Stir fry is a fantastic meal – quick, versatile, and packed with flavor. But sometimes, a stir fry alone doesn’t feel quite complete. If you’re wondering What To Serve With Stir Fry to create a truly satisfying and well-rounded dinner, you’ve come to the right place. From light and refreshing salads to comforting noodles and flavorful soups, we’ve compiled a list of 25 incredible side dishes that will perfectly complement your stir fry and elevate your Asian-inspired meal. Get ready to discover your new favorite pairings!
Refreshing Salads to Start Your Stir Fry Meal
Starting with a fresh salad is a great way to balance the richness of a stir fry. These salads offer contrasting textures and flavors that will awaken your palate.
Spicy Cucumber Salad
Bowl of spicy cucumber salad with red pepper flakes and sesame seeds.
This Spicy Cucumber Salad is a vibrant and zesty side dish that perfectly complements the savory notes of stir fry. The crisp cucumbers are tossed in a dynamic dressing that balances heat, saltiness, acidity, and sweetness. Ready in just 10 minutes, it’s an effortless way to add a refreshing crunch to your meal. The coolness of the cucumber and the spicy kick provide a delightful contrast to warm stir-fried dishes.
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Edamame Salad
Overhead shot of edamame salad with corn, red onion and herbs.
For a boost of protein and fiber, try this vibrant Edamame Salad. Packed with fresh vegetables and coated in an Asian-inspired dressing, this salad is both satisfying and healthy. The mild flavor of edamame beans makes it a versatile side that won’t overpower your stir fry, while adding a pleasant textural element.
Japanese Crab Salad (Kani Sarada)
Japanese Kani Sarada, or crab salad, is a delightful and creamy salad that offers a touch of sweetness and umami. Made with imitation crab, mayonnaise, and vegetables, it’s a quick and easy side dish that is particularly popular in Japan. Its refreshing taste and creamy texture make it an excellent counterpoint to richer stir-fry sauces.
Rice Dishes: Classic Stir Fry Companions
Rice is a staple side dish for stir fry, and for good reason. It’s excellent for soaking up flavorful sauces and providing a satisfying base to your meal.
Spicy Egg Fried Rice
Overhead view of spicy egg fried rice with green onions and red pepper flakes.
Take your rice game up a notch with Spicy Egg Fried Rice. This isn’t your average fried rice; it’s infused with a spicy kick that complements many stir fry dishes, especially those with milder flavors like chicken or tofu stir fries. It’s also a fantastic way to use up leftover rice!
Instant Pot Sticky Rice
For perfectly cooked, fluffy rice every time, Instant Pot Sticky Rice is the answer. This method eliminates the guesswork and delivers consistently excellent sticky rice without any soaking required. Sticky rice is ideal for stir fries with thick sauces, as it clings beautifully and enhances every bite.
Instant Pot Brown Jasmine Rice
Close up of brown jasmine rice in a white bowl, showing texture and grains.
If you prefer a healthier whole grain option, Instant Pot Brown Jasmine Rice is a fantastic choice. This recipe ensures perfectly cooked brown jasmine rice with minimal effort. Brown rice offers a nutty flavor and chewier texture that pairs wonderfully with stir fries, adding both nutritional value and satisfying substance to your meal.
Noodle Sides: A Delicious Carb Complement
Noodles are another popular and versatile side dish to serve with stir fry. They can be prepared in various ways, offering different flavors and textures to enhance your meal.
Chili Garlic Noodles Recipe
Square image of chili garlic noodles with visible chili flakes and garlic pieces.
These Chili Garlic Noodles are bursting with flavor and a pleasant kick of heat. Ready in just 15 minutes with pantry staples, they are a quick and satisfying side dish. The combination of sweet, spicy, and umami flavors in these noodles makes them a fantastic partner for stir fries, especially those that are less spicy.
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Instant Pot Vegetable Lo Mein
Instant Pot Vegetable Lo Mein is a convenient and healthy noodle dish that can be made quickly. Packed with vegetables and a flavorful sauce, it’s a complete side dish in itself. Serving lo mein alongside stir fry creates a carb-lover’s dream, offering a comforting and fulfilling meal.
Peanut Noodles
Creamy, savory, and slightly sweet, Peanut Noodles are an irresistible side dish. Made with simple ingredients and offering gluten-free and vegan options, they are adaptable to various dietary needs. The rich peanut sauce provides a contrasting flavor profile to many stir fries, adding depth and indulgence to your meal.
Vegetable Ramen Pad Thai
This unique Vegetable Ramen Pad Thai combines the best of both worlds. Ramen noodles are coated in a creamy peanut sauce with a hint of spice, creating a flavorful and satisfying dish. It’s a fun twist on traditional Pad Thai and offers a different noodle texture compared to lo mein, making it a great option to pair with stir fry.
Vegetable Side Dishes for a Healthy Balance
Adding extra vegetables as side dishes is always a good idea. These options are not only healthy but also bring diverse textures and flavors to your stir fry meal.
Asian Brussels Sprouts
Close up view of roasted Asian Brussels sprouts with sesame seeds and sauce.
Asian Brussels Sprouts are a flavorful and healthy side dish that even Brussels sprouts skeptics will love. These sprouts are incredibly easy to make and offer a delightful caramelized and savory flavor. Roasting Brussels sprouts brings out their natural sweetness, which is enhanced by Asian-inspired seasonings, making them a surprisingly delicious side for stir fry.
Easy Bok Choy Recipe
Easy Bok Choy Recipe is a quick and simple way to add leafy greens to your meal. Ready in under 10 minutes, this vegetarian side dish is both healthy and flavorful. Bok choy’s mild, slightly peppery flavor and crisp-tender texture make it a versatile and healthy vegetable side that complements almost any stir fry.
Asian Sesame Ginger Slaw
Overhead shot of Asian sesame ginger slaw with kale, quinoa and cabbage.
This Asian Sesame Ginger Slaw is a slaw with a difference. Heartier than traditional slaw thanks to kale and quinoa, and mayo-free, it’s a lighter yet satisfying side. The sesame ginger dressing adds a vibrant Asian flavor profile that ties in beautifully with stir fry dishes, while the slaw provides a refreshing crunch.
5-Minute Asian Sugar Snap Peas
5-Minute Asian Sugar Snap Peas are the perfect solution for busy weeknights. This incredibly quick side dish is ready in just 5 minutes and can be enjoyed hot, chilled, or reheated. Sugar snap peas offer a delightful sweetness and satisfying snap, and the quick Asian-inspired preparation makes them a fast and flavorful side for any stir fry.
Chinese Garlic Green Beans (Asian Style Recipe)
These Chinese Garlic Green Beans are a restaurant-style side dish you can easily make at home in under 15 minutes. Tossed with garlic and sesame seeds, they are packed with flavor and offer a satisfying crisp-tender texture. Garlic green beans are a classic and popular Chinese side dish that pairs exceptionally well with a wide variety of stir fries.
Asian-style Broccoli Recipe
This Asian-style Broccoli Recipe elevates simple broccoli to a flavorful side dish. Infused with Asian seasonings, it offers a delicious way to enjoy this healthy vegetable. Broccoli florets are excellent at absorbing flavors, and this Asian-style preparation makes them a tasty and nutritious addition to your stir fry meal.
Warming Soups to Complement Your Stir Fry
A bowl of soup before or alongside your stir fry can create a comforting and complete meal, especially during colder months.
Spicy Miso Soup with Ramen
Overhead view of spicy miso soup with ramen noodles, bok choy, and soft boiled egg.
Spicy Miso Soup with Ramen is a hearty and flavorful soup that’s almost a meal in itself. With a spicy peanut butter chili broth, ramen noodles, and various vegetables and toppings, it’s a comforting and exciting side. The spicy and umami-rich broth provides a warming contrast to stir fries, especially those that are lighter or vegetable-based.
Chinese Hot and Sour Soup (???)
Chinese Hot and Sour Soup is a restaurant favorite for a reason. This easy recipe allows you to recreate this classic soup at home. Its balance of spicy and sour flavors makes it a stimulating appetizer or side that awakens the palate before enjoying a stir fry.
Easy Homemade Chinese Egg Drop Soup
Easy Homemade Chinese Egg Drop Soup is the ultimate quick and comforting soup. Ready in under 15 minutes, it’s a simple yet satisfying side dish. The delicate egg ribbons in a savory broth offer a light and soothing counterpoint to richer stir fries, making it an excellent starter or side.
Bok Choy Miso Soup
Bok Choy Miso Soup is a light yet flavorful soup that’s perfect for using up leafy greens. It’s also a great way to get a dose of probiotic goodness from miso. This soup is light and refreshing yet still offers a savory depth from the miso, making it a healthy and harmonious side for stir fry.
Wonton Soup
Wonton Soup is a classic and comforting Asian soup that’s surprisingly quick and easy to make. Filled with flavorful wontons and brimming with warm, comforting broth, it’s a delightful side dish. Wonton soup offers a light and savory broth with delicate dumplings, providing a comforting and flavorful accompaniment to stir fries.
Spring Rolls and Dumplings: Fun and Flavorful Sides
For a more interactive and flavorful side, consider spring rolls or dumplings. These offer textural contrast and can be filled with delicious ingredients.
Vegetarian Spring Rolls Recipe
Vegetarian Spring Rolls are crispy and delicious, filled with a spicy vegetable filling. This recipe includes baking instructions for a healthier option. Spring rolls offer a satisfying crunch and flavorful filling, providing a fun and textural contrast to stir fry.
Rice Paper Dumplings (Chinese Potstickers)
Overhead image of vegan rice paper dumplings with hoisin sauce and vegetables.
These innovative Rice Paper Dumplings are a vegan twist on traditional potstickers. Filled with king oyster mushrooms, hoisin sauce, and vegetables, they are aromatic and flavorful. Using rice paper creates a unique texture, and the flavorful filling makes them a delicious and lighter alternative to traditional dumplings.
Chinese Potstickers (Dumplings)
Chinese Potstickers are classic dumplings filled with ground pork. These savory dumplings are pan-fried to crispy perfection and are incredibly satisfying. Potstickers offer a juicy and flavorful filling encased in a slightly chewy and crispy wrapper, making them a hearty and delicious side to stir fry.
Kimchi Dumplings
Overhead view of kimchi dumplings with dipping sauce, showing dumpling texture and filling.
For a spicy and flavorful twist, try Kimchi Dumplings. Filled with pork, kimchi, and onion, these dumplings are packed with flavor and a pleasant kick. Kimchi dumplings offer a spicy, tangy, and umami-rich flavor profile that adds excitement and complements the savory notes of stir fry.
FAQs About Serving Sides with Stir Fry
Is stir fry a complete meal?
Stir fry can be a complete meal if you include a source of lean protein, plenty of vegetables, and serve it over a base of brown rice or quinoa for added nutrients and fiber.
How to make stir fry taste amazing?
To make your stir fry taste amazing, don’t skimp on aromatic ingredients like garlic, ginger, green onions, chilies, and spices. A well-balanced stir fry sauce is also key to achieving delicious flavor.
The next time you’re making stir fry, remember that the right side dishes can truly complete your meal. With these 25 delicious options, you’re sure to find the perfect pairings to create a memorable and satisfying dining experience. Enjoy!
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