Bok choy | |
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Species | Brassica rapa |
Cultivar group | Chinensis |
Origin | China, 5th century AD [1] |
Bok choy (American English, Canadian English, and Australian English), pak choi (British English, South African English, and Caribbean English) or pok choi is a type of Chinese cabbage ( Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis) cultivated as a leaf vegetable to be used as food. Varieties do not form heads and have green leaf blades with lighter bulbous bottoms instead, forming a cluster reminiscent of mustard greens. Its flavor is described as being between spinach and water chestnuts but slightly sweeter, with a mildly peppery undertone. The green leaves have a stronger flavor than the white bulb. [2] [3]
Chinensis varieties are popular in southern China, East Asia, and Southeast Asia. Being winter-hardy, they are increasingly grown in Northern Europe.[ citation needed ] Originally classified as Brassica chinensis by Carl Linnaeus,[ citation needed ] they are now considered a subspecies of Brassica rapa.They are a member of the family Brassicaceae.
Cooked bok choy | |
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Chinese name | |
Chinese | 青菜, 小白菜 |
Hanyu Pinyin | qīngcài, xiǎobáicài |
Bopomofo | ㄑㄧㄥㄘㄞˋ, ㄒㄧㄠˇㄅㄞˊㄘㄞˋ |
Gwoyeu Romatzyh | chingtsay, sheaubairtsay |
IPA | [tɕʰíŋ.tsʰâɪ] , [ɕjàʊ.pǎɪ.tsʰâɪ] |
Romanization | tsching tsae |
Cantonese and Southern Min name | |
Chinese | 白菜 |
Yale Romanization | baahk choi |
Jyutping | baak6 coi3 |
IPA | [pàːktsʰɔ̄ːy] |
Hokkien POJ | pe̍h-chhài or pe̍eh-chhài |
Korean name | |
Hangul | 청경채 |
Hanja | 靑莖菜 |
Revised Romanization | cheonggyeongchae |
Japanese name | |
Kanji | 青梗菜 |
Katakana | チンゲンサイ |
Romanization | chingensai |
Other than the term "Chinese cabbage",the most widely used name in North America for the chinensis variety is bok choy (Cantonese for "white vegetable") or siu bok choy (Cantonese,for "small white vegetable",as opposed to dai bok choy meaning "big white vegetable",referring to the larger Napa cabbage). It is also sometimes spelled as pak choi,bok choi,and pak choy. In the UK,South Africa,and the Caribbean the term pak choi is used. Less commonly,the names Chinese chard,Chinese mustard,celery mustard,and spoon cabbage are also used.
There are two main types of bok choy,collectively called 小白菜xiǎo bái cài ("small white vegetable") in Mandarin. One is white bok choy (Chinese :奶白菜;lit.'milky white vegetable') with dark green blades and white stalks,which is primarily cultivated in South China,and in Cantonese it is simply called baak choi (Chinese :白菜;lit.'white vegetable';the same characters pronounced bái cǎi by Mandarin speakers are preferably used for Napa cabbage [4] ). The other is green bok choy (Chinese :青白菜;lit.'green white vegetable';Chinese :青菜;lit.'green vegetable';Chinese :上海青;lit.'Shanghai green';Chinese :青梗菜;lit.'green-stalk vegetable';Chinese :小唐菜;lit.'small Chinese vegetable') with light green stalks,which is more common in East China;the young and tender plants of green bok choy is called baby bok choy (Chinese :雞毛菜;lit.'chicken-feather vegetable'),which is less crisp and therefore may become too soft if overcooked. [5] [6]
In Australia,the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries has redefined many transcribed names to refer to specific cultivars. They have introduced the word buk choy to refer white bok choy and redefined pak choy to refer to green bok choy. [7] [8] [9]
Bok choy cooks in 2 to 3 minutes by steaming, stir-frying, or simmering in water (8 minutes if steamed whole). The leaves cook faster than the stem. It is often used in similar ways to other leafy vegetables such as spinach and cabbage. [10] It can also be eaten raw. [11] It is commonly used in salads.
Dried bok choy is saltier and sweeter. Pickled bok choy remains edible for months. [12] Immature plants have the sweetest, tenderest stems and leaves. [13]
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Energy | 54 kJ (13 kcal) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2.2 g | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dietary fiber | 1.0 g | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0.2 g | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1.5 g | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other constituents | Quantity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Water | 95.3 g | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
†Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults, [14] except for potassium, which is estimated based on expert recommendation from the National Academies. [15] |
The raw vegetable is 95% water, 2% carbohydrates, 1% protein and less than 1% fat. In a 100-gram (3+1⁄2-ounce) reference serving, raw bok choy provides 54 kilojoules (13 food calories) of food energy and is a rich source (20% or more of the Daily Value, DV) of vitamin A (30% DV), vitamin C (54% DV) and vitamin K (44% DV), while providing folate, vitamin B6 and calcium in moderate amounts (10–17% DV).
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (April 2022) |
Bok choy evolved in China, where it has been cultivated since the 5th century CE. [1]
The turnip or white turnip is a root vegetable commonly grown in temperate climates worldwide for its white, fleshy taproot. Small, tender varieties are grown for human consumption, while larger varieties are grown as feed for livestock. The name turnip – used in many regions – may also be used to refer to rutabaga, which is a different but related vegetable.
Cabbage, comprising several cultivars of Brassica oleracea, is a leafy green, red (purple), or white biennial plant grown as an annual vegetable crop for its dense-leaved heads. It is descended from the wild cabbage, and belongs to the "cole crops" or brassicas, meaning it is closely related to broccoli and cauliflower ; Brussels sprouts ; and Savoy cabbage.
Broccoli is an edible green plant in the cabbage family whose large flowering head, stalk and small associated leaves are eaten as a vegetable. Broccoli is classified in the Italica cultivar group of the species Brassica oleracea. Broccoli has large flower heads, or florets, usually dark green, arranged in a tree-like structure branching out from a thick stalk, which is usually light green. Leaves surround the mass of flower heads. Broccoli resembles cauliflower, a different but closely related cultivar group of the same Brassica species.
Brassica is a genus of plants in the cabbage and mustard family (Brassicaceae). The members of the genus are informally known as cruciferous vegetables, cabbages, mustard plants, or simply brassicas. Crops from this genus are sometimes called cole crops—derived from the Latin caulis, denoting the stem or stalk of a plant.
Cauliflower is one of several vegetables cultivated from the species Brassica oleracea in the genus Brassica, which is in the Brassicaceae family.
The Brussels sprout is a member of the Gemmifera cultivar group of cabbages, grown for its edible buds.
Kale, also called leaf cabbage, belongs to a group of cabbage cultivars primarily grown for their edible leaves; it has also been used as an ornamental plant.
Chinese cabbage is either of two cultivar groups of leaf vegetables often used in Chinese cuisine: the Pekinensis Group and the Chinensis Group.
Rapini is a green cruciferous vegetable, with the leaves, buds, and stems all being edible; the buds somewhat resemble broccoli. Rapini is known for its bitter taste, and is particularly associated with Mediterranean cuisine. It is a particularly rich dietary source of vitamin K.
Choy sum is a leafy vegetable commonly used in Chinese cuisine. It is a member of the genus Brassica of the mustard family, Brassicaceae. Choy sum is a transliteration of the Cantonese name, which can be literally translated as "heart of the vegetable". Choy sum is also called yu choy. It is also known as Chinese flowering cabbage.
Leaf vegetables, also called leafy greens, pot herbs, vegetable greens, or simply greens, are plant leaves eaten as a vegetable, sometimes accompanied by tender petioles and shoots. Leaf vegetables eaten raw in a salad can be called salad greens.
Brassica rapa is a plant species that has been widely cultivated into many forms, including the turnip, komatsuna, napa cabbage, bomdong, bok choy, and rapini.
Brassica juncea, commonly mustard greens, brown mustard, Chinese mustard, Indian mustard, Korean green mustard, leaf mustard, Oriental mustard and vegetable mustard, is a species of mustard plant.
The red cabbage is a kind of cabbage, also known as Blaukraut after preparation. Its leaves are coloured dark red/purple. However, the plant changes its colour according to the pH value of the soil due to a pigment belonging to anthocyanins.
Savoy cabbage is a variety or cultivar group of the plant species Brassica oleracea. Savoy cabbage is a winter vegetable and one of several cabbage varieties. It has crinkled, emerald green leaves, which are crunchy with a slightly elastic consistency on the palate.
Komatsuna or Japanese mustard spinach is a leaf vegetable. It is a variety of Brassica rapa, the plant species that yields the turnip, mizuna, napa cabbage, and rapini. It is grown commercially in Japan and Taiwan. It is a versatile vegetable that is cooked and eaten in many ways. The plant is also used for fodder in some Asian countries.
Tatsoi is an Asian variety of Brassica rapa grown for greens. Also called tat choy, it is closely related to the more familiar bok choy. This plant has become popular in North American cuisine as well, and is now grown throughout the world.
Winter greens are green leaved vegetables, closely related to the cabbage, that are seasonably available in winter.
Napa cabbage is a type of Chinese cabbage originating near the Beijing region of China that is widely used in East Asian cuisine. Since the 20th century, it has also become a widespread crop in Europe, the Americas, and Australia. In much of the world, it is referred to as "Chinese cabbage".
The Future 50 Foods report, subtitled "50 foods for healthier people and a healthier planet", was published in February 2019 by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Knorr. It identifies 50 plant-based foods that can increase dietary nutritional value and reduce environmental impacts of the food supply, promoting sustainable global food systems.