Garlic and Fish Sauce Ong Choy

Ong choy (Chinese water spinach) is one of our favorite vegetables! We stir fry with garlic and fish sauce. So bright and flavorful. Perfect with rice.

Stir Fried Ong Choy

Have you had Stir Fried Ong Choy before? It's simple and so fresh.

All you need are 3 ingredients: ong choy (Chinese water spinach), garlic, and fish sauce.

It takes 10 minutes to prep and 5 minutes to cook. Make sure to eat it hot!

This makes an excellent vegetable side dish, or even a main dish for a simple no fuss meal.

Ingredients

The 3 ingredients for this simple recipe:

• Fresh Ong Choy (Chinese water spinach) - You can find ong choy at most Chinese supermarkets. If you're in Honolulu, just head to one of the vegetable vendors in Chinatown to find beautiful and fresh ong choy.
• Garlic - We used minced garlic for this recipe. I like to use one head per one bunch of ong choy...it's a lot but it's super onolicious! Feel free to use more/less garlic.
• Fish Sauce (Nuoc Nam) - We use two main brands of fish sauce. Either will work for this recipe, both are tasty! Are you team Three Crabs or Red Boat? ^_^

What is Ong Choy?

In Hawaii everyone knows this vegetable by its Chinese name, Ong Choy.

On the mainland it's sometimes called "Chinese water spinach" or "hollow stem spinach" (though FYI: if you ask for "Chinese water spinach" in Hawaii no one will know what you're talking about heheh).

Ong choy on the menu of many Chinese restaurants in town, at places like Legend Seafood in Chinatown, Fook Yuen, and Jade Dynasty (one of our favorites places to eat when shopping at Ala Moana). Restaurant preparations range but it's typically a simple stir fried dish, sometimes with just garlic, and other times with chilies and preserved bean curd. It's about $13-16 an order and comes out on a big plate, meant to be eaten family-style.

At the markets, fresh ong choy is sold by the bunch. It's a green vegetable with big leaves and long, skinny stalks. You'll find it at your local Chinatown, or at any Chinese supermarket.

The best part of ong choy are the beautiful and sweet stalks/stems. The stalks are hollow (super cool!) which gives ong choy that signature crunchy texture.

Most important is to wash the stalks well. Because they're hollow, they can sometimes catch dirt. Make sure to rinse it a few times before cooking.

Method

Ok here's how to make it!

First, separate the ong choy stems and leaves. We always cook the stems first (because they need a little more cooking time), and then add the leaves in later.

Cut and discard the bottom inch of the stems (the tougher part of the stems). Then cut the rest of the stems into 3-inch long pieces.

Wash and rinse both the stems and leaves 2-3 times until they are completely clean. Dirt or sand can get trapped in the stems of ong choy which is why I wash it multiple times. Never hurts to double wash for peace of mind.

Most ideal washing method is to soak the stems in a colanders. Let it sit and then lift the stems out into another bowl (don't pour it out, or else the dirty stuff will pour right out with the stems). Repeat! Then drain and set aside.

Second. Get a large saucepan and turn the heat to medium-high. Add a little oil (any kind of oil, we usually use olive oil or vegetable oil) to the pan. Once the oil is warm, add the minced garlic (we love lots of garlic). Saute until lightly golden.

Third. Add the ong choy stems. Saute for a few minutes.

Fourth. Add the ong choy leaves. Saute for another minute.

Fifth. Season with the fish sauce. Saute to mix and combine. Then pour onto a plate and eat! So easy, so good ^_^

Questions and Tips

Ong Choy Recipe

See below and enjoy ^_^