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Grilled Baby Bok Choy with Miso Butter

This grilled baby bok choy with miso butter is a sophisticated vegetarian side dish that brings a deep, savoury umami flavour to your summer barbecue. By separating the stalks from the leaves, you achieve a beautiful contrast in textures: the pak choi stalks become charred and tender on the grill, while the delicate leaves are transformed into a bright, citrus-dressed salad that wilts slightly under the heat of the cooked vegetables.

Perfect for pairing with grilled fish or as part of a Japanese-inspired feast, this recipe is both healthy and incredibly quick to prepare. Using white or yellow miso keeps the seasoning light yet complex, ensuring the natural sweetness of the greens shines through. It is a brilliant way to elevate simple shop-bought ingredients into a vibrant, restaurant-quality dish that fits perfectly into a modern plant-based diet.

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Ingredients for Grilled Baby Bok Choy with Miso Butter

  • 675g baby bok choy (about 6 heads) or Shanghai bok choy

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

  • 45ml white or yellow miso paste

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

  • Pinch of kosher salt

  • Freshly ground black pepper

Cut the leaves away from the bok choy stalks. Halve the stalks lengthwise. Rinse the leaves and stalks well, then pat dry to remove any excess water. In a small bowl, mix together the butter and miso with a fork until well combined. Set aside.

Prepare a medium-hot fire in a charcoal or gas grill. Put the bok choy stalks in a large bowl. Using your hands (or a fork), coat the bok choy with the miso butter. Arrange the bok choy, cut side down, on the grill grate. (If you have a grill screen, set it on top of the grate before adding the bok choy, to keep the stalks from falling through the gaps.) Close the lid and grill for about 5 minutes, until golden brown on the underside. Turn the bok choy with tongs, re-cover, and grill for 5 to 6 minutes more, until golden and crisp-tender.

While the stalks are cooking, stack the bok choy leaves and roll them up lengthwise into a cigar shape. Slice the leaves crosswise into thin shreds. Make a bed of the shredded leaves on a serving platter. Drizzle the leaves with the oil and lemon juice, sprinkle with the salt and 1/4 teaspoons pepper, and toss to combine.

Put the grilled bok choy on the dressed salad to wilt the leaves; sprinkle additional pepper over the bok choy. Serve immediately.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.

Article history

The information on this page is peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.

  • 28 Jan 2026 | Originally published

    Authored by:

    UK recipe editors

    Peer reviewed by

    UK recipe editors
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