10 Perfect Side Dishes To Serve With Dumplings

When the craving for dumplings strikes, it often brings with it a desire for a perfect accompaniment. Dumplings are incredibly versatile, originating from various cuisines like Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Eastern European, each with its unique flair. With such diversity, there's a vast array of side dishes that can enhance your dumpling feast, elevating the experience from simple to sublime. Here are 10 Perfect Side Dishes to serve with dumplings, ensuring your meal is balanced, satisfying, and utterly delicious.

Traditional Chinese Pickled Vegetables 🥬

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Pickled vegetables are a staple in Chinese cuisine, offering a sharp contrast to the soft and doughy dumplings. These sides provide:

• Crunch and Tang: The crunchiness adds a delightful texture, while the tangy vinegar cuts through the richness of the dumplings.
• Variety: From Sichuanese pickled cabbage to the sweeter Taiwanese pickles, you have a range of flavors to choose from.

To prepare:

1. Choose Your Vegetables: Cabbage, cucumbers, carrots, or even mustard greens work well.
2. Seasoning: A simple brine of vinegar, sugar, salt, and perhaps chili flakes for heat can be used.
3. Marinate: Allow the veggies to sit in the brine for at least a day, though they can be eaten sooner for a milder taste.

<p class="pro-note">👨‍🍳 Note: Overpickling can make the vegetables too sour, so taste periodically to find your preferred level of pickling.</p>

Steamed Bok Choy with Oyster Sauce 🥬

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Steamed bok choy with oyster sauce is not only visually appealing but also:

• Nutritious: Bok choy is packed with vitamins A and C, calcium, and antioxidants.
• Complementary: The mild flavor of bok choy doesn't overpower the dumplings, and the oyster sauce adds a savory dimension.

Here's how to make it:

1. Steam: Steam the bok choy until it's tender but still has a slight crunch.
2. Sauce: Mix oyster sauce, soy sauce, a bit of sugar, and perhaps some cornstarch for thickness.
3. Dress: Drizzle the sauce over the hot bok choy right before serving.

Scallion Pancakes 🥞

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Scallion pancakes provide:

• Crunch and Flavor: The crispy exterior with the sweet and savory scallions inside pairs perfectly with the dumplings.
• Diversity in Texture: They offer a change from the soft texture of dumplings, adding complexity to the meal.

How to cook:

1. Dough: Make a dough from flour, water, and salt.
2. Filling: Roll out, spread with scallions and oil, then roll up and twist into a spiral.
3. Cook: Fry until golden and crispy.

Kimchi 📦

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Kimchi, the iconic Korean side dish, adds:

• Fermented Probiotics: It’s not only flavorful but also beneficial for your gut health.
• Contrast of Flavors: The spicy, sour, and slightly sweet notes of kimchi complement the savory dumplings.

You can:

• Serve store-bought kimchi straight from the jar, or
• Make your own if you're feeling adventurous.

Cucumber Salad with Sesame Oil and Rice Vinegar 🥒

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This simple yet elegant salad:

• Refreshes: The coolness of the cucumber with the subtle flavors of sesame oil and rice vinegar acts as a palate cleanser.
• Adds Lightness: It contrasts the dense, filling dumplings with its lightness.

Steps to make:

1. Slice: Thinly slice cucumbers, salt them, and let them sit to release moisture.
2. Marinate: Toss with rice vinegar, a dash of sesame oil, and optional chili flakes.
3. Chill: Let it sit in the fridge for flavors to meld.

Miso Soup 🍲

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Miso soup complements dumplings by:

• Offering Liquid Balance: It provides hydration, balancing the potentially high-salt content of dumplings.
• Adding Depth: The umami flavor of miso rounds out the taste profile of a dumpling meal.

To prepare:

1. Dashi: Start with dashi, a traditional Japanese broth base.
2. Miso: Dissolve miso paste in the hot but not boiling dashi to preserve its flavor.
3. Additions: Include ingredients like tofu, seaweed, and green onions.

Daikon Radish Kimchi 🥦

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Daikon radish kimchi:

• Pairs with Dumplings: Its spiciness and crunch complement the texture and flavor of dumplings.
• Health Benefits: Daikon is high in fiber, aids digestion, and adds a unique flavor.

Here's how to make it:

1. Prep: Julienne the daikon radish.
2. Season: Mix with chili flakes, garlic, ginger, fish sauce, and sugar.
3. Ferment: Let it sit at room temperature for a day or two, then refrigerate.

Quick Pickled Mushrooms 🍄

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Mushrooms pickled with vinegar, garlic, and herbs:

• Provide Umami: Their earthy flavor and soft texture are a nice foil to the dumpling filling.
• Texture and Flavor: They give a burst of flavor and an interesting texture contrast.

Here's a simple recipe:

1. Mushrooms: Use varieties like button or oyster.
2. Brine: Combine vinegar, water, sugar, salt, garlic, and perhaps some herbs or spices.
3. Pickle: Heat the brine, pour over the mushrooms, cool, and refrigerate.

Chinese Egg Drop Soup 🥚

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Egg drop soup:

• Lightness: It's a gentle, light addition to your meal, providing a break from the heavier dumplings.
• Versatility: You can add ingredients like corn, spinach, or even shrimp for variety.

How to make:

1. Broth: Start with a light chicken or vegetable broth.
2. Eggs: Slowly pour beaten eggs into the swirling soup to create the characteristic egg ribbons.
3. Season: Add soy sauce, green onions, and perhaps a dash of sesame oil.

Ponzu Sauce Dipping Station 🎨

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While not a side dish in the traditional sense, a selection of ponzu sauces:

• Enhances the Experience: Offers a customizable flavor experience, adding a citrusy tang to the dumplings.
• Interactive: It engages your guests, making the meal more interactive and enjoyable.

Prepare:

1. Basic Ponzu: Mix soy sauce, citrus juice (yuzu if possible, or lemon/lime), rice vinegar, and mirin.
2. Variations: Add ingredients like grated daikon, chili, scallions, or ginger for different flavors.

Serving with these sides ensures your dumpling meal is not just about the dumplings but a complete gastronomic adventure, exploring the world through complementary flavors, textures, and traditional accompaniments. Each side dish adds something unique, making your dumpling dining experience truly unforgettable.

Whether you opt for the spicy crunch of kimchi, the delicate steam of bok choy, or the interactive fun of a ponzu dipping station, there's no doubt that these sides will elevate your dumpling night into a feast for the senses. Enjoy exploring the diversity that each dish brings to the table, enriching your appreciation for not just the dumplings but the rich culinary cultures from which they hail.

<div class="faq-section"> <div class="faq-container"> <div class="faq-item"> <div class="faq-question"> <h3>What are some traditional sides for dumplings?</h3> <span class="faq-toggle">+</span> </div> <div class="faq-answer"> <p>Traditional sides for dumplings include pickled vegetables, steamed bok choy with oyster sauce, kimchi, and miso soup, offering a balance of flavors and textures.</p> </div> </div> <div class="faq-item"> <div class="faq-question"> <h3>Can I make these side dishes ahead of time?</h3> <span class="faq-toggle">+</span> </div> <div class="faq-answer"> <p>Many of these dishes, like kimchi or pickled vegetables, can be prepared in advance, with flavors improving over time. However, for optimal freshness, some sides like scallion pancakes are best enjoyed soon after cooking.</p> </div> </div> <div class="faq-item"> <div class="faq-question"> <h3>Are these side dishes suitable for vegetarians?</h3> <span class="faq-toggle">+</span> </div> <div class="faq-answer"> <p>Most of the listed sides are vegetarian-friendly. Just ensure to use vegetarian oyster sauce and vegetable broth for dishes like miso soup or Chinese egg drop soup if you're avoiding meat.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div>