Description
Hearty clear bok choy soup brings comfort and warmth from Asian kitchens, delivering a delicate balance of fresh vegetables and light broth. Delicious, clean flavors invite home cooks to savor this simple yet elegant dish that nourishes both body and soul.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Vegetables:
- 5 bok choy leaves
- 2 green onions (spring onion), bulbs and stalks separated
Spices and Aromatics:
- 1 tablespoon ginger and garlic combined (minced or paste)
- 1 star anise
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 cinnamon stick
Liquid and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 5 cups water mixed with concentrated stock
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- Juice of 1 lime
Optional Garnish:
- Sesame seeds
- Sesame oil
- Red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Meticulously separate and cleanse bok choy leaves, ensuring no hidden soil remains between delicate stems. Slice leaves into uniform pieces and set aside. Prepare green onions by dividing white bulbs and green stalks.
- Warm oil in a substantial cooking vessel over moderate temperature. Introduce sliced white onion bulbs, allowing them to soften and release aromatic essence. Gently incorporate minced ginger and garlic, stirring continuously to prevent burning.
- Introduce sliced bok choy into the fragrant mixture, gently wilting the leaves while maintaining their vibrant green color and crisp texture.
- Carefully nestle whole spices – star anise, bay leaf, and cinnamon stick – into the vegetable base. Pour concentrated stock mixture over ingredients, ensuring even distribution. Incorporate soy sauce and rice vinegar for depth of flavor.
- Elevate temperature until liquid reaches a gentle boil, then reduce heat. Allow soup to simmer, periodically stirring to meld flavors and prevent ingredient settlement.
- Remove from heat and brighten with fresh lime juice, stirring to harmonize all culinary elements.
- Extract and discard whole spices to prevent overwhelming flavor intensity. Transfer soup into serving vessels. Embellish with reserved green onion stalks, a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, and optional sesame seeds or a delicate sesame oil drizzle for enhanced aromatic complexity.
Notes
- Thoroughly wash bok choy to remove hidden mud, ensuring a clean and grit-free soup base.
- Sauté green onion bulbs, ginger, and garlic carefully to build a rich, aromatic foundation without burning delicate ingredients.
- Use concentrated stock for deeper flavor, allowing spices like star anise and cinnamon to infuse the broth with complex, warming notes.
- Add lime juice at the end to brighten the soup and balance the savory, umami elements from soy sauce and rice vinegar.
- Remove whole spices before serving to prevent overpowering the delicate bok choy and maintain a clean, light taste profile.
- Customize garnishes like green onion stalks, red pepper flakes, or sesame seeds to add personal texture and visual appeal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks.
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 50
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 3g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg