By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 4, 2026
Serves 4
46 cal · 25 min
Chinese Greens Stir Fry
Recipe GLPRdbaf39ecc88ffa
A simple and elegant stir-fried yu choy dish where garlic is gently toasted in oil to infuse it with rich, aromatic flavor. The greens are then quickly cooked with steaming broth until they reach a perfect tender-crisp texture, maintaining their vibrant green color. The whole garlic cloves become sweet and mellow, adding delicious flavor without any harsh bite.
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Ingredients
1 tablespoon Vegetable oil
5 cloves Garlic cloves, whole and unpeeled
1 pound Yu choy, cut into 3-inch pieces
¼ cup Vegetable or chicken broth
Directions
Heat the oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers and is hot to the touch, about 1-2 minutes.
Reduce heat to medium. Carefully add the whole garlic cloves to the hot oil and allow them to toast gently, stirring occasionally, for 2-3 minutes until they turn golden brown. Watch carefully to avoid burning—the garlic should be fragrant and light golden, not dark or blackened.
Add the yu choy pieces to the wok and stir continuously for about 1 minute, ensuring each piece is lightly coated with the garlic-infused oil.
Pour the broth into the wok immediately and cover with a lid. Maintain the heat at medium to medium-high.
Allow the yu choy to steam for 3 to 3½ minutes until the stalks are tender but still have a pleasant bite. The greens should remain bright green. Remove from heat and serve immediately, distributing the toasted garlic cloves among servings.
Comments
Yu choy is not a regular stock item at Charlotte chains—Harris Teeter's produce section carries it inconsistently, and you may need to visit a Chinese grocery or international market like H-Mart, adding time and cost to weeknight shopping. The ingredient list is lean and honest, making the dish genuinely cheap once you source the greens, but the 25-minute estimate overlooks vegetable prep and the attention stir-fry demands; budget 35 minutes total. It reheats adequately and suits any family size, but yu choy's mild, slightly bitter flavor works best alongside rice or noodles, not as a standalone side. For readers with access to an Asian market nearby, this is a fast, economical choice; for others, it's a planned dish, not a weeknight reflex.
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