This versatile Asian Side Salad lives up to its name, making it a delightful and complementary addition to a wide range of Asian cuisines. Whether you’re enjoying Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Malaysian, Singaporean, Korean, or Taiwanese dishes, this salad effortlessly complements them all. Whether served alongside spicy Asian curries or alongside dishes like Chinese BBQ Pork, Thai Chicken Satay, or Chicken Fried Rice, it’s a perfect match.
Asian Side Salad
In contrast to many Western cuisines, you won’t find an abundance of “side salads” in Asian culinary traditions. Instead, Asian cuisine often incorporates pickled vegetables and small veggie preparations as part of larger feasts. In various Southeast Asian cuisines, dishes like Thai Fried Rice are frequently accompanied by simple, unadorned tomato and cucumber wedges, providing a refreshing touch.
However, there aren’t many readily prepared side salads that can quickly infuse a meal with greens. So, while this Asian Side Salad may not be tied to any specific authentic culinary tradition, it stands out as a fantastic salad rooted in Asian influences. The dressing is so delectable that you can use it to enhance the flavor of any vegetables, resulting in a delicious outcome!
What goes in the Asian Dressing
Below are the ingredients required for the Asian Dressing. If you don’t have rice vinegar, you can use cider vinegar as a substitute. Additionally, feel free to leave out either the garlic or ginger – the dressing will still be excellent.
For a straightforward alternative, consider making this uncomplicated Asian Sesame Dressing.
What goes in the Asian Salad
Here’s the combination of ingredients I use for the salad. However, as previously mentioned, you can truly use any assortment of fresh vegetables with the Asian Dressing, and it will turn out wonderfully!
As for the Crispy Fried Shallots, they can be readily purchased from stores and are shallots that have been deep-fried to achieve a crispy texture. They serve as an excellent salad garnish and are a common addition in our kitchen! You can typically find them in the Asian aisle of supermarkets, although they tend to be more affordable at Asian specialty stores.
What to serve with Asian Side Salad
This salad is a fantastic accompaniment that complements a wide range of Asian dishes perfectly. In fact, I can’t think of any Asian cuisine where this salad wouldn’t be a great match. Here are a few ideas:
- Thai Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce
- Chicken Fried Rice, Thai Fried Rice, or Nasi Goreng (Indonesian Fried Rice)
- Egg Foo Young (Chinese Omelette)
- Spring Rolls!
- Chinese Corn Soup with Chicken
- Sticky Baked Chinese Chicken Wings
- Kung Pao Chicken
- Asian noodles like Chow Mein, Pad See Ew, or Thai Drunken Noodles
Feel free to explore more Asian recipes to find the perfect pairing for this versatile salad!
