Savory Pair-ups: 8 Tasty Side Dishes to Serve with Stir-fry

Asian stir fry, a famous and delicious dish, is a common food in various cultures.

Stir-fries come in many flavors and styles and can be served with rice or noodles and on their own.

Stir fry dishes typically include beef, pork, lamb, and chicken with vegetables such as corn, green beans, celery, bell peppers, carrots, and various types of mushrooms.

The basic seasoning for any stir fry is soy sauce.

If desired, other seasonings can be added in ginger, garlic, or pepper flakes to taste to create a different flavor profile for each dish.

Stir-fries are typically cooked in a wok over high heat.

This allows all of the flavors to blend and creates a moist dish, unlike deep frying.

The best foods to serve with stir fry dishes include rice or noodles and cucumber salad, coleslaw, and white rice.

The eight side dishes listed here are perfect accompaniments for Asian homemade meals loved by people of all ages.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes for Stir Fry Dishes?

There are a few reasons why considering side dishes for stir fry dishes is important.

First of all, it can help prevent overwhelming the palate when you have a lot going on in your dish.

Multiple flavors and textures make up a good stir fry, but too many types of ingredients can ruin the balance needed to complement your main dish.

Another reason you should consider side dishes for stir fry dishes is to prevent an overwhelming amount of carbohydrates.

Many people like to serve stir fry with rice, but this can make the meal too heavy and not nearly as satisfying as a lighter dish would be.

If you’d rather stick with your favorite dinners or choose another option, it’s important to have a few go-to side dishes that won’t disappoint.

Finally, there’s the flavor element.

The flavors of stir fry dishes are complicated, and many ingredients have a strong taste that can overpower your other ingredients.

You want to create a dish that has a well-balanced flavor, but adding too many different types of flavors will make it difficult for your palate to enjoy.

A side dish can even be spicy, but it should not overwhelm the flavor of the main course since its job is to compliment the flavors in your stir fry.

What to Serve with Stir Fry? 8 BEST Side Dishes

Here are the best ideas for side dishes served with stir fry.

If you want to make a quick and easy meal, easy enough for a weekday evening meal, stir fry is perfect.

Not only is it budget-friendly and simple to cook, but it can also be modified to include any vegetables in season.

1 – Soy Sauce Fried Rice

This is a classic side dish in many Asian restaurants, but surprisingly, it’s also easy to make at home.

It can be made in big batches and frozen for future use too.

The rice needs to be cooked beforehand, but all you need is egg, garlic, and any other vegetables you want to toss in once that’s done.

Choose the ingredients of rice wisely as it will affect the overall taste.

For example, use jasmine or sushi rice for a subtle fragrance when stir-fried with vegetables.

Basmati also goes well with Indian-inspired dishes.

You can also throw in some leftover meat or seafood for a faster and more filling meal.

Once stir-fried, top with some chopped spring onion, and you’re ready to serve.

2 – Egg Drop Soup

Egg drop soup is an excellent accompaniment to any Asian dish, including stir fry.

It’s easy to make, too; heat up some vegetable or chicken stock, add a beaten egg, and let it simmer until it forms strands.

It’s an easy go-to soup when you need to whip something up for company too.

Season with salt and pepper to taste, but if you want to kick things up a notch, add some chili oil or drop in a red chili when the soup is off the heat.

If you’re making this soup for guests, adding some bok choy or snap peas will impress everyone in no time.

Serve while hot to get the full benefit of its comfort-food qualities.

3 – Chinese Pickled Cucumber

Another great way of using up leftover cucumbers, the Chinese pickled version, is crunchy and sour.

They are excellent for cleansing your palette in between mouthfuls of rice or noodles too.

The process takes some time, but it’s worth the wait.

The cucumbers must be soaked in brine overnight before they’re ready to use.

This is the time to add the chili, garlic, and spices too.

Once done, they’ll keep in the fridge for months, so make a big batch when cucumbers are abundant in summer.

They’re also great when added to salads or used as a sandwich topping – perfect for picnics or parties.

4 – Soy Sauce Eggs

Eggs make a great side dish to any Asian-style meal.

They’re not only full of protein and healthy fats, but they can also be cooked in just about any way imaginable.

One tasty yet simple method is to boil the eggs until they’re hard enough to be cut into cubes before being stir-fried with vegetables or meat for a few minutes.

Don’t be afraid to add some soy sauce and sesame oil for a zesty finish, or if you want to make this dish sweeter, add in some sugar and fish sauce too.

The egg yolk should still be runny when served so it can mix with the rice.

Serve while hot for best results.

5 – Korean Kimchi

The Korean version of pickled cucumbers, kimchi is a spicy and crunchy dish that’s both healthy and delicious.

It can be served as a side to almost any meal, but it goes particularly well with fried rice or noodles.

Kimchi needs time to ferment before it becomes ready for consumption, so start this side dish at least a week ahead.

Mix up some cabbage and other vegetables with chopped chili pepper flakes for seasoning to make your batch.

Cover the mixture and place it in a dark place to ferment – the trickier, the better.

Kimchi will be ready after about two weeks and should last well in the fridge too.

Try experimenting with different vegetables and chili pepper ratios until you find your favorite recipe.

6 – Chinese Dumplings

These bite-sized parcels of joy are both tasty and filling.

Although made from simple ingredients like vegetables or ground pork, the preparation can be quite fiddly at times – but well worth the effort in the end.

Make sure to mix your dough thoroughly before rolling it out into thin sheets.

Fill each sheet with finely chopped meat or vegetable filling, then seal by wetting the ends of the dough before pressing them together.

Steam your dumplings for 10 minutes or fry them with a little oil until golden brown on both sides.

Serve as an appetizer or as a side dish to any Asian-inspired meal.

7 – Chinese Okra Salad

Not everyone loves okra, but this dish will change their mind.

It’s great for making with fresh okra; just wash them properly to remove any grit before cutting into thin strips.

The sauce is key in this recipe so take some time to prepare it – combine oyster sauce or soy sauce, chili powder, and a dash of oil to get the desired consistency.

You’ll also need to mix your vegetables and sauce – don’t be afraid to add some other crunchy veggies like spring onions to the mix.

Otherwise, serve as a side dish with rice or fried noodles to complete this tasty meal.

8 – Authentic Spring Roll

Taking a little time to make fresh spring rolls is well worth the effort.

The result is both healthy and tasty, not to mention impressive.

Make sure that your rice paper wrappers are completely submerged in hot water before using them – this way, they’ll be easy to work with and won’t break.

Fill each wrapper with rice vermicelli noodles, seasoned shrimp, and vegetables before rolling them up tightly.

Serve while still warm for maximum enjoyment – a little dipping sauce is all the go with these.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Asian-style dishes are both healthy and tasty when served with the right side dish.

They can be made with various vegetables, meats, and condiments, so there’s something to enjoy for everyone.

Depending on the main dish, try pairing your stir fry with one of these examples or experiment until you find something that works for you.

Be creative. I hope this article helps you to choose the perfect side dish for Asian dishes.

Thanks for reading.

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