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5 quick and easy Chinese side dishes
With summer in full blast, there is a want for refreshing tasty sides to have alongside a BBQ or a delicious meal. But how many of us find ourselves making the same old boring sides? It is as though our creativity flies out when it comes to side dishes. That is why we have collated some delicious Chinese side dish recipes for you which are both quick and easy to make. Here are 5 quick and easy Chinese side dishes for you to enjoy.
Sesame and soy sauce tofu salad seasoned with Thai peppers, this salad is refreshing, healthy and a perfect side for a hot summer’s day.
Prep time – 15 mins
Ingredients
- Silken/soft tofu
- Coriander leaves (for garnish)
- 1 finely chopped green onion
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp water
- 1 tsp black vinegar
- 2 fresh Thai peppers/ chilli oil
- 1/2 tbsp toasted white sesame seeds
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- 1 chopped garlic clove
- 1 tsp minced ginger
- 1 green onion, finely chopped
- 2-3 finely chopped coriander stems
Method
- Cut the tofu into small pieces
- Mix the rest of the ingredients except the green onion and coriander together and set aside for 1-2 minutes
- Pour over the tofu
- Garnish with the coriander and green onion
2. Chinese stir fry vegetables
Easy and delicious, these stir fry vegetables are the prime ingredient to finish off a yummy bowl of Chinese noodles or side-line a beautiful plate of chicken wings as well as anything else delicious.
Prep time – 10 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 150 g green beans
- 130 g baby corns
- Any other veg you wish to add (that are suitable for stir fry).
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 1/2 red chilli chopped into small pieces
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tsp honey
- Sesame seeds for garnish
Method
- Add the oil and heat in a wok or a pan
- Add in the vegetables and stir fry for 5 minutes. Add in a couple of splashes of water during this step to help produce steam
- Add the garlic and chilli
- Add in the soy sauce and cook for two minutes before turning the heat off
- Drizzle the honey over the dish and garnish with sesame seeds and salt and pepper
3. Chinese green vegetable side
Nutty, garlicky and salty, these green vegetables will convert you. Bursting with flavour, this side dish will sneak in green vegetables into your dish and ensure you enjoy every second of it. Toss in a couple chunks of chicken, and you have yourself a delicious chicken salad perfect for a hot summers day.
Prep time – 10 minutes
Ingredients
- A splash of vegetable oil
- A pinch of salt
- 200 g greens (eg: bok choy, spinach, broccoli, chinese broccoli etc)
- 2 tbsp. peanut oil/vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp. light soy sauce
- 3-4 cloves garlic , coarsely chopped up
Method
- Bring a pot of water to boil. Add a pinch of salt and a few drops of vegetable oil. Mix well
- Add in the greens and boil until cooked through. Different greens take different amounts of time
- Heat the peanut oil in a pre heated wok/pan on medium high heat
- Once the oil is hot add in the garlic and immediately stir. Continue stirring quickly and continuously until the garlic becomes fragrant and golden on the edges. Switch the heat off and the garlic will cook itself and become crispy without burning
- Pour the garlic oil over the greens
- Drizzle the soy sauce over the greens and serve up immediately
4. Chinese spicy potatoes
A modern twist on Chinese food, potatoes were only recently introduced to China, yet the Chinese offer some of the best potato recipes to date. Spicy and flavoursome these sides are perfect to accompany your meal on a hot summers day
Prep time – 15 mins
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 lb of potatoes, very thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 4 tbsp soy sauce
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp sugar
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 Serrano chile pepper/jalapenos, stemmed and sliced
- 1 ½ spring onions / 2 scallions, sliced
Method
- Soak the potatoes in a bowl of salted water for 5 minutes
- Whisk together the red pepper flakes, soy sauce, rice vinegar, water and sugar
- Heat the oil in a pan on high heat until simmering. Fry the potatoes, regularly turning every minute or so until the potatoes are tender (4-6 mins)
- Add in the garlic, pepper and spring onions and sauté for one minute
- Add the sauce into the pan and cook for 1 to 2 minutes ensuring you turn the potatoes frequently for around 1-2 minutes
- Serve up and enjoy
5. Quick pickled cucumbers
A traditional Chinese side dish, these pickled cucumbers are sweet with a kick. Cooling and brimming with character, they pair well with almost every dish and best of all … they take 10 minutes to prep!
Prep time: 10 mins
Ingredients:
- 1 cucumber
- 3 tbsp. chopped coriander/cilantro
- 2 tsp. honey
- 2 tbsp. rice vinegar
- 1 tsp. sesame oil
- 1/4 tsp. each salt and black pepper
- 2 tsp. fried garlic for garnish
Method
- Use a citrus zester/vegetable peeler peel a few strips. This is to create texture to allow the cucumber to soak up the juices as-well as for decorative purposes
- Then cut the cucumber into 1 inch long chunks and then into quarters lengthwise
- Add the coriander to the cucumber
- In a separate bowl mix the rest of the ingredients besides the fried garlic
- Pour the dressing over the cucumbers
- Store the cucumbers in a container with a lid in the fridge until ready to serve. They can be stored for up to a week
- When ready to serve garnish with fried garlic or toasted sesame seeds and peppers
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