Chinese cuisine is a celebration of flavors, colors, and textures that can turn any meal into a feast. With the right side dishes, you can add a burst of joy to your dinner table. Let’s explore some delightful recipes that will not only please your palate but also bring smiles all around!
Garlic Stir-Fried Green Beans

Sautéed Green Beans with Garlic from RecipeTin Eats
Rating: 5. Ingredients: 13 min Total Time: 13 min.
This dish is a vibrant mix of crunchy green beans and aromatic garlic, making it a favorite at family gatherings. The beans are quickly stir-fried at high heat, allowing them to retain their crispiness while soaking up the flavorful garlic oil.
What makes this recipe special is the simple yet bold flavors that come together in mere minutes. It’s the perfect side to any main dish and adds a splash of color to your plate. The garlic gives it a punch that’s hard to resist, making it a go-to option for both casual dinners and festive occasions.
Sweet and Sour Cucumber Salad

Sweet and Sour Cucumber Salad from Kalyn's Kitchen
Rating: 4.4. Ingredients: 1 h 20 min Total Time: 1 h 20 min.
This refreshing salad combines crisp cucumbers with a delightful sweet and sour dressing that dances on your taste buds. Tossed with vinegar, sugar, and a hint of sesame oil, the cucumbers become a tangy treat that’s perfect for balancing heavier dishes.
What sets this salad apart is its bright flavors and cool crunch, making it a fantastic addition to any meal. It’s especially popular during hot summer days or family gatherings, where everyone appreciates a light, flavorful side. Plus, it’s super easy to whip up, so you can spend more time enjoying the company of your loved ones!
Stir-Fried Bok Choy with Ginger

Chinese New Year Recipes: the 25+ most traditional recipes to celebrate the Lunar Year from Cookist
Ingredients: Nessuna recensione
Bok choy is a leafy green that adds a beautiful touch to any dinner spread, and when paired with ginger, it becomes something truly special. This dish features tender bok choy lightly stir-fried with fresh ginger, resulting in a fragrant and savory side that complements a wide variety of main courses.
The unique flavor of ginger adds warmth and a hint of spice, making it a comforting dish for chilly evenings. This recipe is popular for its health benefits as well, as bok choy is packed with nutrients. Serving this dish will not only brighten your table but also show your guests that you care about their well-being!
Spicy Szechuan Eggplant

Szechuan Eggplant Recipe from Edible Garden
Rating: 5. Ingredients: Pearl onions, eggplant, brown sugar, sesame oil, chilli sauce Total Time: 20 min.

Szechuan Eggplant from Feasting At Home
Rating: 4.9. Ingredients: Five spice, soy sauce, maple syrup, japanese eggplant, sesame oil Total Time: 45 min.

Szechuan Spicy Eggplant from Allrecipes
Rating: 4.2. Ingredients: Lean ground beef, oyster sauce, chili sauce, eggplant, soy sauce Total Time: 50 min.
This eggplant dish is a flavor explosion! The eggplants are cooked until soft and juicy, then tossed in a spicy Szechuan sauce that will make your taste buds sing. The combination of garlic, ginger, and chili paste creates a rich, savory profile that’s simply irresistible.
What makes this dish a crowd favorite is its boldness and depth of flavor, making it the star of the table. Whether you’re a spice lover or just looking to add a kick to your meal, this recipe is sure to impress. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to enjoy eggplant, which often gets overlooked!
Sesame Spinach Salad

The BEST Spinach Goma ae (Japanese Spinach with Sesame) from Mochi Mommy
Rating: 5. Ingredients: Miso, soy sauce, white sesame seeds, baby spinach, sugar Total Time: 15 min.

Japanese Spinach Salad with Sesame Dressing (Gomaae) from Just One Cookbook
Rating: 4.7. Ingredients: Spinach, soy sauce, white sesame seeds, sugar Total Time: 15 min.

Japanese Spinach Salad with Sesame Dressing from Okonomi Kitchen
Rating: 5. Ingredients: Spinach, soy sauce, toasted sesame seeds, sugar
This salad brings together the earthiness of spinach and the nutty richness of sesame oil, creating a delightful addition to your meal. The spinach is lightly blanched to bring out its vibrant color, then tossed with sesame seeds and a hint of soy sauce for an extra layer of flavor.
What’s special about this salad is its health benefits and the ease of preparation—it takes hardly any time to make! It’s a popular choice for celebrations as it pairs beautifully with a variety of main dishes, adding a touch of elegance without much effort. Your guests will appreciate the lightness and freshness this salad brings to the table!