What Goes with Fried Rice

Fried rice is one of the most popular dishes in Asian cuisine and is considered a staple in many countries, such as China, Indonesia, Korea, and much more! When looking for side dish for what goes with fried rice, look no further!

Fried rice is remarkably easy and quick with an irresistibly delicious taste on its own. However, what makes it truly unique is its versatility, as you can customize it with a plethora of side dishes. 

If you want to know what goes with fried rice, you’re in for a treat! In today’s article, I’ll walk you through ideas to spice up your game! Let’s dive right in!

💜 Why You’ll Love These

All Asian Influence Recipes | All of the recipes that are included have an Asian influence. So when making fried rice or using a big container of leftovers, all of these sides will perfectly complement the rice.

Quick and Easy | It will be a snap to choose a recipe here as they are all simple, quick and easy dishes that don’t need a lot of prep or time on the stove.

Only keep leftover fried rice in the refrigerator for up to three days per the USDA as bacteria will start to grow.

Fried Egg

Kicking off the list with one of the most popular side dishes to go with fried rice. The best thing about fried eggs is that it’s equally easy to make.

You can adjust the level of runniness of the yolk the way you want, and since this recipe doesn’t need any special cooking skills, it’s also an excellent choice for someone who’s experiencing fried rice for the first time!

Chinese Dumplings (Jiaozi)

If you want to indulge yourself with Chinese cuisine, you should combine fried rice with another incredibly popular Chinese dish that goes very well with fried rice, such as Chinese dumplings.

One thing that fried rice and dumplings have in common is their versatility. You can make your dumplings savory, spicy, or sweet and fill them with anything from meat, seafood, or even veggies!

Egg Drop Soup

Another Chinese classic that goes extremely well with fried rice is the egg drop soup. In fact, you’ll see it served with egg drop soup by default in many restaurants nowadays!

The combination of chicken broth with beaten eggs and green onions makes this lightly seasoned soup an excellent complement!

Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

Stir fries are an excellent complement to plain rice. However, you can also use fried rice to spice it up and give it that Oriental flavor everyone loves!

The beef and broccoli recipe is quite healthy, relatively easy to cook, and remarkably delicious. You can also use Gai Lan (Chinese broccoli) and garlic sauce to make the dish even juicier.

Egg Rolls

Egg rolls and fried rice have a lot of ingredients in common, which makes them go very well together if you like a deep fried warm appetizer. 

Fried rice would also go well with spring rolls if you want your rolls with a crispier crunch. You can also use egg rolls with a variety of fillings and dip them in soy sauce or egg roll sauce for extra flavor.

Hot and Sour Soup

If you want to make your fried rice more spicy or sour, adding hot and sour soup to the mix would be an excellent idea!

This soup is another staple in Chinese cuisine and is often combined with fried rice in restaurants.

Pickled Vegetables and Mustard Greens

Of course, adding fresh veggies is always an option if you’re cooking some delicious fried rice. But in my opinion, the sour flavor of mustard greens and pickled veggies like pearl onions, chili peppers, carrots, shallots, and cucumbers, will always suit it better.

The sky’s the limit when it comes to pickled veggies to add to your fried rice, so make sure that you experiment with veggies to get your perfect veggie mix!

Honey Teriyaki Chicken

If you prefer to add meat or poultry to the recipe but you want it a little more exotic, you should consider marinating your chicken in Teriyaki sauce!

Chicken Teriyaki is one of the most popular dishes in Japan but it complements the tangy flavor of fried rice pretty well!

Japanese Dumplings (Gyoza)

If you like the idea of combining fried rice with dumplings but you want to try a new recipe, you should consider Japanese dumplings or potstickers.

These pan fried dumplings are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, making it an exemplary appetizer alongside fried rice!

Crispy Shrimp Tempura

Another Japanese dish that will complement the rich flavor of fried rice is Crispy Shrimp Tempura.

The best thing about fried shrimp is that it’s much lighter than other meat, as it doesn’t absorb much oil and is fried in a thin layer of batter, which is ideal for those who appreciate the flavor!

Asian Slaw

Traditional coleslaw is actually a pretty good side dish to any kind of rice. However, if you want to take your side salad to the next level, consider Asian Slaw!

Like standard coleslaw, this one also uses cabbage. However, this one uses shredded seasonal cabbage (red cabbage) instead of regular cabbage, making it a treat to the eyes and the stomach!

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Brussel sprouts are extremely healthy and are often combined with any dish that contains rice thanks to its delicious nutty flavor. 

Combining fried rice with Brussels sprouts brings the best out of both and makes for a delicious dinner, especially if you’re looking for a vegetarian fried rice recipe!

Roasted Asparagus

Last but not least, if you have some leftover rice and asparagus, you can make a wonderful recipe with some minced ginger garlic, and some extra seasonings and veggies!

Like the previous one, roasted asparagus and fried rice is a very healthy combination and has a remarkably low calorie count, making it ideal for weight watchers!

Final Thoughts

There you have it! Lots of great ideas for side dishes that would go great with fried rice! As you can see, fried rice is remarkably versatile and can go with an outstanding range of side dishes, so make sure that you give these recipes a try! 

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