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What to Serve With Chinese Spare Ribs: 15 Best Side Dishes

Pairing Chinese spare ribs with the right side dishes can transform your meal into an unforgettable feast. Fried rice, loaded with vegetables and eggs, complements the savory flavors of the ribs perfectly. Steamed jasmine rice, with its fluffy texture and mild aroma, is another excellent choice. For a burst of color and crunch, a vegetable stir-fry featuring bell peppers and broccoli works wonderfully. An Asian salad, tossed with a zesty soy sauce dressing, or sautéed bok choy with garlic can add even more delicious variety. If you're curious about more flavorful options to complement your meal, continue to explore these exciting pairings.

Fried Rice

chinese takeout favorite dish

Fried rice is an ideal companion to Chinese spare ribs, offering a harmonious blend of savory flavors and textures. This popular side dish is made with cooked rice, vegetables like peas and carrots, and often eggs or meat, which complements the sweet and tangy ribs perfectly.

Its versatility and quick preparation in a wok or skillet make it a satisfying and complete addition to your meal.

Steamed Jasmine Rice

cooked jasmine rice grains

Steamed jasmine rice, with its fragrant aroma and fluffy texture, serves as an excellent side dish to Chinese spare ribs. This versatile rice absorbs the savory flavors of the ribs, enhancing the overall dining experience.

Simple to prepare with just water and rice, jasmine rice's light and delicate nature balances the rich, robust flavors of Chinese spare ribs perfectly.

Vegetable Stir-Fry

healthy and colorful dish

A vibrant vegetable stir-fry offers a nutritious and quick side dish that perfectly complements the fragrant steamed jasmine rice and savory Chinese spare ribs.

This easy recipe features colorful vegetables like bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, and snow peas, all sautéed to perfection.

The combination of crunchy textures and savory sauces, such as soy or oyster sauce, enhances the rich flavors of the Chinese spare ribs.

Asian Salad

fresh colorful crunchy mix

Enhancing the meal with an Asian salad provides an invigorating and crunchy contrast to the rich Chinese spare ribs. This delightful side dish features fresh vegetables like cucumber, carrot, and cabbage, all tossed in a flavorful dressing made with soy sauce.

As one of the favorite Asian side dishes, it adds a rejuvenating and zesty touch, making the dining experience truly balanced and enjoyable.

Bok Choy

healthy leafy green vegetable

Bok Choy, with its mild, slightly sweet flavor and crunchy texture, serves as an excellent complement to Chinese spare ribs. This healthy vegetable can be quickly stir-fried with garlic and oyster sauce, making it an ideal side dish.

Rich in essential vitamins and low in calories, Bok Choy adds a nutritious and invigorating element to your meal, enhancing the savory taste of the ribs.

Smacked Cucumber

unexpected vegetable mishap tale

Smacked Cucumber, a vibrant and flavorful side dish, brings a revitalizing contrast to the richness of Chinese spare ribs. Bursting with spicy, salty, and sour flavors, this invigorating dish is quick and easy to prepare.

Its well-balanced flavors complement the savory and bold taste of Chinese spare ribs, offering a light and zesty option that enhances the overall dining experience.

Char Siu Eggplant

delicious grilled eggplant dish

Char Siu Eggplant is a traditional Chinese side dish that features roasted eggplant glazed with a sweet and savory char siu sauce. It offers a delightful vegetarian complement to Chinese spare ribs. This meat-free dish captures the essence of char siu, with caramelized miso glaze enhancing the eggplant's flavor.

Quick and easy to prepare, Char Siu Eggplant balances sweet and savory notes, perfectly enhancing your meal.

Chinese Broccoli

stir fried leafy green vegetable

Another excellent accompaniment to Chinese spare ribs is Chinese broccoli, also known as Gai Lan, a nutritious leafy green vegetable often used in Chinese cuisine.

This nutrient-rich vegetable is typically stir-fried, offering a slightly bitter taste with a hint of sweetness. Rich in vitamins A and C, as well as iron and calcium, Chinese broccoli pairs wonderfully with garlic sauce or light soy sauce.

Dry Fried Green Beans

crispy chinese green beans

Dry Fried Green Beans, a popular Chinese side dish, offer a quick and easy way to infuse your meal with a delicious umami flavor.

These green beans, slightly blistered, burst with a savory taste that perfectly complements Chinese spare ribs.

A favorite in Chinese cuisine, their crunchy texture and rich flavors elevate any meal, making them an ideal pairing for your ribs.

Blistered Shishito Peppers

spicy japanese pepper appetizer

Blistered Shishito Peppers, with their smoky and umami-rich flavor, serve as a quick and impressive side dish that pairs excellently with Chinese spare ribs.

Ready in just 10 minutes, these flavorful peppers are easy to prepare and need minimal ingredients.

Their burst of flavor and slight heat add a unique touch, making them a convenient and delightful addition to your meal.

Miso Soup

comforting bowl of warmth

Miso soup is a traditional Japanese dish made from fermented soybean paste and dashi broth. It offers a nutritious and umami-rich complement to Chinese spare ribs. This side dish is rich in essential nutrients and probiotics, enhancing gut health.

Its customizable ingredients, like tofu and seaweed, add flavor depth. Miso soup is a delightful and comforting pairing with the savory notes of Chinese spare ribs.

Japanese Coleslaw

colorful cabbage salad recipe

After the soothing warmth of miso soup, Japanese coleslaw brings an energizing and crunchy contrast to the meal, enhancing the enjoyment of Chinese spare ribs with its unique blend of flavors.

This revitalizing side dish combines cabbage and carrots with a savory-sweet dressing, offering a light and tangy profile.

The invigorating crunch perfectly complements the rich, umami notes of the spare ribs, making it an ideal pairing.

Seaweed Salad

seaweed recipe with vinegar

How can you elevate your Chinese spare ribs meal with a side dish that offers both nutritional benefits and an invigorating taste?

Try seaweed salad, a traditional Japanese side dish. Made from wakame or kombu and seasoned with soy sauce, sesame oil, and rice vinegar, it delivers a crunchy texture and umami flavor.

Its light, rejuvenating taste balances the richness of the ribs beautifully.

Edamame

steamed soybean pods appetizer

Complementing the invigorating seaweed salad, edamame offers another nutritious and flavorful side dish that pairs perfectly with Chinese spare ribs. These young soybeans, popular in Asian cuisine, are rich in protein, fiber, and essential vitamins.

Simply boiled or steamed and lightly salted, edamame is a healthy choice. The interactive experience of squeezing the beans out of the pods makes it a fun addition to your meal.

Are the Same Side Dishes Suitable for Both Chinese Spare Ribs and Stone Crabs?

When serving Chinese spare ribs and stone crabs, it’s essential to select the best side dishes for stone crabs that complement the flavors of both dishes. For spare ribs, consider serving fried rice or stir-fried vegetables. For stone crabs, opt for coleslaw or corn on the cob to balance the richness.

Vegetable Egg Rolls

tasty chinese appetizer option

Vegetable egg rolls, with their crispy wrappers and savory vegetable fillings, provide a delightful contrast to the rich flavors of Chinese spare ribs. These vegetarian-friendly appetizers, filled with cabbage, carrots, and mushrooms, are deep-fried to golden perfection.

Served with a flavorful dipping sauce like sweet and sour or plum sauce, vegetable egg rolls offer a crunchy texture that perfectly complements hearty Chinese spare ribs.