Ginger Garlic Noodle Soup with Bok Choy is a nutritious, comforting, and flu-fighting twenty-minute recipe made with a vegetarian broth, noodles, mushrooms, and baby bok choy. You can easily make this Bok Choy Soup your own by adding chicken, shrimp, spicy chilis, or other veggies.
The most popular recipe on my blog, this Bok Choy Soup remains a personal favorite thanks to its delicious simplicity. If you love this bok choy soup you may also enjoy Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup, Kimchi Ramen Noodle Soup, or this fast and healthy 10 Minute Garlic Bok Choy Recipe.
I have made a lot of soup in my life. Creamy soups, brothy soups, vegetable soups, and meaty soups. I’ve made them all. However, if I had to pick one soup to eat for the rest of my life it would be this Ginger Garlic Noodle Soup with Bok Choy. This Bok Choy Soup is that good.
Some of you may be wondering…why?
WHY THIS IS THE BEST GINGER GARLIC NOODLE SOUP WITH BOK CHOY
- The broth. The key to a delicious and memorable brothy soup is the broth. Unfortunately, achieving this wonderous broth often takes HOURS (learn how to make bone broth here!). The broth in this Bok Choy Soup? Twenty minutes, my friends. Thirty minutes tops.
- It tastes a lot like Phở. Ok, I know, this is basically the same as what I said above. But it deserves two points because it kinda blows my mind a little.
- It’s like chicken noodle soup…but better.
- This Bok Choy Soup will fight your flu. Now, I can’t claim that it will cure anything (I’m not a doctor), but things like ginger and garlic are there to help when you feel like crap.
- It’s completely customizable. In other words, you have the base, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go wild with it. This bok choy soup loves all the veggies and really loves shrimp.
INGREDIENTS IN THIS GINGER GARLIC NOODLE SOUP WITH BOK CHOY
- Shallots and green onions (white AND green parts)
- Ginger
- Garlic
- Low-sodium chicken broth (or veggie broth/water to keep it vegan)
- Soy sauce (or Tamari to keep it gluten-free)
- Bok Choy
- Mushrooms
- Rice noodles
- Star Anise
That’s the basic overall list of what you need to make this awesome soup. You’ll also need salt, pepper, and red chili flakes.
What is star anise?
This is one of the most frequent questions I get from readers planning to make this recipe. Every other ingredient is fairly easy to find, but whole star anise? What’s this? Star anise is the seed pod from the fruit of the Illicium verum plant. Shaped like a star, star anise has six to eight points, each containing a single seed.
This Ginger Garlic Noodle Soup with Bok Choy Recipe calls for 2 whole star anise. The star anise is not meant to be eaten. I repeat- you do not eat the whole star anise. Star anise provides wonderful flavor to soup, sauces, and marinades, but tastes horrible when eaten whole. Remove the seed pod after simmering the broth.
What does star anise taste like? Star anise is a mix of sweet, spicy (not the chili kind of spicy), and very similar to licorice. As someone who mostly hates licorice, I guarantee you won’t feel like your slurping a bowl of licorice (unless you forget to remove the star anise pods and bite into one).
No idea where to buy star anise? Most major supermarkets sell this must-have spice, but just in case,
If you are one of those people who absolutely HATE star anise, simply substitute with cinnamon sticks. The flavor won’t be quite the same, but it will still be delicious.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BOK CHOY AND BABY BOK CHOY
Since several of you have asked, I did a little research and this is what I have found.
- Baby bok choy and Bok choy are basically the same things.
- The difference is that baby bok choy is harvested earlier producing smaller, more tender leaves.
- This means that baby bok choy is much sweeter than bok choy and is often served directly in soups (oh HAY!) or even in salads.
- Bok choy, on the other hand, is much heartier, perfect for longer cooking times as in stir-frys.
That said, this Ginger Garlic Noodle Soup with Bok Choy could technically handle either baby bok choy or bok choy. Just remember that bok choy will be slightly more bitter and less sweet.
Bok Choy Soup Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I freeze this soup? Yes and no. Yes, you may absolutely freeze the broth. However, I do not recommend freezing this soup with the vegetables or the noodles. Fortunately, the vegetables and noodles in this bok choy soup take only minutes to heat together.
- Do I pre-cook the noodles? No no no no nooooo. Rice noodles cook super fast. Add the noodles to the broth just a few minutes before you are ready to eat.
- Does this bok choy soup taste good leftover? Similar to freezing, this soup can be eaten leftover but tastes best fresh- unless, of course, you make a big batch of broth and keep the vegetables and noodles separate.
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THIS GINGER GARLIC NOODLE SOUP WITH BOK CHOY
“This was a-mazing. A lot of flavour and very little prep and cooking time. Makes you feel warm inside. Tasty, delicious and satisfying, yet light. This seriously picked me up!” -Emma
“This really was delicious. I used ramen noodles from a pack, I think any kind of noodles, even angel hair pasta would work well. I love bok choy but don’t usually buy it to fix just as a veggie. Now I have an excellent reason!” -Judith
“OMG! Thank you for this recipe, it is sooooo good! I couldn’t help myself and had a second bowl.” -Bonnie
For more bok choy recipes check out,
- Easy Sheet Pan Thai Chicken with Bok Choy
- Sweet Chili Tofu with Coconut Rice and Bok Choy
- Spicy Stir Fried Tofu with Bok Choy
- Udon Noodle Soup with Bok Choy and Poached Egg
- Spicy Stir Fried Tofu with Bok Choy
For more soup recipes check out,
- Easy Chicken Avocado Soup Recipe
- Vegetarian Butternut Squash Black Bean Soup
- Turmeric Broth Soup with Wild Rice and Vegetables
- Pho Recipe (How to Make Vietnamese Noodle Soup)
- Minestrone Soup Recipe
- Easy Six Onion Soup
DON’T FORGET TO PIN THIS GINGER GARLIC NOODLE SOUP RECIPE WITH BOK CHOY TO MAKE FOR A FAST AND EASY DINNER, WHEN YOU HAVE THE FLU, OR ANY OTHER TIME YOU WANT TO MAKE A BIG BOWL OF BOK CHOY SOUP.
If you try making this Bok Choy Soup Recipe, please leave me a comment and let me know! I always love to hear your thoughts.
RECIPE CARD
Ginger Garlic Noodle Soup with Bok Choy
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 shallots - diced
- 1 bunch green onions - chopped, green and white divided
- 4 cloves garlic - minced
- 2 tablespoon ginger - fresh, minced
- 5.5 cups low sodium chicken broth - or vegetable broth for vegan
- 2 whole star anise
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce - or Tamari for a Gluten Free option
- 10 oz crimini mushrooms - sliced
- 6 oz rice noodles
- 1.5 heads bok choy - roughly chopped
- sesame seeds - for topping
- red pepper flakes - for topping
Instructions
- Heat 1-2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium-sized stockpot over medium heat.
- To the oil add the diced shallots and mix well. Cook over medium heat for 4-5 minutes, or until the shallots turn translucent and start to soften. Stir often.
- Chop the end off of each green onion- dividing the white part from the green part. Chop and set aside the green part for topping. Meanwhile, finely chop the white part of each green onion.
- Add the white part of the green onions, minced garlic, and ginger to the shallots and mix. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 1-2 minutes or until garlic and ginger is fragrant.
- Carefully pour the chicken stock or water (or mix) into the pot and bring to a simmer. To the pot add the star anise and soy sauce. Cover and continue to simmer for 10 minutes.
- Remove lid from the pot and carefully remove and discard each star anise from the soup.
- Add the sliced mushrooms, uncooked noodles, and bok choy to the pot and simmer for 5-8 minutes, or until noodles and bok choy are tender. Season to taste.
- Divide soup between bowls and garnish with sesame seeds, the green parts of green onions and red pepper flakes (if desired).
Video
Jessica's Notes
- Not everyone loves the taste of star anise. However, I find that it plays a crucial role in the flavor of the broth. That said, if you hate it or don't have any on hand, I have found cinnamon sticks to be a good substitute.
- Need a little protein? Don't be shy about adding some chopped chicken or shrimp to the soup approximately 5 minutes before serving (assuming the chicken has been previously cooked).
- For a lower sodium diet, you can substitute low sodium soy sauce, and/or substitute unsalted chicken broth.
- Garnish with Cilantro optional.
Nutritional Information
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.)
Sharon says
I grew Bok choi in my garden especially to make this delicious soup. Thankyou for the recipe.
Jessica Randhawa says
I really appreciate this comment Sharon – thank you so much 😀
Lauren Jennaro says
This soup is so delicious! I have made it twice already for my boyfriend and I and we both love it. This is definitely a regular meal for us now. Thanks for sharing!
Catherine says
This might be the best soup I have made. Often add shrimp, tofu or chicken. It is easy and wonderfully delicious.
Jessica Randhawa says
I am happy you found it that pleasurable Catherine 🙂
Cait says
Oh this recipe is SO yummy! It really is a faux-pho. I added spinach, shrimp, and typical pho fixins (cilantro, sliced jalapeño, squeeze of fresh lime) and topped with some chili oil and my goodness I am hooked! It will definitely be in my regular rotation. Highly recommend 🙂
Kayleigh says
Great, super easy recipe! I love asian-style soups and this one came out great. I am relatively new to cooking, and this was a great way to experiment with flavors. I added a tablespoon of fish sauce to give it a more pho- like flavor. My only critique is that for me, at least, this is definitely more than 2 servings! I’ll probably be eating this soup for the next week- not really a problem considering how good it is, but definitely something to note!
tammi says
Outstanding recipe. I make this soup twice a week. My two year old loves it. Thanks!!
Jessica Randhawa says
Thanks Tammi, it makes me happy hearing your two year old loves it 🙂
Danni says
I think this is my most frequently made recipe literally ever, it’s just always SO GOOOOD! I can just throw in whatever veggies I have on hand and it’s always amazing. Asian-style chicken meatballs go really good in this too!
Thanks for the great recipe!
Jessica Randhawa says
Thanks Danni, yes this recipe is a great base for adding all sorts of goodies 🙂
Karen says
Hi, I just ran across this recipe and I have a question. I have zero experience with Star Anise. So,
1. Is it something that most supermarkets sells, like Publix?
2. I looked up pictures and saw a lot of dark brown dried (star fish looking ) pictures. Is that what I am looking for, or am I looking for something green?
3. How do I put it in the soup – is there anything I need to do to it first?
Thanks for your help,
I am going grocery shopping soon so if you could email me back at my email address that would be great!
Karen
GoGators32611@gmail.com
Jessica Randhawa says
Hi Karen,
1. Most grocery stores do carry it, but if not, you can always get Star Anise on Amazon. Not sure about Publix, as I don’t have any of those in my area in California.
2. Correct, dark brown and look like stars 🙂
3. Just add it whole to the soup as mentioned in the directions.
Enjoy!
Radhika Kaushik says
Can we use Soba in this recipe?
Jessica Randhawa says
Hi Radhika,
Soba noodles should work fine in this recipe. I would follow the instructions on the packet for the Soba Noodles and cook them separately 🙂
Chris says
Love this recipe Ive made it several times. I like to add shrimp and beansprouts at the very end (so the sprouts stay crunchy). I also like serving with a marinated soft boiled egg and some avocado slices on top.
Christine says
Your soup is amazing! Thank you
Christine says
Wonderful
Kimmie says
My 3 & 6 yes loved this! I added boiled quail eggs for a whimsical touch.
Kimmie says
Sorry I was meant to rate it 5 stars!
Jessica Randhawa says
No worries – thanks for the review! The boiled quail eggs do sound like a great whimsical touch, especially for the kiddos 🙂
Taff says
A real treat for something new and easy. I made it tonight and added some shrimp. FIVE stars
Monniqqe says
This was really delicious! I made it the first time without noodles and it tastes really good. I will try with shrimp next time..
Jessica Randhawa says
Thanks for the kind review Monniqqe 🙂
AF says
Whyyyy were the measurements so off?! 5.5 cups of chicken broth was not enough and I even did less mushroom and noodle than called for. It’s super thick and despite having so many ingredients that smelled amazing while cooking, it has no flavor. Needed a lottttt of salt. I guess I’m just used to actual Asian recipes and other commenters here are not :/ Won’t make that mistake again.