This easy recipe for blanched Yu Choy Sum is a healthy and delicious Chinese vegetable dish that comes together in less than 10 minutes.
What is yu choy?
Yu choy, also known as as choy sum (菜心 - literally "vegetable heart") in Cantonese or Chinese flowering cabbage is a Chinese leafy green vegetable.
It is similar to gai lan, also known as Chinese broccoli and has yellow flowers.
The stems and leaves are much more tender than gai lan, which is differentiated with thicker stalks/thicker stems.
You can find fresh yu choy in Asian supermarkets as well as larger grocery stores.
What does yu choy taste like?
Yu choy has a natural sweetness, similar to bok choy, which you can enjoy on its own without any seasoning.
Older yu choy can impart a slight bitterness.
How to choose yu choy
Look for fresh, bright, green leaves that are not wilted or yellowing.
The stems should be firm to the touch and not mushy.
Choose stems that are thinner, as they will be more tender and milder in flavor.
How to store yu choy
Store uncooked yu choy loosely covered in a plastic bag with holes in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Why you'll love this recipe
This yu choy recipe is really simple and easy to prepare.
As long as you can boil water, that's all you need to do to make this healthy vegetable side dish.
There's only 3 ingredients in this simplified, naturally vegetarian dish, which is great for beginners.
This version does not contain any additional salt or soy sauce, nor does it involve stir frying.
Blanching the veggies keeps them tender-crisp and vibrantly green.
Once you're comfortable with preparing yu choy, you can customize it and add additional flavors such as minced garlic and soy sauce.
Ingredients you'll need
- fresh yu choy: you can find it in Asian supermarkets and grocery stores
- oyster sauce: is a thick, caramel brown savoury sauce made with oyster extract and thickeners; also used in Ham Sui Gok 咸水角 (Fried Glutinous Rice Dumplings)
- sesame oil: toasted; is a fragrant and aromatic oil made from sesame seeds used to finish many Asian dishes
You can find all these ingredients in Asian supermarkets.
How to blanch yu choy
Wash the yu choy very well and let it soak in clean cold water (to remove any soil or dirt). Drain.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
Add the yu choy to the boiling water and blanch for 45 seconds to 1 minute.
Drain the yu choy and immediately rinse with ice cold water to stop the cooking.
Completely drain the vegetables and place onto a plate.
You can serve the blanched yu choy as is (if you're watching your sodium intake).
Or drizzle with 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce and 1 teaspoon sesame oil.
Serve with steamed rice.
How to serve
Serve yu choy as a vegetable side dish, with steamed rice or fried rice and other dishes such as steamed pompano, or char siu BBQ pork.
Or simply enjoy the vegetables on its own.
If the yu choy is too long, you can cut them into smaller pieces using a pair of kitchen scissors.
FAQs
Can you eat the yellow flowers in yu choy sum?
Yes, the yellow flowers are edible.
What's the difference between bok choy and choy sum?
Bok choy is a small Chinese cabbage with a short, white bulbous stalk and green leaf blades.
Yu choy sum is long, and thin compared to bok choy.
Is choy sum similar to Chinese broccoli?
Chinese broccoli is similar to gai lan, which has a thicker stalk.
Choy sum is more tender, and has a taste similar to bok choy.
Do I need to cook the stalks separately from the stems?
For yu choy, there's no need to cook the stalks separately, like gai lan.
However, if the stalks are really thick, you can cut them and cook them separately.
Can I salt the water before blanching?
Yes, you can add a little salt to the water before blanching the yu choy.
I prefer my yu choy softer
Just leave the vegetables in the boiling water for slightly longer before draining.
What's the difference between boiling and blanching?
Blanching is a short duration of cooking in hot boiling water, and then shocking it with ice cold water to stop the cooking process.
Boiling is just cooking in hot boiling water.
Substitutions
If you can find yu choy, you can use spinach (different flavor), bok choy, broccoli rabe/rapini or gai lan.
For a vegan variation, omit the oyster sauce and use salt or soy sauce.
Other flavour pairings
Yu choy is sweet on its own, but pairs well with a pinch of salt, minced garlic or minced ginger, oyster sauce, sesame oil, or soy sauce.
Other recipes you may like
Be sure to check out these recipes:
Vegetable and Turkey Dumplings with Black Vinegar Dipping Sauce
Spicy Korean Tofu in Gochujang Sauce (Dubu Jorim)
Be sure to let me know if you try out this recipe -- tag me on Instagram @siftandsimmer or leave me a comment/rating below!
Easy Blanched Yu Choy Sum
For accuracy and precision in baking recipes, use weight (metric) measurements when available.
Ingredients
- 1 lb yu choy sum washed well
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
Instructions
For key visual process steps, refer to the body of the blog post.
- Wash the yu choy very well and let it soak in clean cold water (to remove any soil or dirt). Drain.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- Add the yu choy to the boiling water and blanch for 45 seconds to 1 minute.
- Drain the yu choy and immediately rinse with ice cold water to stop the cooking.
- Completely drain the vegetables and place onto a plate.
- You can serve the blanched yu choy as is (if you're watching your sodium intake).
- Or drizzle with 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce and 1 teaspoon sesame oil.
- Serve with steamed rice.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided should be considered as approximate and is not guaranteed. Please use your best judgment to ensure food is safely prepared and/or a good fit for your diet.
Heidi | The Frugal Girls
This is such a smart dinner side dish idea, and now I know how to pick fresh yu choy thanks to your helpful tips. I especially like how this dish can be prepared in just 10 minutes!!
Raymund | angsarap.net
I appreciate the information about what yu choy is, how to choose and store it, and what it tastes like. It's great to know that it has a natural sweetness and can be enjoyed without any seasoning. I also love that this recipe is so simple and easy to prepare, with only 3 ingredients and no added salt or soy sauce.