salt, so it stays bright and crisp. The technique is the point: very high heat, dry leaves and no wandering away from the stove. It works with nearly any leafy vegetable.
Instructions
- Wash the greens well. Halve or quarter bok choy, or cut choy sum into 7 cm (3 in) lengths. Shake them as dry as you can, since wet vegetables steam and spatter.
- Stir the salt, sugar and water together in a small bowl.
- Heat the oil in a wok over high heat until it shimmers. Add the garlic and stir for 10 seconds, until fragrant but not browned.
- Add the thick stems first and stir-fry for 1 minute. Add the leaves and stir-fry for 1 minute more, until bright green and starting to wilt.
- Pour in the salted water and cover for 30 to 45 seconds to steam the stems until tender. Uncover and toss over high heat until almost no liquid remains. Drizzle with sesame oil if using, and serve immediately.
Tips
- Do not crowd the wok. If you are cooking more than 500 g of greens, work in two batches so they stir-fry instead of stewing.
- For a sharper, more aromatic version, add 3 or 4 thin slices of ginger with the garlic and finish with a pinch of white pepper.
Questions and answers
Which greens work best for garlic stir-fry?
Bok choy, choy sum, gai lan, pea shoots and spinach all work. Tougher greens such as gai lan need an extra minute of cooking.
How do I keep the greens bright green?
Use very high heat, dry leaves and a short cooking time. Serve right away, as they keep cooking on the plate and lose color.
Can I use frozen spinach?
It will work, but the texture is softer. Thaw it and squeeze out all the liquid, then toss it with garlic in a hot wok for 1 minute.
How long does it take to make Garlic Stir-Fried Greens (Suanrong Chao Qingcai)?
About 15 min in total: 10 min of preparation and 5 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Garlic Stir-Fried Greens (Suanrong Chao Qingcai)?
About 95 kcal per serving, with 2 g of protein, 5 g of carbohydrates and 7 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 95 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 2 g |
| Carbohydrates | 5 g |
| Fat | 7 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 2 g |
| Sodium | 310 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
