Asian-Inspired Side Dishes That Will Take You All Over The Continent

The flavors of Asian cuisine are far-reaching, and we've got plenty of side dishes that show all the best of the continent and go perfectly with a bánh mì, Korean BBQ, or your next Indian curry. Whether you're craving something spicy, pungent, umami, or all three, we think you'll really love these easy Asian-inspired side dishes, like Chinese smashed cucumbers, saffron rice, kimchi, and more.

Speaking of kimchi (we're always talking about it, TBH, such is our love for this staple): There is no Korean feast without plenty of kimchi on the table. Delightfully funky, kimchi is often seen as solely just pickled cabbage, but it's actually a broad name for a type of Korean banchan—or side dish—that is served alongside most meals in Korea. We love serving kimchi alongside bibimbap, stirred it into kimchi fried rice, or folded it into creamy kimchi pasta. Some other favorite banchan include soy-marinated eggs, Tteokbokki, and garlic-sesame sautéed spinach (sautéed sigeumchi namul).

And if you're a spice fiend like we are, so many of our favorite Asian-inspired sides also happen to highlight our favorite regional spicy condiments (like Thai sriracha and prik nam pla, Yemeni zhoug, Indian mango chutney, Korean gochujang, and Chinese chili oil). With these iconic condiments, it couldn't be easier to add complex layers of heat. If you need some beginner-friendly recipes, try our our recipes for papaya salad, Sichuan-style "fish-fragrant" eggplant, chili-smashed potatoes, and gobi Manchurian.

Hungry for more? Try all our favorite classic Asian dinner recipes and Asian-inspired desserts next!