“Kootu” is the traditional South Indian thick stew made with an amalgamation of varied vegetables in a spicy savory aromatic base made of lentils, coconut and black pepper or chilies. This recipe is a twist in using Bok Choy ( Pak Choi) a traditional Asian ingredient, a leafy green from the cabbage family in South Indian cooking.

Bok Choy is often served with Asian flavors of lemon grass, soy sauce , miso or galangal.
Table of Contents
What is Bok Choy?
Bok Choy or Pak Choi is an interesting vegetable popular in East Asian cooking. They come in both large and baby varieties and are mostly classified under the umbrella term ‘Chinese cabbage‘.

Bok Choy is a leafy green from the cabbage family. It is a traditional Asian ingredient, so is often served with Asian flavours such as soy sauce, lemon grass or galangal and miso.
How to Choose Bok Choy
- Leaves should be dark green and vibrant.
- Stalks should be rigid and white ( occasionally green stalks are found).
- Stems should be firm to touch with no limp leaves
How to store Bok Choy
- Cook immediately if you can .
- If you want to store it, place it in a plastic bag gently removing any air in the bag & place it in the refrigerator, lasts for 4-5 days.

Young Bok Choy/Baby Bok Choy is well worth seeking out; the leaves are more tender and can be enjoyed raw in salads or as a garnish. It is an interesting vegetable, with the delicate leaves and firm stalk each offering different textures and aesthetic to a finished dish. Because of this, it should be cooked carefully to ensure that the leaves are beautifully wilted while the stalks retain their refreshing crunch.

Different ways to cook it
- Stir Fry
- Steam
- Braise
- Soup
- Veg Curries
- Eaten Raw in salad
My preparation involved using them in a South Indian Stew or Kootu.“Kootu” is the traditional South Indian thick stew made with an amalgamation of varied vegetables in a spicy savory aromatic base made of lentils, coconut and black pepper or chilies.

Here in this Bok Choy Kootu, I have used Moong Dhal or Green Lentils,Coconut & Green chilies, along with onion and tomatoes. Try this healthy recipe at home and watch how easy it is to cook Bok Choy with a twist , in Indian flavors
Bok Choy Kootu Recipe
Nutrition Facts
- Amount Per ServingCalories284
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 19g 30%
- Saturated Fat 17g 85%
- Sodium 654mg 28%
- Potassium 342mg 10%
- Total Carbohydrate 26g 9%
- Dietary Fiber 9g 36%
- Sugars 17g
- Protein 4g 8%
- Vitamin A 222%
- Vitamin C 164%
- Calcium 26%
- Iron 17%
* The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Sharing below, links to my published posts on Cabbage and the recipes made using cabbage, for your interest :
- All about cabbage
- How to choose, store and prepare cabbage
- Cabbage Stir fry/Poriyal
- Cabbage Fritters/Pakoda Bhajiya
- Cabbage Upkari/Poriyal
- Thai Spring Rolls
- Bok Choy Kootu
The Bottom Line
Now that you know all about this interesting variation of cabbage, are you going to try cooking Bok Choy Kootu this season?
Making best use of the seasonal produce available each month, not only saves you dollars but also ensures nutritious and healthy meal for you and your family, so why not give it a try?
It’s delicious and tastes great with Indian flat bread or rice.
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Thanks Maya,
I love Bok Choy and this sounds wonderful!
♡
Thank you, Karen for your kind words of encouragement as always , so appreciate it <3 This was my first trying any recipe with Bok Choy not really sure how it is going to taste, turned out so delicious that I might switch to bok choy more often now, me thinks! An easy & quick recipe, healthy & tasty too.