Explore 21 delectable Chinese side dishes, the perfect companions to your main course.
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CHINESE SIDES TO COMPLETE EVERY PLATE
Chinese cuisine is famous for its variety of flavors, ingredients, and cooking techniques. But what makes a Chinese meal complete is the selection of side dishes that complement the main course. Whether you’re looking for a simple stir-fry, a crunchy salad, or a savory pancake, I’ve got you covered with 21 delicious Chinese side dishes that you can easily make at home. From Shanghai noodles to kung pao Brussels sprouts, these recipes will add some spice and color to your table. Plus, they’re all vegetarian-friendly or can be easily adapted to suit your dietary preferences. So grab your chopsticks and get ready to enjoy these amazing Chinese side dishes!
Noodles are a staple in Chinese cuisine, and this Shanghai noodles recipe is a delicious way to enjoy them. The noodles are stir-fried with pork, cabbage, mushrooms, soy sauce, and sugar for a savory and sweet flavor. The dish is easy to make and ready in 30 minutes1.
Broccoli is a nutritious and versatile vegetable, and this garlic broccoli stir-fry recipe is a simple and tasty way to cook it. The broccoli is blanched and stir-fried with garlic, salt, and oil for a crisp and tender texture. The dish is vegan and gluten-free, and goes well with rice or noodles.
Mustard greens are a leafy green vegetable that has a peppery and bitter taste, and this Chinese mustard greens recipe is a traditional way to prepare them. The greens are boiled and drained, then seasoned with salt, sugar, vinegar, and sesame oil for a tangy and nutty flavor. The dish is served cold or at room temperature, and can be eaten as a salad or a side dish.
Tofu is a soy-based product that is high in protein and low in fat, and this crispy sesame tofu recipe is a crunchy and flavorful way to enjoy it. The tofu is coated with cornstarch and sesame seeds, then fried until golden and crispy. The tofu is served with a sweet and sour sauce made with soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, and cornstarch for a balanced and smooth flavor.
Scallion pancakes are a popular Chinese snack that are thin and flaky, and this scallion pancake recipe is easy to make at home. The pancakes are made with flour, water, salt, oil, and scallions for a simple and tasty dough. The pancakes are pan-fried until golden and crispy, and cut into wedges for easy eating.
Chinese broccoli is a leafy green vegetable that has thick stems and small flowers, and this stir-fried Chinese broccoli recipe is a quick and healthy way to cook it. The broccoli is blanched and stir-fried with garlic, soy sauce, sugar, and rice vinegar for a savory and tangy taste. The dish is vegan and gluten-free, and can be served as a main or a side.
Wood ear mushrooms are a type of fungus that have a dark brown color and a crunchy texture, and this wood ear mushroom salad recipe is a refreshing and spicy dish that’s perfect for summer. The mushrooms are soaked, boiled, and sliced into thin strips. The salad is tossed with garlic, chili oil, vinegar, sugar, salt, and cilantro for a pungent and sour flavor.
Salad is a great way to eat more veggies, and this Chinese chicken salad recipe is a colorful and delicious dish that’s loaded with protein and crunch. The salad is made with lettuce, cabbage, carrot, chicken, mandarin oranges, almonds, and wonton strips for a varied and satisfying mixture. The dressing is a blend of soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, honey, ginger, and garlic for a nutty and sweet flavor.
Zucchini is a summer squash that has a mild flavor and a tender texture, and this zucchini salad recipe is a light and easy dish that’s ready in 5 minutes. The zucchini is shredded into thin strands using a julienne peeler or spiralizer. The salad is seasoned with salt, sugar, vinegar, sesame oil, and sesame seeds for a simple and tasty flavor.
Szechuan noodles are a spicy and hearty dish that’s inspired by the cuisine of Sichuan province in China. The noodles are cooked with chicken broth, soy sauce, peanut butter, chili paste, garlic, ginger, and sugar for a rich and fiery flavor. The dish also includes chicken, carrot, green onion, and peanuts for extra protein and crunch.
Make your own spring rolls, a crispy and juicy appetizer that’s fun to eat. You’ll need rice paper wrappers, vermicelli noodles, pork, shrimp, cabbage, carrot, mint, and cilantro. The spring rolls are filled with the noodles, meat, and veggies and fried until golden and crunchy. They are served with a sweet and tangy sauce made with lime juice, fish sauce, sugar, and garlic.
Green beans are a nutritious and versatile vegetable, and this Chinese green beans recipe is a simple and tasty way to cook them. You’ll need green beans, oil, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. The green beans are blanched and stir-fried with the garlic, ginger, and sauces for a crisp and tender texture. The dish is vegan and gluten-free, and goes well with rice or noodles.
Eggplant is a summer vegetable that has a mild flavor and a tender texture, and this Chinese eggplant recipe is a spicy and savory dish that’s easy to make. You’ll need eggplant, oil, garlic, ginger, green onion, soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, cornstarch, and chili bean paste. The eggplant is sliced and fried until soft and browned. The sauce is a mixture of soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, cornstarch, and chili bean paste for a thick and spicy flavor.
Egg rolls are a popular Chinese snack that are thin and flaky, and this easy egg rolls recipe is easy to make at home. You’ll need egg roll wrappers, oil, ground pork, cabbage, carrot, onion, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, and salt. The filling is cooked with the pork, veggies, garlic, ginger, and sauces for a savory and moist mixture. The wrappers are filled with the filling and rolled up tightly. They are fried until golden and crispy.
Brussels sprouts are a cruciferous vegetable that has a nutty and bitter taste, and this kung pao Brussels sprouts recipe is a fiery and flavorful dish that’s vegan and gluten-free. The Brussels sprouts are roasted until charred and tender. The sauce is a blend of soy sauce, rice vinegar, maple syrup, cornstarch, and red pepper flakes for a sweet and spicy flavor. The dish is topped with peanuts and green onions for extra crunch and freshness.
Cozy up with this Chinese egg drop soup, a warm and comforting dish that’s easy to make and delicious to sip. You’ll need chicken broth, eggs, cornstarch, salt, pepper, green onion, and sesame oil. The soup is thickened with cornstarch and swirled with beaten eggs for a silky and smooth texture. The soup is seasoned with salt, pepper, green onion, and sesame oil for a savory and fragrant flavor.
Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, this General Tso’s cauliflower is a vegan and gluten-free version of the popular Chinese takeout dish. You’ll need cauliflower, cornstarch, oil, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, chili paste, and green onion. The cauliflower is coated with cornstarch and baked until golden and crispy. The sauce is a mixture of garlic, ginger, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, and chili paste for a sweet and spicy flavor. The dish is garnished with green onion for a fresh touch.
Refresh your palate with this okra salad with black vinegar, a crunchy and tangy dish that’s popular in China. You’ll need okra, salt, sugar, black vinegar, garlic, chili oil, and sesame seeds. The okra is blanched and sliced into thin pieces. The salad is tossed with salt, sugar, black vinegar, garlic, chili oil, and sesame seeds for a sour and spicy flavor.
Whip up this king prawn fried rice, a hearty and flavorful dish that’s ready in 15 minutes. You’ll need king prawns, rice, oil, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, egg, peas, carrot, and spring onion. The rice is fried with garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, and egg for a fluffy and tasty mixture. The prawns are cooked with peas and carrot and tossed with the rice for a protein and veggie boost.
Brighten up your salad with this Asian slaw recipe, a colorful and crunchy dish that’s perfect for summer. You’ll need cabbage, carrot, red onion, cilantro, mint, peanuts, lime juice, fish sauce, sugar, and oil. The slaw is shredded and mixed with cilantro, mint, and peanuts for a fresh and nutty taste. The dressing is a blend of lime juice, fish sauce, sugar, and oil for a zesty and sweet flavor.
Enjoy this Panda Express chow mein perfect copycat recipe, a satisfying and easy dish that tastes just like the restaurant version. You’ll need chow mein noodles, oil, celery, onion, cabbage, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, salt, and pepper. The noodles are boiled and drained until al dente. The veggies are stir-fried with oil and seasoned with soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, salt, and pepper for a savory and simple flavor. The noodles are added to the pan and tossed with the veggies for a hearty and delicious meal.
MORE FUN STUFF TO CHECK OUT:
Ingredients
- Shanghai Noodles
- Garlic Broccoli Stir Fry
- Chinese Mustard Greens Stir Fry
- Sesame Crispy Tofu
- Crispy Scallion Pancakes
- Stir-Fried Chinese Broccoli
- Wood Ear Mushroom Salad
- Chinese Chicken Salad
- Zucchini Salad (Ready in 5 Minutes)
- Szechuan Noodles
- Homemade Spring Rolls
- Chinese Green Beans
- Perfect Chinese Eggplant
- Easy Egg Rolls
- Kung Pao Brussels Sprouts
- Classic Egg Drop Soup
- General Tso's Cauliflower
- Savory Boiled Okra
- King Prawn Fried Rice
- Flavorful Asian Slaw
- Panda Express Copycat Chow Mein
Instructions
- Select your favorite Chinese side dish recipe.
- Gather all necessary ingredients.
- Create a tasty Chinese side dish using simple steps and enjoy!
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