From fried rice to hot and sour soup to chicken wings, these Asian sides are the perfect addition to your meal. From the dim sum dinners of China to traditional Japanese breakfast sides, and beyond, I’ve rounded up 14 Asian side dishes that you’ll love. If you’re planning an Asian dinner to share with friends, I recommend paying special attention to restaurant-style favorites like egg drop soup and Korean scallion pancakes! With recipes ranging from simple to more involved, as well as plenty of vegan and vegetarian options, you’ll find something for everyone on this list.
1. Soy Sauce Fried Rice
Despite its simple name, this fried rice recipe uses a balanced combination of dark and light soy sauce, as well as fish sauce and rice wine, to give it an unforgettable flavor. It’s umami to the max, and well worth taking a trip to your local Asian market to pick up the special soy sauces needed for the mixture.
2. Stir-Fried Baby Bok Choy
Tender and healthy baby bok choy get a boost from soy sauce and minced garlic in this fast and easy recipe. With just a little bit of olive oil for stir-frying and a crack of fresh black pepper for an aromatic finish, this entire side can be prepared and served in under 10 minutes. If you’re gluten-sensitive, replace soy sauce with coconut aminos for a similar kick of flavor.
3. Egg Drop Soup
This egg drop soup recipe is just as creamy and delicious as the soup at a restaurant. Cornstarch is the secret ingredient that brings the soup together in a matter of minutes. It adds a rich and velvety texture that complements the eggs and white pepper. This recipe is perfect for serving with steamed white rice and baked fish for a fast and easy dinner that still looks impressive on the table.
4. Chinese Cucumber Salad
Once you get your first taste of this sesame and vinegar dressed cold salad, you’ll know why it’s such a popular choice for home cooked Chinese meals. It’s both fun and easy to prepare. It takes just five minutes from start to finish. Plus, whacking the cucumbers is a therapeutic way to get out the stresses of your workday!
5. Stir-Fried Choy Sum
Also known as Chinese flowering cabbage, choy sum is a delicious Asian green that tastes similar to both bok choy and broccoli rabe. This vegan and gluten-free take on stir-fried greens add a flavor punch of garlic and ginger that also gives it amazing aromatics.
6. Spinach Ohitashi (Japanese Spinach Salad)
Spinach has never been so tender and savory as it is in this recipe. It’s served in a super-nutritious kombu dashi broth. You can make the seaweed broth ahead of time and store it in your refrigerator for up to a week, which makes the salad quick and easy to put together when you’re ready to serve.
7. Spicy Asian Zucchini
Sriracha hot sauce is the star of the show in this powerfully flavored veggie side dish that’s great for using up the fruits of your summer garden. Honey, soy sauce, and sesame oil temper the heat, giving the zucchini a rounded taste.
8. Chinese Coleslaw
This inventive salad can easily make an entire meal. This recipe calls for chicken ramen noodles and coleslaw mix with slivered almonds. There are also plenty of substitution options for hard-to-find Asian ingredients like sesame oil and rice wine vinegar.
9. Korean Scallion Pancakes
Perfect as a snack, side dish, or even a light lunch, scallion pancakes are a Korean restaurant favorite that’s easy to make in your own home. Flour, eggs, and scallions make up the majority of the pancakes. A soy sauce and rice wine vinegar dipping sauce is accented with toasted sesame seeds and a pinch of hot red pepper flakes.
10. Japanese Potato Salad
If you love mashed potatoes and colorful vegetables, then you’ll go nuts for this uniquely Japanese take on potato salad! Creamy russet potatoes and Japanese mayo provide the textural base, while raw carrots and cucumbers liven up each bite with a fresh little crunch.
11. Hot and Sour Soup
Filled to the brim with mushrooms and tofu, this 15-minute hot and sour soup recipe tastes so much better than the pre-made mixes available in stores. Chicken broth is traditionally used, but substituting vegetable broth will make the recipe vegetarian.
12. Asian Baked Chicken Wings
Oven-baked wings are healthier and tastier than their fried counterparts, thanks to a rich glaze of soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, and garlic. They make a great side for a family dinner, or a perfect game-day snack.
13. Chinese Sausage Fried Rice
Chinese sausage, a spiced and cured delicacy, is the star of the show in this quick-to-prepare recipe. It’s well worth seeking out at your local Asian grocer, or you can order it online. Last night’s leftover white rice is the ideal base for this fried rice recipe, as it will soak up more of the flavor of the soy sauce, shallots, and garlic.
14. Spicy Bean Sprout Salad
Shichimi togarashi — Japanese seven-spice mix — is the star of the show in this healthy side dish that’s also great as a topping for ramen. Its mixture of pepper flakes, sesame seeds, toasted nori seaweed, and orange peel is complex and delicious. It’s capable of turning humble bean sprouts into a culinary delight. Click on a star to rate it!
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