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What to Serve With Hotpot: 15 Best Side Dishes

Enhance your hotpot experience with a diverse array of side dishes. Start with pickled vegetables for a zesty contrast and garlic soy sauce to add umami depth. Spicy kimchi introduces a tangy and fiery element, while seaweed salad offers umami-packed freshness. Scallion pancakes and steamed rice provide satisfying balance. Dumplings and spring rolls deliver chewy and crispy textures, respectively. Try sesame noodles for a flavorful twist, and add nutritious options like Chinese broccoli and edamame. Fried tofu, fish balls, and sweet potato fries offer delightful textures. Lastly, a invigorating cucumber salad makes for a simple yet tasty finish. Explore these options to elevate your meal!

Pickled Vegetables

preserving food in jars

Pickled vegetables provide a zesty and invigorating contrast that complements the rich flavors of hotpot perfectly. They offer a flavor balance that cuts through the richness, enhancing the overall dining experience.

Preparation techniques involve soaking vegetables in a brine of vinegar, salt, and sugar, creating a delightful tanginess. This process not only preserves the vegetables but also infuses them with vibrant, revitalizing flavors.

Garlic Soy Sauce

tasty asian marinade option

Guaranteeing the umami profile of your hotpot, garlic soy sauce delivers a robust and savory depth that enhances the overall flavor experience.

As one of the premier dipping options, its flavor variations can be tailored to your taste by adjusting the balance of garlic and soy.

This versatile sauce guarantees each bite is a delightful blend of richness and zest, complementing any ingredient.

Spicy Kimchi

tangy fermented cabbage dish

Adding a vibrant punch to your hotpot, spicy kimchi introduces a tangy and fiery element that complements the rich, savory broth.

Rooted in Korean culture, kimchi is made through fermentation, which enriches it with probiotics and enhances its flavor profile.

These fermentation benefits not only add complexity to your meal but also promote gut health, making it a delicious and nutritious side dish.

Seaweed Salad

healthy oceanic green dish

Complementing the bold flavors of spicy kimchi, seaweed salad offers an invigorating and umami-packed contrast that enhances the overall hotpot experience.

Rich in iodine, calcium, and vitamins, seaweed salad provides notable nutritional benefits.

For preparation tips, simply soak dried seaweed in water until rehydrated, then toss it with sesame oil, soy sauce, and rice vinegar.

This simple yet flavorful side dish is a delightful addition.

Scallion Pancakes

delicious fried chinese dish

Scallion pancakes bring a crispy and savory element to the hotpot table, making them an excellent side dish choice. Their crispy texture complements the rich flavors of hotpot, providing a delightful contrast.

As a versatile ingredient, they can be enjoyed on their own or dipped into various sauces. This makes scallion pancakes a crowd-pleasing addition to any hotpot meal.

Steamed Rice

freshly cooked jasmine rice

Steamed rice serves as a neutral and comforting side dish that balances the bold and spicy flavors of a hotpot meal.

Various rice varieties, from jasmine to basmati, each offer unique textures and flavors.

Mastering different cooking techniques, whether using a rice cooker or stovetop method, guarantees perfectly fluffy rice every time, making it an ideal accompaniment to the rich and diverse hotpot ingredients.

Dumplings

delicious and comforting treat

Dumplings offer a delightful contrast to steamed rice, bringing a chewy texture and a burst of savory flavors that complement the hotpot experience.

Dumpling varieties such as pork, shrimp, and vegetable provide diverse tastes that cater to different preferences.

Paired with dipping sauces like soy sauce, vinegar, and chili oil, these dumplings enhance the hotpot with their rich, satisfying profiles.

Spring Rolls

delicious crispy vegetable filled rolls

Why not elevate your hotpot meal with the crisp and savory delight of spring rolls? These tasty appetizers, with their diverse filling options like vegetables, shrimp, or pork, add a delightful crunch to your feast.

Pair them with a variety of dipping sauces, such as sweet chili or peanut sauce, to enhance their flavors and complement the hotpot experience perfectly.

Sesame Noodles

full of umami flavor

Sesame noodles offer a flavorful and satisfying side dish that pairs exceptionally well with hotpot. Featuring a delightful blend of toasted sesame flavors, these noodles can be prepared in various styles, from thin vermicelli to thicker udon variations.

Their rich taste and versatile texture complement the hotpot's savory broth, making them a delightful addition that enhances the overall dining experience.

Chinese Broccoli

crisp leafy green vegetable

Chinese broccoli, with its tender stalks and slightly bitter leaves, serves as a nutritious and flavorful side dish that perfectly complements the rich and savory broths of hotpot. Its nutritional benefits include high levels of vitamins A and C.

Common cooking methods include blanching and stir-frying, which help retain its vibrant color and crisp texture, making it a delightful addition to any hotpot meal.

Fried Tofu

vegan comfort food choice

Fried tofu, with its golden-brown exterior and soft interior, offers a delightful contrast in texture that enhances the hotpot dining experience.

The tofu texture becomes deliciously crispy through careful frying techniques, making it an irresistible addition. Perfectly fried, it soaks up the hotpot broth, adding depth and flavor.

Its versatility and appealing texture make fried tofu a must-try side dish for any hotpot meal.

Edamame

green soybean snack pods

Complementing the richness of fried tofu, edamame offers a rejuvenating and nutritious balance to your hotpot meal. Packed with protein, fiber, and essential vitamins, edamame's nutritional benefits are undeniable.

For preparation tips, simply boil the pods in salted water for 5 minutes, then drain and sprinkle with sea salt. This quick and easy side dish adds a revitalizing touch to your hotpot experience.

Fish Balls

fried street food snack

Fish balls are a popular addition to hotpot, known for their tender texture and savory flavor. They offer a delightful texture contrast, enhancing the overall dining experience.

Fish balls also contribute to flavor balance, blending seamlessly with rich broths and fresh vegetables. Their subtle taste allows other ingredients to shine, making them a versatile and essential component of any hotpot meal.

Sweet Potato Fries

tasty alternative to regular fries

While fish balls bring a savory note to hotpot, sweet potato fries add a delightful touch of sweetness and crunch. These fries not only enhance the meal's flavor but also offer health benefits, being rich in vitamins and fiber.

Pair them with a variety of dipping sauces, such as honey mustard or spicy aioli, for an extra layer of taste.

Can the Same Side Dishes Be Served With Hotpot and Fried Calamari?

When serving hotpot, the best side dishes for calamari to consider are crispy french fries, zesty coleslaw, or a refreshing garden salad. These flavorful options complement the fried calamari perfectly, providing a balance of textures and flavors to the meal.

Cucumber Salad

refreshing summer side dish

A rejuvenating cucumber salad serves as an excellent palate cleanser amidst the rich and hearty components of a hotpot meal. Its revitalizing crunch brings a delightful contrast, enhancing the overall dining experience.

This salad offers quick preparation, making it an ideal choice for those seeking simplicity without compromising on flavor. Thinly sliced cucumbers, a splash of vinegar, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds complete this delightful dish.