Bright, colorful, and packed with flavor: that’s what Asian cuisine is all about. Each country takes pride in its plethora of food offerings, and they are all delectable. Today, let’s take a gastronomic tour of Asia! With Asian cooking, simple ingredients such as rice, noodles, fruits, and veggies are transformed into phenomenal dishes with unique herbs and seasonings. From Japanese noodles to Chinese stir-fry to Indian naan, you’ll never run out of choices for your Asian-themed dinner. I’m also featuring a bunch of desserts, to boot. Best of all, these dishes are easy enough to make any day. Getting bored with your usual dinner rotation? Give your meal a fun Asian twist with these stunning recipes.
1. General Tso’s Chicken
Craving crispy battered chicken in a sweet and spicy sauce? There’s no need to order General Tso’s chicken from your local takeout place. Just make it yourself! This copycat recipe yields such a tasty, restaurant-quality chicken that you’ll fall in love with in just one bite. It’s crisp on the outside, juicy on the inside, and flavorful all over. The sweet and spicy sauce takes it over the top!
2. Beef and Broccoli
This recipe for beef and broccoli will give Panda Express a run for its money. This Chinese staple features tender, juicy beef and crunchy broccoli! Oh, and it has this drool-worthy sauce, too. Together, they make one heck of a dish. It’s so tasty, you won’t believe it’s good for you! The best part? It’s a snap to make. It’s so simple, all you’ll need is one skillet. The ingredients are available in most supermarkets, too!
3. Asian Slaw
Crisp, colorful, and crazy delicious: that’s the best way to describe Asian slaw. Packed with bright vegetables coated in an irresistible sauce, Asian slaw trumps any other slaw. Asian slaw consists of shredded cabbage, carrots, edamame, bell peppers, and peanuts flavored with scallions and cilantro. It’s dressed with a thick, sweet, savory, and spicy sauce. OMG. Can you imagine all those elements in one bite? It’s the perfect medley of flavors and textures!
4. Chinese Noodle Soup
This soup is a bowl of chewy noodles swimming in a steaming savory broth, topped with meats and veggies. It’s truly a work of art! What better way is there to spend a rainy evening than by getting cozy in front of the fireplace and having a bowl or two of chicken noodle soup? It’s the ultimate definition of comfort food, Asian style.
5. Gado Gado
Gado gado is a traditional Indonesian salad that comprises carrots, red cabbage, eggs, rice, and a thick, nutty sauce. This recipe gives the dish a fun twist by using sweet potato instead of carrots, and green beans for red cabbage. But of course, you’re free to use the original ingredients, too. Because this salad is rice-based, it’s very hearty and can be considered a full meal on its own. Done in just 30 minutes, it’s a super quick way to satisfy that Asian craving.
6. Chinese Vegetable Stir-Fry
Chinese vegetable stir-fry is such a popular dish here in the USA, and for good reason. I mean, how can you say no to fried rice mixed with colorful veggies, and a savory sauce? You can’t, you simply can’t! While there are tons of Chinese restaurants out there, I don’t want you to settle for anything less. This stir-fry is so much tastier and healthier that once you’ve tried it, you’ll never go back to takeout!
7. Chinese Broccoli with Oyster Sauce
Don’t let the simplicity of this steamed Chinese broccoli with a garlic ginger oyster sauce fool you. It may seem simple, but it’s loaded with flavor. What makes this dish outrageously delicious is the sauce. It’s not just your typical oyster sauce. Rather, it’s a medley of oyster sauce, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, Mirin, sesame oil, and sugar. How awesome is that? And don’t worry if you can’t get a hold of Chinese broccoli. You can definitely swap it with broccolini stems.
8. Thai Noodle Salad
Thai noodle salad is a combination of rice noodles, crisp veggies, and an insanely delicious peanut sauce. If you’ve never had it before, you’re in for a treat! You’ve probably had noodles with cabbage, carrots, and bell peppers before, so you might be wondering – what’s so special about this one? Well, the answer lies in the sauce. You guys, this peanut sauce is a game-changer! It’s thick, perfectly sweet, spicy, and so wonderfully nutty. It really is a must-try.
9. Lo Mein
Lo mein is a Chinese dish that features fat noodles, a medley of veggies, and an irresistible sauce. The combination of soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, ginger, and sriracha creates this thick, incredibly balanced sauce. It’s the best coating for lo mein noodles! Another great thing about this recipe is that you can add whatever veggies you want to the dish. Feel free to throw in all the leftovers you have in the crisper!
10. Chow Mein
Chow mein is another traditional Chinese dish and is a close relative of lo mein. In fact, the only difference is the texture of the noodles. Chow mein noodles are crisp, which is achieved by frying them. Other than that, the two are practically the same. This chow mein recipe is not only ridiculously tasty, but it’s also super easy to make! All you’ll need is one pot and 15 minutes.
11. Benihana Fried Rice
Move over, Benihana: this homemade fried rice is just as good but costs a lot less. If you’re a regular visitor to this site, you’ve probably noticed that I have a thing for copycat recipes. This dish is the perfect example of why. With this recipe, I can enjoy my favorite Benihana fried rice without leaving the house. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge fan of Benihana. I love the fact that the chef prepares your meal right in front of you! What an amazing experience. But with this easy recipe, I can have a ton of fried rice at a fraction of the cost, anytime I want!
12. Chinese Chicken Wings
These crisp and tender wings are coated in a sweet, sticky, and garlicky sauce. I’ll have a dozen, please! Getting tired of buffalo wings? Give these Chinese wings a try. I promise you, they won’t disappoint. These wings are delicious and game day worthy! The sauce will blow your taste buds away. Don’t worry, they’re baked, not fried. So go ahead, have that 13th wing. You know you want to!
13. Ramen Noodle Stir-Fry
Who says you can’t have an excellent dinner with instant ramen? This recipe is here to prove them wrong. All you’ll need is a few packs of instant ramen, ground beef, and a bunch of Asian seasonings, and you’ll have a restaurant-quality ramen noodle stir-fry! The combination of noodles, tender beef, and sweet and spicy sauce will knock your socks off!
14. Thai Green Curry Paste
Looking for an umami-packed marinade for your chicken, pork, and other meats? Why not try this Thai green curry paste? It’s savory, mildly spicy, and bursting with flavor! This curry paste is a combination of green chilies, shrimp paste, cumin, garlic, lemon, and peppercorns. This simple sauce is super easy to make. Just toss all the ingredients in a food processor and blend away.
15. Vietnamese Coffee
If you’re a coffee-lover, then you have to try Vietnamese coffee. It may not be as popular as macchiato and cappuccino, but it deserves the spotlight just as much. Vietnamese coffee has a rich and bold flavor with a hazelnut undertone. Another thing that makes it so special is that it’s served with sweetened condensed milk. Together, they make the most wonderful balance of flavors!
16. Peanut Dipping Sauce
Looking for a new dip for your veggies or a dressing for your salad? Try this rich and creamy peanut sauce. You can thank me later. Made with creamy peanut butter, rice vinegar, soy sauce, honey, ginger, garlic, and coconut milk, this dipping sauce is ultra-thick and savory. You’ll get sweet, savory, creamy, and spicy in just one sauce, and I think that’s beautiful.
17. Wonton Soup
Feeling a little blue? How about a bowl of steaming soup loaded with tender and meaty wontons? One spoonful can quickly turn that frown upside down. Wontons are a type of Chinese dumpling. They’re made with ground meat wrapped in a dumpling wrapper and steamed until cooked and tender. If you’ve never had them before, now is the time!
18. Scallion Pancake
A scallion pancake is the Chinese version of the classic American breakfast. This pancake is crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and wonderfully savory all over. If you’re looking for a new twist on your regular pancakes, this is the recipe for you.
19. Sesame Salad Dressing
Want to try a new dressing for that salad? This sesame salad dressing is everything you’ll need. Sesame salad dressing, or “goma,” is a popular sauce in Japan, and for good reason. The mixture of ground sesame seeds and mayonnaise is pure genius! It’s rich, creamy, and full of flavor. This recipe, however, is a cleaner version of the calorie-filled dressing. A mixture of sesame seeds, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, and sesame oil, it’s just as tasty, but a lot healthier.
20. Sesame Noodles
Sesame noodles that only take 20 minutes to make? Say goodbye to takeout and hello to this quick and easy recipe. Dressed with the most flavorful peanut sauce, these sesame noodles are the bomb! The sauce is a combo of sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, peanut butter, ginger, garlic, and sriracha. That list alone will tell you just how delicious it is.
21. Fortune Cookies
Looking for a creative way to tell a friend or loved one some good news? Say it with a fortune cookie. Did you know that you can whip up your very own fortune cookies with just basic pantry ingredients? All you’ll need are flour, egg whites, butter, sugar, vanilla, almond extract, and a special message!
22. Naan Bread
Craving Indian food? Scratch that itch with some homemade naan bread. Naan is a super soft, pillowy, and buttery flatbread that’s perfect with curries, thick stews, and dips. Sure, it will take some effort to make, but it’s worth it.
23. Royal Milk Tea
Milk tea, or boba, as we like to call it, is a super popular Asian drink made from a combination of – surprise – milk and tea. Served with ice, it’s a wonderfully refreshing drink, perfect for beating the summer heat! Royal milk tea originated in Japan and is made from a blend of milk and Lipton royal tea. It may seem so simple, but the flavor combination is spot on!
24. Indian Red Lentil
Cooking for vegans tonight? This red lentil dal will be a guaranteed hit. This plant-based dish is wonderfully rich and creamy. It smells so good, too, thanks to the garlic, ginger, and other spices. Since it only takes 30 minutes to make from scratch, it’s perfect for impromptu parties!
25. Cashew Chicken
Cashew chicken is a simple, 20-minute dish that will make your heart shout for joy. Tender chicken, crisp veggies, and crunchy cashews are three components that already taste amazing as they are. But this recipe amps up the flavor even more by coating them in a super savory garlic sauce. Together, they make one unbelievably tasty dish.
26. Jasmine Rice
Most, if not all, Asian countries often use rice in their cooking. It’s the number one side dish for meats, stews, and other protein-based dishes. If you’re having an Asian party, a pot of steaming rice is a must. It may be intimidating to prepare, but it’s actually very easy. This recipe tells you everything you need to nail it on the first try.
27. Chang’s Crispy Noodle Salad
Cabbage, almonds, and crispy noodles in a salad? The combination may seem strange, but it definitely works. This salad is crispy indeed! But what makes it taste even more phenomenal is the sesame dressing. Rich and creamy, its flavors complement the crisp elements of the salad wonderfully well.
28. Dan Dan Noodles
Dan dan noodles are another popular Chinese dish. What makes them extra special is the spicy sauce made from chili oil, scallions, and Sichuan pepper. There are four different elements to this dish – the meat, the pickled veggies, the sauce, and the chili oil – but it’s still pretty easy to make, nonetheless. Also, these noodles are so heavenly that every minute is worth it.
29. Bok Choy
Looking for the perfect way to season and cook bok choy? Look no further: this simple recipe is all you’ll need. With just some garlic, ginger, and sesame seeds, you can transform the humble bok choy into an irresistible side dish.
30. Red Bean Ice Cream
Also known as azuki, red beans are a popular dessert ingredient in Japan. Red bean paste is widely used to stuff mochi and other pastries, but it can also be used to flavor ice cream. Want something unique for dessert? Get some red bean paste, whole milk, and sugar, and make Japanese ice cream! Click on a star to rate it!
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