Pak choi.

[carolinej]

I have grown some pak choi, and it is about 6 inches tall. I have read a few recipes which say to halve it and then roast it., so I gave it a try.

Has anyone else tried this? The leaves were lovely, but the stalks (the majority of it) were REALLY stringy :-X

Any other ideas what to do with it, as I wont be roasting it again?

cj :)

[carolinej]

[tim]

http://vegbox-recipes.co.uk/ingredients/pak-choi.php

[grawrc]

We have a Chinese woman on the site so she told me to chop off the tops when they were quite little and either use in salad or stir fry. I stir fried and they were great and the stumps are shooting again. I believe you can get 3 or 4 cuts before the plant gives up.

Tonight it's spinach though. I think I'll stir fry again with a bit of garlic and some soy sauce.

[carolinej]

Tim, thanks , that was an interesting link. I think I'll try the one with garlic and ginger.

Grawc, great idea about letting them resprout.

cj :)

[Sparkly]

We grow these later on in the season and I pick them when they are still small and steam them. Then I cook sirloin steak medium rare. Carve the steak into chunks, put on top of the cabbage and then pour over a marinade of soy sauce, chopped chilli, garlic and ginger and sesame oil.

[PurpleHeather]

They are used to growing in a 12/12 = light/dark area

So our long summer days are a bit too much for them.

Pick young and either stir fry or steam.

Otherwise, nip to the plot a 18.00 hrs cover with a black plastic bag (to eliminate all light) then return and uncover 6 am the following morning.

[cambourne7]

steamed and then left in a drainer so the water dries off and then stir fry with some thinly sliced red shallot, a couple of red chilly flakes and a large jar of black bean sauce served with cripy noodles

....... hungry now!

I sowed a row of pak choi 2 weeks again and when i checked last week it had just started to germinate so i hope all this weather is helping the pak choi grow and not the slugs get to them!!

Note to self grow more pak choi

[Old bird]

I have grown them for the first time this year - started beautifully, then we got a slug attack, then they grew again and have gone to seed before doing anything else?!!  I have eaten them raw though and they will do nicely for salads I think but I will have to put another row in now to see!

Old Bird

;D

[grawrc]

I think it's too hot for them now.

[manicscousers]

I'm going to try them in shade  ;D

[PurpleHeather]

A lot ofl the Asian veg get confused with our long days and bolt

The advice I read was to sow them as late as possible and harvest them before the frost. So I will put some in, in August. Should be ok in a cold frame or unheated green house for later.

As it is, as soon as the little buds appear in the middles, I get them out and cook lots of little ones.

Chop them stir fry in a wok add a soy sauce and cornflour and a little sugar.

They wilt down very quickly so this is a very quick process, need everything to hand.