Thai Style Chicken Mince Stir-Fry w. Bok Choy (Plus Benefits)

Thai food is a firm favourite among many and our Thai style chicken mince stir-fry with Bok Choy is no exception.

This dish is loaded with those fragrant flavours that we just can’t resist. Lime, holy basil as well as the spice from the chillies – the perfect combo.

To make the chicken mince stir-fry is pretty straight forward, once you have prepared your ingredients you can begin to cook up the stir fry.

Sauté the shallots and garlic with a little coconut oil in a hot wok, until translucent and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Once that is done you can add the free-range chicken mince and continue to cook for 1 – 2 minutes, stirring constantly to break up the mince.

At this stage, you can add all the other ingredients, except the basil and cook up until the bok choy is wilted and slightly tender, don’t overcook though, you want it to still have a crunch to it.

Once the dish is cooked you can serve it with your choices of sides, anything from zucchini noodles, and cauliflower rice to organic jasmine rice steamed to perfection or even a bed of sweet potato mashed.

Top it all off with some fresh shredded holy or Thai Basil, a couple of lime wedges, some toasted sesame seeds and fresh mung bean sprouts.

Benefits of Bok Choy

Bok Choy is related to the brassica family, which means it is closely related to cabbage. It is considered to be one of the healthiest forms of leafy green vegetables around. Bok choy is packed full of flavour and is a delicious way to keep up with the intake of vital vitamins such as vitamin A and C.

Ancient Chinese healers used the benefits of bok choy to treat fever, cough and other ailments in this category. It is thought to have a cooling effect and can also be used to calm inflammation both internally and externally – on the skin.

Here of some of it’s amazing benefits:

Healthy Digestion – In ancient medicine, it was believed that all diseases originate in the gut and in actual fact that is quite true. Bok choy has been known to treat digestive disorders for centuries, it was added to broths and food to bulk up the stool and heal diarrhoea.

Healthy Immunity – A healthy functioning immune system is vital to prevent any chronic disease from entering the body. By adding bok choy to your meals you will promote the production of white blood cells in the body this equals strengthen immunity which is the body’s barrier not only against chronic illness but also infections and seasonal viruses.

Promotes Healing –Bok choy contains a healthy amount of vitamin K that enhances blood clotting, helping to heal open cuts, bruises and wounds faster. This is a great option for people who are recovering from surgeries and other injuries.

Anti-inflammatory –Bok choy is a source of choline which is an anti-inflammatory agent and is known to improve learning skills and memory. It also calms down inflammation and is able to reduce the chances of inflammation-related diseases such as arthritis and joint pains.

Benefits of Holy Basil

Holy Basil also known as tulsi, is native to Southeast Asia.

Everything from the leaves to the seeds, holy basil is considered a tonic for the entire body, mind, and spirit.

Benefits can come from the whole plant and different parts of the plant are recommended for treating different conditions:

• The fresh flowers can be used to treat bronchitis.
• A combination of the leaves and seeds, along with black pepper, can help treat malaria.
• The entire whole plant can be used for diarrhoea, nausea, and vomiting.
• Pill and ointment form can relieve eczema.
• An alcohol extract or tincture is used to treat stomach ulcers and eye diseases.
• Use an essential oil made from the leaves for insect bites.

Holy Basil also contains a wealth of nutrients vital for our wellbeing, such as:

• vitamin A and C
• calcium
• zinc
• iron
• chlorophyll

It’s no wonder this super plant is called the “queen of herbs.”

Here is a great reason to add Holy Basil to your diet:

Reduces stress and anxiety – Holy Basil is considered an adaptogen, this means it is a natural substance that helps your body adapt to stress and promotes mental balance. 

According to the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, holy basil has antidepressant and anti-anxiety properties comparable to diazepam and antidepressant drugs. These studies examined the leaves. One study found that people who took 500 milligrams (mg) of holy basil extract each day felt less anxious, stressed, and depressed. People also felt more social.

Adaptogens are unique plants or herbs that support your adrenal system. They help balance your hormones, so you can manage your stress response on a day to day basis. They adapt to what your body needs and have the ability to regulate your system up or down depending on the needs in that moment.

– Bulletproof.com

As you may know stress wrecks havoc on the gut, if left untreated, long term effects can be damaging.

In fact, many studies show that stressful life events are associated with the onset of symptoms, or worsening of symptoms, in several digestive conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and peptic ulcer disease, gut dysbiosis and leaky gut to name a few.

Holy basil is just one of many ways to manage stress….

As you can see from the above this dish is not only delicious and easy to make but it is loaded with healing properties to keep the gut happy which will, in turn, help keep the mind happy. 

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