Bok Choy Kimchi

5 from 69 votes
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If you make just one of my recipes, let it be this one! This bok choy quick kimchi is crunchy, spicy, tangy, and slightly sweet. It also requires NO cooking or fermentation!

This is not a traditional Korean dish- it’s something my mom came up with many years ago and it is one of my FAVORITE recipes she has ever taught me. It still uses traditional ingredients and tastes authentically Korean.

It also isn’t really a kimchi but more like a muchim or geotjeori. Muchim means mixed with seasonings, and geotjeori is a kimchi that is lightly salted and eaten fresh without fermentation.

Is it safe to eat raw bok choy?

I get the question a lot. Have you ever tried raw bok choy? I actually prefer it raw after I learned this recipe.

Raw bok choy is pleasantly crunchy, juicy, and sweet when eaten uncooked. In my opinion, it tastes much more delicious this way.

It is perfectly safe to eat bok choy uncooked- it tastes better and you actually lose a tiny but of its nutrients when its cooked.

The only cause for concern would be eating large amounts of raw bok choy DAILY.  It releases an enzyme called myrosinase, which can negatively affect thyroid function. Eating raw bok choy in moderate amounts is perfectly safe.

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Ingredients:

  • Bok choy- Shanghai bok choy works best for this but you can use baby bok choy too.
  • Spinach- optional
  • Gochugaru- Korean red pepper flakes
  • Sugar- granulated white sugar 
  • Sesame oil- I only use Kadoya 100% pure sesame oil
  • Fish sauce- Three Crabs fish sauce or soy sauce or vegan fish sauce to make it vegan
  • Plum vinegar- you can find this at any Korean market. If you don’t live near one, you can use rice or white vinegar instead. 
  • Roasted sesame seeds- make sure your sesame seeds are not raw, and grind them into a powder using a mortar and pestle. 
  • Garlic- if you’re the type of person to add more garlic than a recipe calls for, don’t do that here. The garlic is raw so it is strong and it will give you major garlic breath if you add more!

Helpful Tips:

  • For the best results, try to find the FRESHEST bulbs of Shanghai bok choy. In my personal experience, I’ve found that the American supermarkets have the best bok choy selection. For some reason, the ones that I find at Hmart or other Asian supermarkets just aren’t as crunchy.
  • Don’t skip the crushed sesame seeds. You want some finely ground up sesame seeds in there- trust me it really elevates the dish. Sometimes you can buy it like that, but I just use my mortar and pestle to grind it down some.
  • If you can’t find Shanghai bok choy, you can use baby bok choy. These are a little darker green at the top with crinkly leaves.

How long will it keep in the fridge?

I do not recommend keeping this in the fridge for longer than a one or two days, because it has sesame oil in it which will make it wilt and change the flavor.  

Like I mentioned before, this isn’t really a kimchi so it will not keep over time. It’s best to make and serve right away. 

This can be eaten alone like a salad, but it is best eaten as a side dish. It’s particularly good with anything that is braised or marinated in soy sauce, like galbi jjim or or bulgogi!

More kimchi recipes

If you like this bok choy kimchi, you might like some of these other kimchi recipes:

5 from 69 votes

Bok Choy Kimchi

Prep: 5 minutes
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Ingredients 

  • 3 bulbs Shanghai bok choy, or baby bok choy
  • 2 oz spinach, optional
  • 1 tbsp roasted sesame seeds
  • 2 tbsp gochugaru (Korean pepper flakes)
  • 2 tbsp plum vinegar, or rice vinegar or white vinegar
  • 1.5 tbsp sugar, add more if you like it sweeter
  • 2 tsp sesame oil
  • 2 tsp fish sauce, or soy sauce or vegan fish sauce
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced

Instructions 

  • Using a mortar and pestle, grind the roasted sesame seeds until at least half of it is in powder form.
  • Cut off the stems from the bok choy and separate the leaves.
  • Rinse the box choy and spinach, then shake off excess water.
  • Add to a mixing bowl with the remaining ingredients and mix gently so the spinach doesn't bruise
  • Serve right away or make it a couple hours ahead and store in the refrigerator.

Notes

This is NOT like a regular kimchi so it won’t keep in the fridge for too long. I recommend finishing it within 2 days, but it is best when served right away. 

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cuisine: Korean
Keyword: Banchan, Bok Choy, Kimchi, Korean, Spinach
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About Stella

I come from a multicultural background, and cooking has been one of the best ways for me to stay connected to my heritage. My recipes are tried and tested, many of them passed down through family. I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as we do!

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5 from 69 votes

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Recipe Rating




73 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    It was so easy to make and so good. I am trying to cut out sugar so I put 1/2 of what your recipe calls for and still tastes awesome. Thank you for sharing.

  2. 5 stars
    Quick, easy, and SO delicious!! Do not pass this recipe by. Just made it for the first time at work for a special dinner we were having and they all raved about it. So much so, it’s on the menu now with a sous vide octopus dish. I was just eating it straight by itself like an animal lol.

    1. Hi Stefanie! Thats awesome, I am so honored to have a recipe of mine on a restaurant menu! Sounds so delicious paired with sous vide octopus 😛

  3. 5 stars
    I am a SUCKER for anything bok choy, so when I saw this recipe on your Instagram I HAD to try it. It was absolutely A-mazing! Tasty, spicy & crispy. Delicious! 😋

  4. 5 stars
    This was one of the first recipes of Stella’s that I made and I’ve never gone back!! I love easy to follow the recipe is but also SO tasty. This bokchoy kimchi has quickly become a staple in our house. Trust me when I say, try it. Thank me later 😉

  5. 5 stars
    Such a delicious and easy recipe!! Made it several times throughout the warmer months for a refreshing side dish to our meals!

  6. 5 stars
    I am always looking for great Bok Choy recipes and this one did not disappoint!
    So good. I will make this again and again!

  7. No doubt this has been my most visited recipe from you! It’s so simple and delicious (extra garlic of course 🤪)