Celery vs Bok Choy: 2 Healthy Green Vegetables

Both celery and bok choy are popular in Asian kitchens due to their versatility. Even though they are leafy vegetables, there are some differences between bok choy and celery. 

Celery is an aromatic vegetable mostly used to enhance the fragrance of soups, stews, etc. It can also be stir-fried or used in other forms. Bok choy is commonly used for stir-fries, salads, etc. Both of these vegetables have low calories and high nutritional values.

In today’s celery vs bok choy comparison, I will give you a detailed overview of their differences, similarities, nutritional values, culinary uses, and more. Stick to the end.

Celery vs Bok Choy: Quick Overview

The following chart compares the key characteristics of these two leafy vegetables. Check it out.

Characteristics	Celery	Bok Choy
Scientific Name	Apium graveolens L.	Brassica rapa
Family	Apiaceae	Brassicaceae
Appearance	Cabbage-like bottom with wide leaves on top	Long stalks with smaller leaves on top
Varieties	Pascal, Golden	White, Baby, Shanghai
Texture	Crunchy stalks with soft leaves	Moderately crunchy
Flavor	Grassy flavor with a hint of sweetness and spiciness	Earthy flavors with a slight bitterness
Uses in Recipes	Broths, soups, stews, dips, snacks, etc.	Stir-fries, salads, soups, etc.
Nutritional Value	High	High

Differences Between Celery vs Bok Choy

Let’s dive deep into the differences between these two popular green vegetables.

Classification

Celery is an herbaceous plant in the Apiaceae family. It has no woody tissues. On the other hand, bok choy is a cruciferous plant in the Brassicaceae family. Other vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, kale, brussels sprouts, etc., are also in the same family.

Appearance

Though both bok choy and celery are leafy greens, they have distinguishable differences in appearance. Celery is a stalky vegetable with long, green stems and small leaves. But bok choy is a stubbier vegetable with a fat stem and larger leaves.

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Depending on the spices, the color of the celery stems and leaves can be different, such as dark green or bright green. Bok choy also has color differences in various species. Some species have a greenish stem while others might have a whitish stem.

Varieties

Celery has two common varieties, Pascal and Golden. The one you mostly use with dark green stalks is called Pascal. The Golden variety comes in a bright green color. 

Bok choy has three common varieties. White bok choy is the largest of them all with a whitish and firm stem. It has crinkly, dark green leaves. Baby bok choy is much smaller and has a green stem. Shanghai bok choy is also common with a greenish stem and smooth leaves.

Texture

The celery stalk is a lot firmer compared to the bok choy stem. It has a thick, crunchy texture. The more you go to the top, the thinner the stalk gets. Bok choy has a more crisp texture, both at the stem and the leaves. The stem has multiple layers.

Flavor

Celery has an intense grassy flavor complemented by a natural sweetness. You will also experience a bit of spiciness in celery, based on its species. Golden celery has a milder flavor. After cooking celery, its flavor gets a bit mellowed.

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Bok choy has a mild, earthy flavor with a slight peppery hint. Some species may also have a bit of sweetness. The taste of raw and cooked bok choy is slightly different.

Culinary Uses

Both celery and bok choy are used to enhance the flavor and aroma of various dishes. Celery is more commonly used as the base of vegetable stocks, soups, stews, etc. It is also eaten with salads or on its own as a snack. 

Celery juice is also popular for its high nutritional value. Bok choy is popular in stir-fries, salads, soups, etc.

Similarities Between Celery vs Bok Choy

Despite a lot of differences, their uses in recipes can often be similar. Check the similarities below.

• Earthy Flavor: Both celery and bok choy have an earthy flavor with a grassy undertone. The celery vs bok choy taste is something you can’t put far apart.
• Texture: The crunchiness in celery and bok choy is somewhat similar. Though the celery stalks are thicker, the bite feel of both these vegetables is often indistinguishable.
• Seasonings: Celery and bok choy are often cooked with similar seasonings, such as salt, pepper, etc. 

What Recipe Can Be Made Using Celery and Bok Choy?

If I start listing the recipes that use these vegetables, it will be a long one. Here are a few of the recipes you can make using celery and bok choy.

Celery

Here are some recipes that can be made using celery.

1. Cream of Celery Soup
2. Sauteed Celery with Shrimp
3. Mixed Vegetables with Celery

Bok Choy

The following bok choy recipes are popular across countries.

1. Bok Choy in Garlic and Ginger Sauce
2. Stir-fried Bok Choy
3. Bok Choy Protein Salad

Nutrition Facts of Celery vs Bok Choy

Take a look at the celery vs bok choy nutrition to find out which leafy vegetable benefits your health more.

Nutrients (Per 100g)	Celery	Bok Choy
Calories	16	13
Total Carbohydrates	3g	2.18g
Protein	3.46g	1.5g
Total Fat	1.12g	0.2g
Total Dietary Fiber	2.1g	1g
Sodium	80mg	65mg
Potassium	260mg	252mg
Calcium	40mg	105mg
Magnesium	11mg	19mg
Iron	0.2mg	0.8mg
Vitamin C	3.1mg	45mg
Beta-carotene	270mg	2681mg

FAQs

You should also check the answers to common questions about celery and bok choy. They will be very helpful.

Conclusion

Leafy greens like celery and bok choy must be included in your menu to keep yourself healthy. These green vegetables contain a lot of dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals, so people of all ages can eat them regularly. Still, they have some noticeable differences that you should know about.

I talked about celery vs bok choy in detail to show you the differences and similarities between these two vegetables. Learn their culinary uses and nutritional differences to understand which one benefits you better.