My first few attempts at grilling bok choy resulted in charred leaves that were too crisp to enjoy. Now I separate the leaves from the stalks and use them raw in a salad that wilts under the heat of the grilled stalks. Use white or yellow miso paste in this recipe; darker miso will be saltier. Be sure to keep the heat at medium so the paste can caramelize without burning.
Recipe reprinted with permission from Brassicas: Cooking the World’s Healthiest Vegetables by Laura B. Russell (Ten Speed Press, 2014). Photo credit: Sang An.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds baby bok choy (about 6 heads) or Shanghai bok choy
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
- 3 tablespoons white or yellow miso paste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- Pinch of kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Cut leaves away from bok choy stalks. Halve stalks lengthwise. Rinse leaves and stalks well; then pat dry to remove excess water. In a small bowl, mix together butter and miso with a fork until well combined. Set aside.
- Prepare a medium-hot fire in a charcoal or gas grill. Put bok choy stalks in a large bowl. Using your hands (or a fork), coat bok choy with miso butter. Arrange bok choy, cut side down, on grill grate. (If you have a grill screen, set it on top of the grate before adding the bok choy, to keep the stalks from falling through the gaps.) Close lid and grill for about 5 minutes, until golden brown on the underside. Turn bok choy with tongs, re-cover, and grill for 5–6 minutes more, until golden and crisp-tender.
- While the stalks are cooking, stack leaves and roll up lengthwise into a cigar shape. Slice crosswise into thin shreds. Make a bed of the shredded leaves on a serving platter. Drizzle leaves with the oil and lemon juice, sprinkle with salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and toss to combine.
- Put grilled bok choy on dressed salad to wilt leaves; sprinkle with additional salt and pepper. Serve immediately.
Notes
PER SERVING: 186 cal, 16g fat (6g mono, 3g poly, 7g sat), 22mg chol, 4g protein, 8g carb, 2g fiber, 628mg sodium
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