Cold Sesame Pak Choi
Elevate your side dish game with this vibrant and refreshing Cold Sesame Pak Choi recipe. Perfectly blanched baby bok choy is chilled in an ice bath to lock in its crisp texture and vivid green hue, then drizzled with a rich, umami-packed sesame dressing made with soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and a hint of honey for sweetness. Freshly grated ginger and garlic add zesty warmth, while optional red chili flakes provide a subtle kick for spice lovers. Topped with a sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds, this dish is not only visually stunning but also bursts with flavor. Ready in just 15 minutes, it’s an effortless yet elegant addition to any meal or a light, healthy option on its own. Try serving it as a chilled appetizer or side dish for your next gathering!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 500 grams Pak choi (baby bok choy)
- 2 tablespoons Sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons Soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Honey
- 1 unit Garlic clove
- 1 teaspoon Ginger (freshly grated)
- 1 tablespoon Sesame seeds (toasted)
- 0.5 teaspoon Red chili flakes (optional)
- 1 liter Water (for blanching)
- 6 units Ice cubes (for ice bath)
Instructions
Bring 1 liter of water to a boil in a large pot.
Trim the ends of the pak choi, rinse thoroughly, and separate the leaves. Leave smaller pak choi intact or slice larger ones in half lengthwise.
Once the water is boiling, blanch the pak choi by adding them to the pot for 1 minute. The leaves should be vibrant green and slightly tender.
Immediately transfer the pak choi to a bowl of ice water with 6 ice cubes to stop the cooking process. Let them chill for 2-3 minutes.
Drain the pak choi thoroughly and pat dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels to remove excess water.
In a small bowl, whisk together the sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, grated garlic, grated ginger, and red chili flakes (if using) until smooth.
Arrange the pak choi on a serving platter or in a shallow bowl.
Drizzle the sesame dressing evenly over the pak choi.
Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds over the top for garnish.
Chill in the refrigerator for 10 minutes before serving for the best flavor, or serve immediately if desired.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
424 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 34.9 g | 45% | |
| Saturated Fat | 4.8 g | 24% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 11.7 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 1480 mg | 64% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 22.3 g | 8% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 6.3 g | 22% | |
| Total Sugars | 12.0 g | ||
| Protein | 12.8 g | 26% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 598 mg | 46% | |
| Iron | 5.5 mg | 31% | |
| Potassium | 1425 mg | 30% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
