Holiday green vegetables using 500g of bok choy: Why it is a good alternative to spinach

When preparing green vegetables to be placed on a holiday memorial service table, if the price of spinach is burdensome, you can utilize bok choy. According to the 'Ttangkkeut Maeul Im Seonsaeng' video, bok choy is cheaper than spinach, has a soft texture that is good for elders to eat, and the cooking process is simple.

Bok choy preparation and short blanching process

When using 500g of bok choy, preparing the stems is the key. Since bok choy has thick stems, you must cut off the root part and wash it cleanly. While the leaf parts can be used as they are, cutting the thick stem parts into three pieces before blanching is a way to reduce cooking time. The video suggested a method of putting the stems in first and then adding the leaves almost at the same time to blanch them.

A blanching time of about 20 to 30 seconds is appropriate, and even if there are differences depending on dietary preferences, it should be finished shortly within 1 minute. Since bok choy is a vegetable that can also be eaten raw, it does not need to be boiled for a long time. After blanching, it must be rinsed in cold water immediately to cool the heat to preserve the texture. When squeezing out the water, do not squeeze too tightly; leaving a bit of moisture will prevent the seasoned vegetables from becoming tough.

Basic seasoning and variations for memorial services and home use

The seasonings that determine the taste of the vegetables are soup soy sauce, salt, sesame oil, perilla oil, and roasted sesame salt. The specific seasoning ratio is 1 tablespoon of soup soy sauce, 2/3 teaspoon of fine salt, 1 teaspoon of sesame oil, 2 teaspoons of perilla oil, and 2 tablespoons of roasted sesame salt. If you have seafood broth, such as during Chuseok, using it instead of soup soy sauce is also a method. When seasoning the vegetables, you should mix them thoroughly so that the seasoning penetrates to the inside, and it is appropriate to aim for a level that feels slightly salty when tasting it for the first time.

The seasoning method can be changed depending on the purpose. When placing them on a memorial service table or ancestral rites table, use only the basic seasonings without adding green onions or garlic for a clean taste. On the other hand, when making them as a side dish to eat at home, mixing in sliced red chili peppers makes the color beautiful and visually appealing. Depending on preference, you can add perilla powder or use soybean paste seasoning to change the flavor.