Description
Comforting clear bok choy soup delivers pure Chinese home cooking essence with minimal ingredients. Delicate broth and crisp vegetables create a nourishing experience you will savor with each spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
- 5 leaves bok choy
- 2 green onions (spring onion), bulbs and stalks separated
- 1 tbsp ginger and garlic combined (minced or paste)
- 1 star anise
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 5 cups water mixed with concentrated stock
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- Juice of 1 lime
- Sesame seeds
- Sesame oil
- Red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Preparation: Meticulously cleanse bok choy leaves, removing soil particles. Slice leaves uniformly and separate green onion white bulbs from green stalks.
- Aromatic Foundation: Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté white onion bulbs until translucent, then introduce minced ginger and garlic. Stir continuously to prevent scorching and release fragrant notes.
- Vegetable Integration: Add bok choy to the aromatic base, gently wilting leaves while preserving their vibrant green hue and crisp texture. Incorporate whole spices – star anise, bay leaf, and cinnamon stick.
- Liquid Infusion: Pour stock over ingredients, ensuring even distribution. Add soy sauce and rice vinegar to develop complex flavor profiles. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer.
- Finishing Touches: Remove from heat and brighten with fresh lime juice. Discard whole spices to prevent overpowering the delicate flavor balance. Transfer to serving bowls.
- Garnish and Serve: Embellish with reserved green onion stalks, sprinkle red pepper flakes, and optionally drizzle sesame oil to elevate aromatic complexity and provide a final flavor dimension.
Notes
- Leaf Preparation Technique: Thoroughly wash bok choy under cold running water, carefully separating each leaf to remove hidden soil and grit that can compromise soup’s clean flavor.
- Aromatic Foundation: Softening white onion bulbs, ginger, and garlic creates a flavor-packed base that builds depth and complexity in the soup’s overall taste profile.
- Spice Management: Whole spices like star anise, bay leaf, and cinnamon add nuanced layers of flavor but must be removed before serving to prevent overpowering the delicate soup’s balance.
- Finishing Touches: Final additions of fresh lime juice, green onion garnish, and optional sesame seeds elevate the soup’s brightness and provide contrasting textures and visual appeal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks.
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 60
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 3g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg