Wok Wednesdays | Stir-Fried Bok Choy with Pancetta

WW wokking through Stir-Frying to the Sky's Edge
by Grace Young

Wow. How does one rave about another fabulous stir-fry from this awesome book, without sounding like a broken record? It's impossible, I tell ya.

 Mise en place.

Bowl 1: Pancetta

Bowl 2: Garlic, ginger

Bowl 3: Bok choy

Bowl 4: Salt, sugar

Bowl 5: Chicken broth, dry sherry, soy sauce, cornstarch

Such an easy, and delicious side dish! 

The pancetta is first browned in the wok, then the aromatics are added and cooked until fragrant. The bok choy is added to the wok along with the salt and sugar, and stir-fried for a short time, then the broth mixture is swirled in and the wok is covered, and allowed to cook for about a minute, stirred, cooked for another minute, and, bam! done. 

To quote Ina Garten, how easy is that?!

And to think I almost passed on making this. I have not been a huge fan of bok choy. I like the flavor, I just find it awkward to eat; usually the stalks are left whole, sometimes, even the head is just halved. However, cut up in chunks as it is here, it is so much more pleasant to eat.

The preparation of the bok choy itself is not what changed my mind. It was the comment on the WW's Facebook page. Karen, of Karen's Kitchen Stories (if you have not visited her site, you are missing out) commented that this dish was "so good", and Grace mentioned she could not wait to read her post; Karen replied, "It's definitely a love letter for the dish!" How could one resist making it, after a comment like that?! Thank you, Karen!! So glad I did not miss out on this one.

Grace, your recipes continue to amaze me. So few ingredients, yet intense on flavor; if only all recipes could be so easy and have such an incredible outcome. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Come on. Go get the book already. You know you want it.

We have been asked not to post the recipes here on our blog. If you would like the recipe, you will find it on page 226, of  Stir-Frying to the Sky's Edge, which you can purchase at your local bookstore or find it at your local library. I highly recommend purchasing the book - you won't be disappointed.  

Wok Wednesdays is an online cooking group. If you would like information about joining us, click here, or visit us on Facebook. Would love for you to wok along with us!