The best easy Side Dishes for a spring dinner party (Easter!), potluck BBQ, or for a crowd: from cold fresh spring salads to easy, low carb chicken, and healthy veggies, your friends and family will love these Asian sides.
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Spring Salads
Japanese Spinach Salad
Japanese Summer Salad
This easy Japanese Summer Salad is a light and refreshing dish with the best delicious dressing sauce made from onions (玉ねぎドレッシング.) It can be made vegetarian or bulked up with crab sticks- I love the tangy, savory, and umamilicious sauce so much, we have this Asian salad dressing for dinner every week! It goes well with spinach, carrot, cucumbers, tomatoes, and more. (No Ginger, Garlic, Peanut, or Sesame.)
Click here for the spinach tomato salad.
Korean Apple and Potato Salad
Although potatoes and apples aren't spring produce, potato salad is popular at spring picnics and BBQs!
Korean Mashed Potato Salad with Egg
This easy Korean mashed potato salad with egg and apple is soft, savory with hints of sweetness, and so creamy and delicious, this homemade Korean side dish (banchan) is a staple in our weeknight dinner rotation. It's the perfect simple Asian side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or a normal family dinner. (Corn and cucumber optional)
Click here for the Asian potato salad recipe.
Cucumber Mango Salad
Mango Cucumber Salad (Asian)
This Mango Cucumber Salad (Asian recipe) is a light and refreshing side dish full of tropical flavor. Quick and easy, it's a sweet, savory and crunchy recipe perfect for camping or a summer barbecue. Plus, unlike many salads, there is no sour cream or olive oil used, so it's healthier and less heavy!
Click here for the Asian Mango summer salad.
Watermelon Salad
Sweet & Spicy Watermelon Salad
This easy Asian Watermelon Salad is sweet, spicy and delicious! The cut fruit in the Thai-inspired dressing is so refreshing on hot days and the perfect picnic food idea for potlucks. One of our favorite healthy 4th of July party food ideas, you can make it in 15 minutes for summer lunches or dinner. (You can also add mint leaves or cucumber for crunch!)
Click here for the Thai-inspired watermelon salad.
Spicy Cucumber Salad
Cold cucumber salad recipe
The easy Chinese cold cucumber salad recipe is delicious and full of spicy flavor. Best of all, it only requires 4-ingredients and takes 5-10 minutes to make.
Click here for the Chinese cucumber salad.
Cucumber Pickles
Asian Quick Pickled Cucumbers (5-min)
These easy and delicious Asian Quick Pickled Cucumbers are ready in 5 minutes, and make a great cooling side dish in summer! (I show you how to make 2 versions: 1 that can be immediately after tossing in the brine (the 5-min recipe) and a 2nd that has a milder flavor and needs to pickle for 15- 30 minutes.)
Click here for the cucumber quick pickle recipe.
Thai Noodle Salad
Thai Vermicelli Noodle Salad with Abalone
Tangy, sweet, spicy, and savory, this light Thai Vermicelli with Abalone Salad is a great make-ahead recipe for your Chinese New Year 2023 celebration dinner. It can even be a no-cook recipe, and is the perfect dish for beginner home chefs!
Click here for the no-cook Thai noodle salad.
Cold Sides That Are Not Salad
Both Mayak Avocado and Mayak Eggs use a similar soy-based marinade to season the avocados and eggs.
They can be made in advance and kept in the fridge for your BBQ party- the Mayak eggs in particular will keep for a few days but do note it will get saltier the more time it spends in the brine!
Mayak Avocado
Mayak Avocado
Mayak Avocado is an addictively good Soy Sauce Avocado Recipe that only takes minutes to make and is great for meal prep! Paired with a plain bowl of white rice, this easy Korean side dish tastes incredible. As it's a no-cook recipe, it's the perfect summer recipe to stay cool and on the table in under 20 minutes.
Click here for the Korea soy marinated avocado recipe.
Mayak Eggs
Mayak Eggs
Mayak Eggs is a super simple but deliciously savory Korean side dish that can be made in minutes! It tastes phenomenal with just rice and lasts for 3-4 days in the fridge, so is a great Asian meal prep recipe!
Click here for soy sauce egg recipe.
Lettuce Wraps
Vietnamese Chicken Wraps
Step aside P.F. Changs: try these homemade Vietnamese-inspired chicken wraps which are full of flavor, healthy, and go really well with these side dishes.
Note: Leftover rotisserie chicken or Soy Sauce Braised Chicken Thighs taste terrific when shredded and used in this recipe. You can also use leftover Peking duck meat!
Vietnamese Lettuce Wraps (20 min)
Click here for the lemongrass chicken wraps.
Check out this recipe
Korean Spicy Wraps
Korean Chicken Lettuce Wrap (30 min)
Korean chicken lettuce wraps are an easy, healthy, quick, and delicious Asian Appetizer, side dish, or low carb main. I've tested these Asian lettuce cups with both Korean Gochujang chicken thighs (stir fry) and ground chicken- scroll down to see which one works better! (short marinade.) Leftovers can be mixed with greens to make Gochujang Chicken Salad or chicken fried rice/ noodles.
Click here for the Dak-galbi chicken wrap.
Thai Basil Lettuce Cups
Thai Chicken Lettuce Wrap (20 min)
This Healthy Thai Chicken Lettuce Wrap is an easy appetiser, so flavourful, no dipping sauce is needed. One of my favorite Asian lettuce wraps thanks to the juicy chicken thighs (low carb) and fresh basil leaves. I show you how to make it spicy (or not)- better than pf Changs anyday!
Click here for the Thai Basil chicken dish.
Chinese Pork Tacos
Pork Lettuce Wraps (San Choy Bow)
Authentic Chinese Pork Lettuce Wraps, or San Choy Bow, are a healthy(ish), delicious, and flexible dish. You can really make the recipe with any type of ground meat, or even leftover Peking duck! Better than PF Changs, anytime! (It will require a few Asian ingredients, but you can omit or substitute if you don't have them.)
Click here for an authentic Chinese lettuce wrap recipe.
Salmon Wraps
Salmon Lettuce Wrap (Teriyaki)
This Teriyaki Salmon Lettuce Wrap is a healthy recipe that is the perfect appetizer for a family meal or party. Delicious but simple, it's on the table in under 30 minutes! Also the perfect way to use up leftover Salmon Teriyaki. (No need to marinate overnight.) (Can use frozen salmon without thawing.)
Click here for the teriyaki salmon wraps.
Veggies
Korean Mushrooms
I make these in the oven, but you can also cook them on the grill if having a BBQ.
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 spicy baked mushrooms.
Gochujang Aubergine
Gochujang Aubergine (Baked)
This Easy Gochujang Aubergine is a tasty Asian aubergine recipe baked in the oven. A low carb Korean aubergine recipe that is full of flavor and super delicious as a side with rice!
Click here for the spicy baked aubergine recipe.
Others
Steamed Egg
This is a very light but flavourful recipe (don't skip the soy marinade drizzled on top for more flavor) that is perfect for spring days that are getting warm.
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 egg recipe.
Bread
Mochi Balls
Cheese Mochi Bread
This delicious Cheese Mochi Bread Recipe is crisp on the outside and soft and oozy on the inside! It's also a super easy recipe: you just mix everything and bake. Plus no sugar is used so you don't have to feel guilty about snacking! (Baked) (Air Fried)
Click here for the Asian cheese balls.
Green Tea Bread Rolls
Easy Matcha Buns (1-rise Mantou)
An easy matcha bun (Chinese mantou bao) recipe which only requires 1 proof (1 rise), along with a mantou FAQ section on how to use a metal steamer (instead of the traditional bamboo steamer) and why your naturally vegan matcha buns aren't smooth.
Click here for the green tea bread recipe.
Pandan Bread Rolls
Spiral Pandan Mantou (Steamed Chinese Buns)
Click here for the easy mantou recipe.
Chicken Skewers
Teriyaki Pineapple Chicken
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 pineapple chicken recipe.
Chinese Kebab
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 Chinese kebab.
Any questions about this list of Asian sides for a spring party? Let me know in the comments!
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