Bok choy with ginger and sesame oil – memories of my grandmother’s chicken coop (FODMAP friendly)

Ingredients

• A small bunch of bok choy, thoroughly washed, and each leaf carefully peeled.
• A few grams of ginger, finely julienned (around 2-3g).
• 1 teaspoon of sesame oil.
• Salt and white pepper to your preferred taste.
• Cooking oil for the stir-frying process.

Method

Begin by heating a generous amount of cooking oil in a frying pan until it shimmers. Introduce the ginger, and sauté until its delightful aroma fills the air. Now, add the bok choy and give it a quick toss. Drizzle in a touch of sesame oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and toss once more until everything is perfectly combined. Your delicious dish is now ready to be served.

My grandmother’s chicken coop

During my early childhood, my family and I resided in a terrace house, sharing it with extended family members, including uncles and aunties. The heart of our home was my grandmother, who took charge of preparing dinners for our entire clan. To make ends meet, she had a coop of chickens residing on the rooftop terrace.

Before I even started attending school, I had a daily routine. Each afternoon, I accompanied my grandmother to the market to collect leftover green vegetables. We would return home, cut the vegetables on an enormous wooden chopping board, and then feed the chopped vegetables to the chickens. It was during these moments that my grandmother spun tales from days gone by.

One of her stories was about me, as a tiny crawling baby. Apparently, I had managed to make my way to the rooftop terrace, where I found the egg storage urn. In my innocence, I had cracked every single egg and spread the contents all over the stairs.

But mischievous acts were not limited to that one incident. I vividly recall another escapade from my childhood. Bored and brimming with mischief, I concealed some rice grains behind the door leading to the rooftop terrace. Peeking through the gaps, I waited until the chickens began pecking at the grains. Then, I suddenly flung the door open, causing a flurry of flying chickens. I couldn’t contain my laughter, and through it all, my grandmother, ever so gentle, never once scolded or punished me.

In our household, green vegetables were a staple, and my grandma had a simple yet delicious way of preparing them with pretty much nothing but ginger and a dash of oil. This recipe for soy bok choy is my homage to her, a cherished memory of my wonderful grandmother.

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