What to Serve with Asian Salad? 10 BEST Side Dishes

As versatile as its name, an Asian salad is antremendous dish that pairs with Asian, as well as, other cuisines.

If you’re planning to serve it for the next meal, you’d want to know what to serve with Asian salad for the best experience.

The dressing for Asian salads typically includes rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, sugar, soy sauce, and vegetable oil.

Unlike other cuisines, you may not find many variations of Asian side salads.

Fresh and pickled vegetables make a big part of this dish.

Nevertheless, they pair well with several dishes because of their versatility.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes for Asian Salad?

The first obvious reason why you should consider serving side dishes with Asian salad is that a salad alone might not be filling enough for heavy eaters.

If you aren’t used to just eating salad for dinner, you’ll certainly want a side dish or two to go with it.

Likewise, your guests won’t leave happy and satiated if there’s nothing but salad on the table.

Secondly, a healthy and balanced meal consists of fiber, protein, fat, and carbs.

Your Asian salad is not enough to provide them all, so you’ll want to add side dishes to give the other necessary nutrients.

Find below a wide range of complementary side dishes from different cuisines to make your meal an extensive and scrumptious one.

What to Serve with Asian Salad? 10 BEST Side Dishes

1 – Egg Foo Young

Egg Foo Young and Asian salad make a great combination for anyone who loves the flavor of Chinese cuisine.

Egg Foo Young is an iconic Chinese American dish made from a savory omelet.

It typically consists of eggs, vegetables, and your choice of protein mixed before being fried to perfection in delicious stir-fry sauce.

An Asian salad usually consists of cabbage, carrots, sprouts, onions, seaweed, and crunchy chow mien noodles.

The combination of these two dishes provides an interesting balance of textures – the padded omelet and crunchy vegetables give a nice contrast.

2 – Kung Pao Chicken

Kung pao chicken is a fiery dish that has traveled from China to America.

Generally, you’ll find two versions of this dish.

The classic Sichuanese version, featuring many chili peppers and Chinese peppercorns, packs quite a punch.

Meanwhile, its American reincarnation introduces subtle sweetness into this beloved delicacy – with an extra touch of bell peppers for good measure.

You can enjoy either version with a bowl of freshly made Asian salad.

The freshness of the salad complements the flavorful heat of the kung pao chicken.

When served with steamed rice, kung pao chicken creates an unforgettable meal, making your taste buds and stomach beg for more.

3 – Thai Chicken Satay

Enjoy a Thai-inspired treat with the amazing combination of chicken satay and Asian salad.

This tasty meal combines succulent, marinated grilled chicken on skewers with crunchy fresh veggies.

The mix of flavors – from savory to sweet – is truly irresistible, while its nutrients offer great benefits for your health.

Depending on your preference, you could turn up the heat of the chicken dish.

Since the salad will offset this heat, the combination will be perfect.

Moreover, this dish can also be made ahead.

So, you can have it ready for when friends come over or when you need an easy weeknight dinner.

4 – Prawn Noodles

Noodles are a fantastic way to add carbs to your meal while delivering an array of delicious flavors.

Chewy yet flavorful noodles make the perfect companion for Asian chicken salad as they bring out its unique taste, thanks to their contrasting ingredients and textures.

Besides, prawn noodles are incredibly versatile too.

You get to decide exactly what ingredients you want in your dish.

Hence, you’ll be rewarded with delightful complementary flavors that make this classic combination even more delectable.

5 – Grilled Salmon

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Grilled salmon paired with an Asian-style salad is a heavenly food combination.

The flavor of the succulent grilled fish perfectly complements the tangy dressing and crunchy vegetables in a classic Asian salad.

You can easily choose your favorite ingredients to customize it and make it right for your palate.

Plus, you get all the good omega-3 fatty acids from the salmon.

The combination is also super healthy and can easily be prepped ahead of time or thrown together in no time at all.

Enjoy this delightful combination and start bringing some excitement back into your cooking routine.

6 – Beef Burger

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Who can say no to a classic, juicy beef burger?

Create a truly unique experience by combining the classic hamburger with an Asian salad.

Let your taste buds explore bold flavors and textures, from spicy dressings to rich beef patties – this combination will take you on a flavor adventure.

The variety of ingredients also helps make this a healthier option than many other burger combinations.

For example, substituting mayonnaise for some sriracha or gochujang can give you all the flavor without added fat or calories.

7 – Gyoza

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Have you ever been to a Japanese restaurant or enjoyed some Japanese street food? If so, chances are that Gyoza has crossed your plate.

These scrumptious dumplings originate from the Far East and come in many shapes and forms.

Think of them as Japan’s take on Chinese’ potstickers’.

Deliciously stuffed with all sorts of tasty fillings – it’ll be hard not to devour these dumplings.

Pairing Gyoza with an Asian salad will create a well-rounded and filling meal.

Texture-wise, the crunchy exterior of the Gyoza, alongside the softness of the filling, will please your taste buds and leave you wanting more.

Gyoza can also be steamed, deep-fried, or boiled, depending on how you like them.

8 – Fettuccine Alfredo

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What about giving your Asian salad an Italian twist?

Fettuccine Alfredo and Asian Salad is a great combo packed with flavor, nutrients, and variety.

Fettuccine Alfredo is a pasta dish made of hearty noodles smothered in a creamy cheese sauce that’s sure to hit the spot.

Adding an Asian salad to the plate brings in extra crunch with crispy vegetables like bell peppers and carrots.

This mix of textures gives the meal an all-around irresistible feel.

The contrasting flavors of these two dishes also blend nicely for a satisfying entrée.

All it takes is a few pantry staples to whip up an easy meal that tastes anything but ordinary.

9 – Shepherd’s Pie

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If you’re preparing a dinner spread for friends and family, consider serving your Asian salad with some shepherd’s pie.

Shepherd’s pie is a delicious and hearty dish with mashed potatoes, flavorful ground meat, and delicious vegetables.

On the other hand, Asian salad is the perfect way to cleanse the palate with fresh greens, crunchy nuts, and zesty dressing.

Both dishes complement each other by striking a balance between filling and light.

Enjoying this pairing will provide you with a well-rounded meal without feeling overly full or deprived.

10 – Chow Mein

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Chow Mein and Asian salad make a great combination, even without any additional elements to add flavor.

That’s because the flavors in the sesame-based dressing of an Asian salad pair perfectly with the noodles and vegetables in Chow Mein.

The addition of tasty protein like chicken or pork also adds to the deliciousness of this classic duo.

Whether you’re looking for a balanced meal or trying something new, Asian salad with Chow Mein is worth a shot.

Plus, it’s a healthier alternative to traditional fried noodles that still taste great.

Conclusion

You can make an Asian salad using your favorite vegetables.

Start with leafy greens, cherry tomatoes, crispy fried shallots, and red onion if it’s your first time making one.

Fresh or pickled vegetables go well with almost anything, no matter the cuisine.

So you’ll have a lot of options to experiment with while making side dishes for Asian salads.

We hope the ten side dishes listed here will help you get started on your kitchen journey with Asian foods.