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 ( Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis) is a type of Chinese cabbage, used as food. Chinensis varieties do not form heads and have green leaf blades with lighter bulbous bottoms instead, forming a cluster reminiscent of mustard greens. Its flavour 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:one is white bok choy (Chinese :奶白菜;lit.'milky white vegetable') 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') which is more common in East China. They are collectively called 小白菜xiǎo bái cài ("small white vegetable") in Mandarin. White bok choy is usually more expensive and has dark-colored crinkly leaves and stem portions that are white and a crisp texture that is more suitable for Cantonese-style cooking,stir-fries,and simple or raw preparations. [5] Green bok choy has greater availability in most American markets,and has mild-tasting spoon-shaped leaves that are lighter green with stems that are jade green instead of white. The texture of green bok choy is less crisp and gets slimy if overcooked,but otherwise can often be substituted for white bok choy. [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 choi 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]
Kohlrabi, also called German turnip or turnip cabbage, is a biennial vegetable, a low, stout cultivar of wild cabbage. It is a cultivar of the same species as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, collard greens, Savoy cabbage, and gai lan.
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. The mass of flower heads is surrounded by leaves. Broccoli resembles cauliflower, which is 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.
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.
Gai lan, kai-lan, Chinese broccoli, or Chinese kale is a leafy vegetable with thick, flat, glossy blue-green leaves with thick stems, and florets similar to broccoli. A Brassica oleracea cultivar, gai lan is in the group alboglabra. When gone to flower, its white blossoms resemble that of its cousin Matthiola incana or hoary stock. The flavor is very similar to that of broccoli, but noticeably stronger and slightly more bitter.
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 growing in various widely cultivated forms including the turnip ; Komatsuna, napa cabbage, bomdong, bok choy, and rapini.
Brassica juncea, commonly brown mustard, Chinese mustard, Indian mustard, Korean green mustard, leaf mustard, Oriental mustard and vegetable mustard, is a species of mustard plant.
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.
Suancai is a traditional Chinese pickled Chinese cabbage or Chinese mustard, used for a variety of purposes. Suancai is a unique form of paocai, due to the ingredients used and the method of production.
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.
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". In Australia, it is sometimes referred to as "wombok".
Zha cai, also romanized as Cha tsai, is a type of pickled mustard plant stem originating from Chongqing, China. The name may also be written in English as cha tsai, tsa tsai, jar choy, jar choi, ja choi, ja choy, or cha tsoi. In English, it is commonly known as Sichuan vegetable, Szechwan vegetable, or Chinese pickled vegetable, although all of these terms may also refer to any of a number of other Chinese pickles, including the several other types in the Sichuan province itself.
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.