This is a great, crisp side dish that can be paired with just about anything. I bet it can even get cabbage by your kids Add a teaspoon of chili sauce with garlic (found in the Asian section of your market) to make this a super spicy dish.

Stir Fried Bok Choy

4 servings
87 calories per serving

2 t peanut or olive oil
10 cloves garlic, minced
1 T chopped fresh ginger
¼ c chicken broth
¼ c water
1 red bell pepper in small ¼ inch squares
2 carrots halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
4 c 1 inch strips of bok choy or Napa cabbage
1 t sugar
½ t salt
2 t sesame oil

Heat oil in a skillet on medium low heat. Add the garlic and ginger and cook for one minute then add the broth and ¼ c water and cover and cook for 7 minutes. Add the bell pepper and carrots and cook 1 minute then add the cabbage and mix well. Sprinkle with sugar and salt and cook 5 minutes or until cabbage is tender. Drizzle with the sesame oil (and optional chili and garlic sauce) and serve immediately.

Meals that you start in the morning and then come home to much later are so convenient ! This soup has that great all day simmer flavor. And like many soups, it is so versatile – - have some extra peas this week, throw them in. Have vegetable broth, but not chicken broth, switch it out. Have chicken instead of turkey…no problem ! Make this one your own !

Asian Turkey Soup

6 servings
166 calories per serving

28 oz. chicken broth
1 ½ c water
1 lb. turkey breast or boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces
2 c sliced mushrooms
2 medium carrots cut into short thin strips
½ c chopped onion
2 T soy sauce
2 T grated fresh ginger
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 ½ c sliced bok choy
1 c instant brown rice
Salt and pepper to taste
2 T Asian hot garlic chili sauce (optional – stir it in at the beginning stages if you like a spicy soup)

In a 4 qt. crock pot mix turkey, broth, mushrooms, water, carrots, onions, soy, ginger and garlic (and optional chili sauce). Cover and cook on low 7-8 hours or high 4 hours. If cooking on low, turn to high heat after 7-8 hours and stir in bok choy and raw rice. Cover and cook 15 minutes more.

This is a great quick soup that does not skimp on flavor. I usually add in a teaspoon of Asian chili garlic sauce to spice it up, but it is just as good without it. If you know you are having a heavier dinner, this makes a great light lunch with a piece of garlic toast or a cheesy bagel on the side.

Asian Shrimp Soup

4 cups
63 calories per serving

4 c chicken broth
¼ c shredded carrot
2 c bok choy, coarsely chopped
¼ c water chestnuts, chopped
2 oz. sliced mushrooms
2 oz. popcorn (or other small) shrimp, cooked
2 T soy sauce

Bring broth to a boil and add carrots, bok choy, water chestnuts and mushrooms. Simmer 4 minutes then add shrimp and soy and heat through.

This version of fried rice is not your typical Chinese food fare. This is more of a Middle Eastern recipe and there are a wide range of BIG flavors in the recipe. But they mix well and become amazingly mellow.

Eastern Fried Rice

6 servings
350 calories per serving

3 T oil
1 large onion, diced
6 oz. Canadian bacon, diced
1 lb. bok choy stems and leaves, chopped
1 large red bell pepper, diced
2 t finely chopped fresh ginger
3 cloves garlic, minced
8 oz. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
¾ c Egg Beaters
3 t curry powder
4 c cold cooked brown rice
3 T soy sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
Pam

Heat 2 t oil in a large skillet on medium high heat and add onion and bacon. Cook 4 minutes and add bok choy and continue cooking another 2 minutes. Add pepper, ginger, garlic and cook until veggies are getting soft, about 5 minutes. Remove contents and set aside. Add 1 T oil of skillet and then cook chicken 5 minutes or until done. Set chicken aside. Spray skillet with Pam and when hot, add eggs and scramble. Add eggs to bowl with chicken. Add 1 T oil to skillet and cook curry powder 30 seconds and then add rice and cook without stirring until slightly crispy, about 4 minutes. Return all the other ingredients to the pan, add soy sauce, salt and pepper and heat 3 minutes.