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    Home ยป Starter, snack and condiment recipes

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    Spicy pak choi recipe

    Jump to Recipe

    This simple, spicy pak choi is delightfully simple and utterly delicious. It's fried in chilli and garlic and dressed in a nutty, warm sesame dressing.

    Plate of the finished spicy pak choi recipe on a decorative plate.

    The recipe is from Parragon's Eat Your Greens and the first time I made it, I was astounded by how deliciously authentic it tastes. The sauce is perfectly seasoned and the dish achieves the ideal balance of spicy and sweet.

    Best of all, it's incredibly easy to make, with ingredients and equipment that should be easy to puck up from your local supermarket.

    A plate of spicy pak choi recipe with a fork coming in from the top.

    You'll make a simple sesame dressing by toasting sesame seeds and then grinding up with soy sauce, sugar and oil. You'll then fry the tender young pak choi in sesame oil with chilli and garlic before serving drizzled with that gorgeous, nutty dressing.

    Here's how to make this spicy pak choi.

    Ingredients

    For the sesame sauce

    • 25 g (2 tbsp) sesame seeds
    • 2 tbsp dark soy sauce
    • 2 tsp soft light brown sugar
    • 2 tsp vegetable oil (canola oil)

    For the spicy pak choi

    • 1 clove garlic finely chopped
    • 3 tbsp sesame oil or groundnut oil
    • 3 small (3) pak choi halved lengthwise
    • 1 fresh red chilli deseeded and thinly sliced
    • 1 clove garlic thinly sliced
    • 100 ml (⅓ cup) vegetable stock vegetarian if required

    Equipment

    • Weighing scales
    • Measuring spoons
    • Kitchen knife
    • Chopping board
    • Wok
    • Pestle and mortar
    • Spoon

    Instructions

    Make the sesame sauce

    Put the sesame seeds in a dry frying pan.

    Overhead shot of seasme seeds in a pan.

    Toast over a medium heat, stirring until lightly browned.

    Overhead shot of the baked seasme seeds in a pan.

    Remove from the heat and cool slightly. Transfer to a mortar.

    Overhead shot of the seasme seeds in dish.

    Add the soy sauce, sugar and crushed garlic.

    Overhead shot of some of the ingredients required for the spicy pak choi recipe in a bowl.

    Pound to a coarse past with a pestle.

    Overhead shot of some of the ingredients for the spicy pak choi recipe having been mixed together in a bowl.

    Stir in the sesame oil (not shown).

    Make the spicy pak choi

    Heat the groundnut oil in a wok or large frying pan. 

    Overhead shot of some oil in a pan.

    Add the chilli and sliced garlic and stir-fry for 20-30 seconds. 

    Overhead shot of some of the ingredients for the spicy pak choi recipe in a pan.

    Add the pak choi.

    Adding the pak choi to the pan of ingredients.

    Fry for 5 minutes, turning occasionally and basting with the oil as you go. Add the stock as needed to prevent sticking.

    Overhead shot of the pak choi having been basted with the spicy ingredients.

    Transfer the pak choi to a warm serving dish.

    Side on shot of the spicy pak choi recipe on plate.

    Drizzle over the sesame sauce and serve immediately.

    Side on shot of the spicy pak choi served on a plate with a fork coming in from the top.

    Tip! When selecting your pak choi for this recipe, choose small ones with perky leaves and unblemished stems.

    Here's the recipe for spicy pak choi again in a printable format.

    Print Recipe
    4.5 from 4 votes

    Spicy Pak Choi with Sesame Sauce Recipe

    This simple, spicy pak choi is delightfully simple and utterly delicious. It's fried in chilli and garlic and dressed in a nutty, warm sesame dressing.
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time10 minutes mins
    Total Time15 minutes mins
    Course: dips and condiments, sides, Starters
    Cuisine: Chinese
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Servings: 6 servings
    Author: Emily Leary

    Ingredients

    For the sesame sauce

    • 25 g (2 tbsp) sesame seeds
    • 2 tbsp dark soy sauce
    • 2 tsp soft light brown sugar
    • 2 tsp vegetable oil (canola oil)

    For the spicy pak choi

    • 1 clove garlic finely chopped
    • 3 tbsp sesame oil or groundnut oil
    • 3 small (3) pak choi halved lengthwise
    • 1 fresh red chilli deseeded and thinly sliced
    • 1 clove garlic thinly sliced
    • 100 ml (⅓ cup) vegetable stock vegetarian if required

    Equipment

    • Weighing scales
    • Measuring spoons
    • Kitchen knife
    • Chopping board
    • Wok
    • Pestle and mortar
    • Spoon

    Instructions

    Make the sesame sauce

    • Toast the sesame seeds in a dry frying pan over a medium heat, stirring until lightly browned. Remove from the heat and cool slightly.
    • Transfer to a mortar. Add the soy sauce, sugar and crushed garlic and pound to a coarse past with a pestle. Stir in the sesame oil.

    Make the spicy pak choi

    • Heat the groundnut oil in a wok or large frying pan.
    • Add the chilli and sliced garlic and stir-fry for 20-30 seconds.
    • Add the pak choi and fry for 5 minutes, turning occasionally and basting with the oil as you go. Add the stock as needed to prevent sticking.
    • Transfer the pak choi to a warm serving dish, drizzle over the sesame sauce and serve immediately.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 154kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 677mg | Potassium: 1121mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 18873IU | Vitamin C: 200mg | Calcium: 487mg | Iron: 4mg
    * Note: nutritional information is estimated, based on publicly available data. Nutrient values may vary from those published. Information on this website should not be taken as medical advice. Cuisines identify the primary region of inspiration for a dish.
    Tried this recipe?Snap a pic and tag @amummytoo on Instagram or tag @EmilyLearyCooks on Twitter. I can't wait to see your posts!

    Parragon gave permission for this recipe feature. Copy has had minor edits to match house style. 

    Pin this spicy pak choi recipe

    Pinterest image of the spicy pak choi with three images and text at the top describing the image.
    Spicy pak choi served on a plate with a fork coming in from the top with text at the bottom describing the image for Pinterest.
    Spicy pak choi served on a plate with a fork coming in from the top with text at the top describing the image for Pinterest.
    Spicy pak choi served on a plate with a fork coming in from the top with text at the top describing the image for Pinterest.
    Spicy pak choi served on a plate with a fork coming in from the top with text at the top describing the image for Pinterest.
    Spicy pak choi served on a plate with a fork coming in from the top with text at the top describing the image for Pinterest.

    More spicy recipes to try

    If you enjoyed this pak choi, why not try these amazing spicy recipes next?

    Spicy Spanish Potatoes Recipe
    Moreish potato cubes are roasted in olive oil from Spain to give a golden, crisp outer and a light, fluffy inner, and the sauce is a fresh mayo, made by beating together egg yolks, vinegar and a pinch of mustard before gradually incorporating glorious, fruity extra virgin olive oil from Spain to give a rich, luxurious mayonnaise that is then spiced with smoked paprika and sweet, hot, garlicky sriracha. Mouthwatering!
    Get the recipe
    Spicy Courgette Latkes Recipe
    A twist on traditional potato latkes, these have the addition of chilli and courgette (zucchini), resulting in a crispy outer and spicy, juicy, pancake-like inner.
    Get the recipe
    Breakfast Eggs in Spicy Tomato Sauce Recipe
    Breakfast eggs poached in a rich sauce of chopped tomatoes, red pepper, red onions, garlic, chilli, spices.
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    Easy Chipotle Beef Carne Asada Tortillas Recipe
    Chipotle beef carne asada fajitas with plenty of veg and a fantastically spicy, creamy dressing that can be made easily in a pan.
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    Comments

      4.50 from 4 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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    1. Made With Pink says

      March 30, 2015 at 7:10 pm

      This sounds so good. I'm on a major Asian kick at the moment, but Pak Choi isn't something I use that much, although I do like it. I'm definitely trying this. So simple!

      Reply
    2. Debbie Skerten says

      March 29, 2015 at 8:54 pm

      5 stars
      This is my kind of recipe. I love pak choi and this sounds wonderful x

      Reply

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