Side Dishes for Asian Salad (24 ideas)

Salads are delicious but alone can leave you still hungry! Here are the best easy side dishes for Asian salad, from teriyaki chicken to miso soup, Asian sticky ribs, and more!

3 chicken thighs baked in teriyaki sauce with sesame seeds and green onions.

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Here are the best side dishes to go with Asian salads, such as cucumber salad, spicy watermelon salad, mango salad, glass noodle salad, Korean potato salad, and Japanese spinach salad.

Chicken Teriyaki Skewers

4 chicken teriyaki with pineapple skewers on parchment paper.

Chicken skewers are the perfect side for salads in the summer!

Teriyaki Chicken on a Stick

Teriyaki Chicken on a Stick is an easy and delicious appetizer perfect for Super Bowl, dinner parties, or just a regular family meal. The sauce is flavorful enough that the dish can be made on the spot (no need to marinade the chicken beforehand.)

Click here for the chicken teriyaki skewers.

Several pineapple teriyaki chicken skewers on a silver plate.

Teriyaki Shrimp

If you like seafood, this spicy shrimp is a great dish to serve with salad- you can even add it directly into the salad itself!

EASY Teriyaki Shrimp Stir Fry (20 min)

This easy Teriyaki Shrimp Stir Fry recipe is a delicious recipe on the dinner table in 20 minutes. Best enjoyed with a bowl of white rice! (It's Japanese-inspired so the sauce is a little spicy, but I also show you how to make authentic Japanese Teriyaki Sauce if that's what you prefer.)

Click here for the spicy shrimp recipe.

Spring Onion Pancake

Crispy and flaky pan fried scallion pancakes on parchment paper.

Salads are great, but sometimes you need a bit of oil to go with them- these Taiwanese green onion pancakes fit the bill! They're pan fried till crispy, flaky, and delicious!

Taiwanese green onion pancake recipe (Cong you bing)

Taiwanese green onion pancake (Cong you bing), also known as Chinese scallion pancake, is a delicious savoury street snack that is easy to batch make and freeze.

Click here for the Scallion pancakes.

Baked Teriyaki Chicken Thighs

Easy Baked Teriyaki Chicken Thighs

These baked teriyaki chicken thighs are a terrific quick and easy weekday dinner. It only needs simple ingredients (readily available) but is delicious! Tender chicken thighs are coated in a sweet and salty sauce that is so good with just a simple bowl of plain white rice! (Works with bone in AND boneless meat.)

Click here for the easy chicken teriyaki recipe.

Teriyaki Wings

Teriyaki chicken wings and Japanese salad on a white plate.

For some non-Japanese sides, click here for more Asian-inspired chicken wing recipes.

Teriyaki Wings

This Easy Teriyaki Wings recipe is a crowd pleaser. The juicy chicken wings are coated in an addictive, sticky, sweet, and savory sauce. QUICK and EASY to cook on the stovetop with a few simple ingredients- perfect for busy weeknight dinners and Super Bowl Sunday!

Click here for the Japanese chicken wings.

Miso Soup

A traditional Japanese soup that is part of a typical Japanese meal- there are instant packet versions of this Japanese staple. However, homemade miso soup is a simple side dish that is actually very easy to make.

If you have dashi stock (or bonito flakes), miso paste and some green onions- maybe some silken tofu and king oyster or shiitake mushrooms- you're more or less set!

Ginger Scallion Noodles

If you're feeling hungry, you'll need something more substantial with the salad: try these deliciously easy noodles!

Ginger Scallion Noodles (15 minutes)

This yummy Easy Ginger Scallion Noodles (葱油拌面/ 葱油面) only needs 6 ingredients, such as soy sauce, for the Chinese Ginger Scallion Oil Sauce! You can use Ramen Noodles, Udon, Rice Paper Noodles etc. (Under 30 minutes meal that is better than takeout. Fried Egg optional. With a Vegan Option.)

Click here for the Chinese Noodles recipe.

Tossed Ginger Scallion Noodles on a white plate.

Teriyaki Tofu

A bowl of white rice topped with fried tofu cubes in teriyaki sauce.

Teriyaki Tofu

Teriyaki Tofu with a crisp coating but wobbly, oozy center- the trick is to use the right type of tofu- coated in a deliciously savory teriyaki sauce. (I have shown you how to make your own teriyaki sauce, but you can also use shop-bought.)

Click here for the Japanese tofu recipe.

Close-up of a crispy tofu cube coated in white sesame seeds.

Miso Sea Bass

Spooning miso sauce on Broiled Sea Bass.

Miso Sea Bass (or Other Types of Fish)

A deliciously easy Miso Sea Bass recipe inspired by Nobu, with a sweet and savory flavor, that is on the table in under 15 minutes (excluding marinating. I also show you what to do if you don't have time to marinate the fish.) The typical version uses Chilean Sea Bass (Patagonian Toothfish) but the sauce works with other types of fish so I'm using Barramundi Sea Bass instead to be more sustainable. (Alternatively, Black Cod or Alaskan Sablefish is a good substitute.)

Click here for the Japanese Miso Fish recipe.

Miso Sea Bass white mango cucumber salad on a white plate.

Spicy Mushrooms

7 pieces of oyster mushrooms in gochujang sauce.

Gochujang Mushrooms (Oven Roasted)

These Roasted Gochujang Mushrooms are baked in the oven till umamilicious. This spicy dish is the perfect Korean oyster mushroom side dish for Christmas and family dinners- and they only require 5 minutes and 25 minutes baking time!

Click here for the Korean mushroom recipe.

Sticky Ribs

Close-up of a pork rib with fingerlicking sticky sauce and caramelised bits.

EASY 12345 Chinese Ribs (5-ingredients)

These Chinese Spare Ribs are delicious, finger-licking Asian-style pork spare ribs that are as simple to cook as 12345 (a mnemonic device that will also help you recall the recipe.) Using only the Asian pantry staples of wine, dark soy sauce, vinegar and sugar to braise the meat, with only a few minutes of active cooking, this is the best easy sticky Chinese Spare Ribs for a lazy food lover.

Click here for the Chinese ribs recipe.

Teriyaki Salmon

Pan-Fried Teriyaki Salmon (& Baked)

This deliciously savory Pan Fried Teriyaki Salmon recipe is sweet, savory and full of umami. Plus, it only takes under 10 minutes to cook and is perfect for busy weeknight dinners! (I include directions for both the pan fried and baked versions, as well as advice on when to use which method!)

Click here for the Japanese fish recipe.

2 salmon fillets drizzled with teriyaki sauce on a white plate.

Curry Puff

If you're bringing the salad to a picnic, curry puffs are a great side dish for the salad!

Curry Puff Recipe (Potato)

A savory, flaky and crispy curry puff recipe with potato filling- easily made vegan or vegetarian- that uses cupboard staples. Delicious and perfect for meal prep as it tastes good hot and cold!

Click here for the Asian Empanadas.

Vegan potato curry puff fried to a crisp golden brown on a plate.

Japanese Curry

Japanese Curry Recipe (S&B Golden Mix)

This flavorful Japanese Curry Recipe is made with the S&B Golden Mix. Warming and delicious, it's the perfect comfort food for fall or winter and so easy it's pretty much a staple in the Asian college student's menu!

Click here for the Kare Raisu recipe.

A plate of Japanese pork and carrot curry with white rice.

Teriyaki Meatballs

A pile of chicken tofu meatballs on a plate of rice.

Teriyaki Meatballs 照り焼き豆腐ハンバーグ

This Easy Teriyaki Meatballs recipe 照り焼き豆腐ハンバーグ is a popular Japanese side dish. The juicy and fluffy chicken meatballs coated in the umamilicious savory sauce will taste just as good-or even better- than what you get at your favorite Japanese restaurant! (No breadcrumbs used.)

Click here for the Japanese chicken meatballs.

A wooden chopstick picking up a Japanese chicken teriyaki meatball from a plate of rice.

Chinese Chicken Skewers

Close-up of a Chinese chicken satay stick.

EASY Chinese Chicken on a Stick

This easy Chinese Chicken on a Stick is full of flavor, easy, and the perfect appetizer for both weeknight dinners and Christmas parties.

Click here for the spicy chicken skewer recipe.

Gyoza

Dipping a pan-fried dumpling into spicy Japanese sauce.

These Japanese dumplings can be made in advance and frozen for whenever you want to eat them, making them 1 of the best side dishes.

Sprinkle some spring onion and sesame seeds on top to wow guests with your presentation- and don't forget the easy 3 ingredient Japanese dumpling sauce!

Pork Meatballs

Dipping a Chinese meatball into a bowl of spicy mayo,

Asian Pork Meatballs

This delicious Asian Pork Meatballs recipe makes it so easy to whip up a weekday dinner. The meatballs are so versatile, you can pan-fry them, cook them in soup, or add them to a tomato pasta sauce!

Click here for the chinese meatballs recipe.

Chinese Steamed Egg

Chinese egg custard with scallions and soy sauce.

If you're going for a lighter meal, serve the salad with this steamed egg- it sounds bland but is delicious. (Add some chopped fishcake on top before steaming if you prefer stronger flavours.) I have it every week!

Chinese Steamed Eggs (20 min)

This easy and healthy Chinese Steamed Eggs recipe is light, soft, and fluffy savory pudding. This silky egg custard is on the family dinner table in 20 minutes, making it perfect as a quick Asian breakfast. Serve with a drizzle of soy sauce or minced pork and it's a delicious Asian dinner meal.

Click here for the Asian steamed egg.

Chinese steamed egg with soy sauce and green onions.

Desserts

Jellies

Japanese konnyaku jelly with cut fruits salad

For something lighter, end the meal with some Japanese jelly such as konjac jelly fruit salad, yuzu konnyaku jelly or this no-sugar agar agar.

Japanese Konjac Jelly with Fruits (Vegan) (GF)

Delicious, refreshing and easy to make, this dessert is a good way of having desserts but not adding extra sugar or honey! Perfect eaten chilled on a hot summer's day

Click here for the jelly fruit salad recipe.

Matcha Ice Cream

If you want to serve something more unusual, skip the green tea ice cream and try black sesame ice cream with red beans! Or if you're looking for a different kind of matcha dessert, try Hojicha muffins.

To make the party more fun, serve taiyaki or Japanese fish ice cream! You can find this Japanese street food in most Asian grocery stores.

Pandan Cake

Sliced oolong tea cake on a white plate.

EASY Pandan Cake with Yoghurt

This easy Pandan yoghurt cake is a healthy and easy bake, with a light tea flavor. It uses olive oil and Greek yoghurt (you can also use Greek style yoghurt to save money, I often do!) and is a stir, dump, and bake recipe. So easy I have to challenge anyone to get it wrong!

Click here for the Chinese tea cake.