Whether you’re ordering vegetable fried rice from your favorite take-out restaurant or making your own veggie fried rice at home, these are the perfect dishes to pair with fried rice.
Do you like to eat your fried rice with a fork, or do you keep a stash of extra chopsticks in the drawer?
Is there a special plate or bowl just for fried rice dinners?
Why am I asking all these questions?
Because savoring fried rice is an art.
Congratulate yourself on skillfully sauteing green onions and tossing a bowl of cold rice into the frying pan over high heat, with a splash of soy sauce, a twist of black pepper, and a fried egg (or tofu egg), like the home chef you are!
Your flavorful main dish is loved by all in your family, but it’s not enough for the feast you were hoping for.
So the better question is: what to eat with fried rice?
All the recipes featured below are either vegetarian or vegan and cover a wide range of cravings, from crispy tofu to garlic-glazed vegetables and spicy, steaming soups.
Choose one or several - they’re all winners!
Air Fryer Frozen Dumplings (Potstickers)
If you don’t have a permanent space on your countertop for your air fryer yet, this recipe might be a great way to motivate you. And you don’t need to assemble dumplings by hand. Simply use pre-made, frozen dumplings or potstickers and spray a little bit of olive oil on them. This side dish can be ready in 5 minutes, so making batches of them for a large crowd is quick and easy.
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Air Fryer Frozen Egg Rolls
Just imagine the crunchy egg roll shell and the hot veggie filling dipped into a tiny pot of sweet chili sauce. Like the potstickers, you can use store-bought egg rolls, and there’s no need to defrost. The only thing is they need more time to cook - two rolls take about 11 minutes, but it’s worth it for that deep-fry texture without the oil.
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Salt and Pepper Air Fryer Tofu
Did you know that block of tofu in your fridge could be a crispy side dish in less than 15 minutes? It’s time to get your mini skewers and dipping sauce ready! This salt and pepper tofu is simple to make and adds healthy, plant-based protein to your fried rice.
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Chinese Broccoli (Gai Lan) by The Forked Spoon
Gai lan or Chinese broccoli has crunchy stalks and bitter leaves, perfectly suited as extra vegetables for your fried rice. This recipe kicks up the heat and flavor with Thai peppers and fresh garlic. If you don’t have a local Asian supermarket nearby, you can substitute with broccoli rabe or broccolini.
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Garlic Bok Choy by This Wife Cooks
Bok choy is a popular choice as a side dish if you crave fresh veggies. It’s crunchy like broccoli rabe or cabbage but has a mild flavor, like spinach. This is the type of recipe you’ll want to make last - it’s best served hot.
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Sticky Tofu by Zardyplants
Sweet, glossy cubes of tofu in a finger-lickin' teriyaki sauce…your taste buds will thank you! You can also experiment with other sauces but the secret ingredient to the irresistibly sticky texture is added sugar.
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Sweet Chili Edamame by Peas and Crayons
The usual savory flavor of edamame is enhanced with a spicy, garlic sauce. Once you prepare the soybeans properly, this dish is an easy swirl around the wok before serving alongside your fried rice.
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Kimchi Soup by Champagne Tastes
Next time you’re drooling over your latest jar of kimchi, don’t toss it on top of your fried rice - upgrade it into an epic soup! This bowl of comfort is spicy, slightly sour, and full of chewy potatoes and crunchy kimchi pieces. You can also vary the broth with white miso paste.
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Vegetables and Tofu in Gochujang Sauce by Herbivore Cucina
This mouth-watering dish of chunky, spicy vegetables and tofu is served over jasmine rice but it would make a fine companion to your famous fried rice! The heat comes from a few scoops of Korean gochujang (red pepper) paste.
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Air Fryer Lemon Tofu by Veggies Save the Day
This is the simplest side dish to make and it has plenty of unique flavor from a delicious lemon sauce. Your air fryer will help you create a healthier version of the tofu you find in your favorite Chinese restaurant. And remember to use a tofu press for the crispiest results.
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Burmese Tofu with Garlic Ginger Chilli Sauce by Vegan on Board
Are you ready for a new type of tofu that doesn’t use soy? It’s made from gram flour, also known as besan or chickpea flour. Top it off with this divine garlic ginger sauce for a spectacular side treat to your fried rice.
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Sweet and Sour Tofu by Vegan Punks
Tofu, veggies, and rice are a classic trifecta in Chinese cuisine - they just belong together! Here, pan fried tofu cubes are added to stir fry vegetables and pineapple and finished off with a tasty sweet and sour sauce.
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Sticky Sesame Tofu with Broccoli by My Quiet Kitchen
Chewy tofu and crunchy broccoli in a sweet, sesame sauce make this side dish a great addition to your dinner table. One helpful tip: for a more decadent dish, double the recipe for the sauce.
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Teriyaki Tempeh by The Vegan Larder
Tempeh is used here for this fabulous recipe but you can also use tofu or your favorite meat alternative. A few basic ingredients transform the plain tempeh slices into a gorgeous teriyaki dish, which provides plenty of protein to your fried rice.
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Lotus Root and Tofu Soup by Mildly Indian
It’s the root of the magnificent lotus flower and you will find fresh, frozen, or canned varieties in your local Asian grocery. It’s loaded with vitamin C and other antioxidants. In this recipe, it’s placed in a simple, clear soup with soft tofu, lemongrass, and other fresh ingredients.
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Baby Bok Choy and Tofu Stir Fry by Melissa Traub
Pressing the tofu here will help you flip the cubes around more easily in the frying pan. As shown, you can make a basic press with paper towels and heavy plates. This recipe comes together quickly because there is hardly any prep work, other than the tofu press.
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Daikon Radish in Miso Broth by Joyful Dumplings
If you make a lot of Asian dishes, you might already have these ingredients (except the radish) in your kitchen. The daikon radish is a high-fiber cruciferous vegetable, one of the top cancer-fighting foods with extraordinary health benefits. It’s not as spicy as the other types of radishes and has a sweet flavor when cooked.
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Roasted Cauliflower with Gochujang Mayo by Braised and Deglazed
One of my favorite recipes is cauliflower that’s roasted to a golden brown with crispy edges but this version takes it to another level. Gochujang (chili paste) is mixed with mayo and a few other key ingredients to make a spicy glaze for the roasted veggies.
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Pho Vietnamese Noodle Soup by Happy Kitchen
Pho is a popular dish made with beef, vegetables, and a delicious broth. Here’s a vegan version that’s even better than the original. Once you have all the ingredients, it’s also a beautiful dish to put together.
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Spicy Stir Fried Romaine Lettuce by Healthy World Cuisine
Here’s a little culinary surprise: you can stir fry romaine lettuce! Forget how you usually eat it and try out this interesting twist on a classic green vegetable. Be careful not to overcook it or it will lose its crunch.
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Cabbage Stir Fry by The Bella Vita
While you’re feasting on fluffy, aromatic fried rice, it’s also good to crunch on a superstar vegetable like cabbage. Like the daikon radish, cabbage is a superfood that deserves more room on your plate. This recipe uses some of the same ingredients as your fried rice so it’s a convenient and healthy side dish.
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Air Fryer Veg Manchurian by Culinary Shades
Two handy kitchen appliances will help you create this fascinating meal - the food processor and the air fryer. These vegetable balls are formed with small pieces of cabbage, carrots, scallions etc. and they are placed in a savory, spicy gravy. Adjust the level of spiciness to your taste.
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Air Fryer Edamame by I Heart Vegetables
Frozen edamame is seasoned with olive oil, garlic and sea salt (the coarser grains of salt amplify the flavor of this delightful dish). And here’s the best part: you toss the frozen edamame right into the air fryer. Five minutes later, you have an addictive snack to go with your fried rice.
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Asian Salad by iFoodReal
Red cabbage, edamame and crunchy bell peppers - what a fun salad to eat! Toss some of the freshly-made Asian dressing on top of these colorful vegetables and you have yourself a hearty side dish.
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General Tso’s Cauliflower by A Little and a Lot
This delicious dish will transform a bland meal into a sensational experience! So many people have tried to recreate General Tso’s in a healthier way and this one succeeds charmingly. Give it a try - if you don’t want to deep fry the cauliflower, you can also put it in the air fryer.
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Butternut Squash Curry with Chickpeas by Veggie Fun Kitchen
This exotic dish is a memorable one for your guests. It’s rich in taste, satisfying and looks impressive on your dinner table. Save time by using canned chickpeas and fire-roasted tomatoes - you won’t lose out on the flavor.
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Instant Pot Korean Cauliflower by FoodnService
Here’s a different way to enjoy cauliflower - pressure it and add a thick, tasty sauce that pairs nicely with your fried rice dish.
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Kung Pao Brussels Sprouts by Piping Pot Curry
It could be said that the air fryer was invented for brussels sprouts. They are amazing when cooked this way! The outside is crispy and flaky without being burnt, and the insides are tender and delicious. The highlight of a kung pao dish is the spicy flavor and crunchy peanuts. Pull out the fancy chopsticks for this one!
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General Tso’s Tofu by No Sweat Vegan
This recipe combines two of our favorite Asian foods - General Tso’s sauce and tofu. Don’t be tempted to pre-season your tofu though - this dish tastes best when the sauce carries all the flavor.
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Chinese Spicy Green Beans by Profusion Curry
Each ingredient brings out the depth of this yummy sauce and works best with fresh green beans. Although it’s spicy, you can omit the chili garlic sauce for a milder version.
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Honey Garlic Cauliflower by Flavours Treat
It’s incredible what a few basic ingredients can create, but hey, we’re also talking about cauliflower here. It’s a glorious side dish all on its own but this recipe shows us how fast we can finish a plate of veggies. I doubt you will have any leftovers.
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Grilled Tofu Veggie Kabobs by A Plantiful Path
If you’re looking for lighter fare for a summer BBQ and a bit of smoky flavor, these skewered delights are perfect! Feel free to use whatever vegetables you love but try to use super firm tofu.
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More Side Dish Collections
- Sides to Serve with Pasta
- Breakfast Side Dish Recipes
- What to Serve with Eggplant Parmesan
- What to Serve with Butternut Squash Soup
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