What To Serve With Beef in Black Bean Sauce: 15 BEST Sides!
If you’re looking for inspiration for what to serve with beef in black bean sauce, you’ve come to the right place!
Here, we’re going to take a look at the 15 best side dishes for your next Chinese meal, including quick and easy options, authentic dishes, and creative accompaniments that will get your dinner guests talking for all the right reasons.
What to serve with beef in black bean sauce
Some of the most delicious choices for what to serve with beef in black bean sauce include egg fried rice, wok fried noodles, colourful Asian chopped salad, and stuffed Chinese lettuce wraps. If you’d like to create a sharing platter of appetisers for your meal, choose veggie spring rolls, prawn toast, tempura prawns, and scallion pancakes.
Keep reading to get more ideas, as well as the best tried and tested recipes for you to make in your own kitchen…
1. Egg fried rice
Rice is probably the most traditional option for a side dish for beef in black bean sauce, and it’s perfect for scooping up with a pair of chopsticks with your main course.
Though it’s a fairly simple dish to prepare, even some experienced home cooks find it daunting to try to make egg fried rice at home.
It can be tricky to get the texture just right, and avoid it from going mushy.
For the best results every time, check out this guide to perfect egg fried rice.
Whether you’re lucky enough to be using a high quality wok on a gas burning stove, or you have a simple skillet pan and an electric hob, you’ll discover the exact steps that you need to follow.
2. Wok fried noodles
If you’re not a big rice lover, you might prefer noodles instead!
There’s something that’s just so comforting and satisfying about serving up beef in black bean on a generous pile of red hot noodles, straight from the wok.
Cooking noodles is also a wonderful opportunity to use a little creative flair!
If you like, you can throw in any veggies that you might have in the bottom of your fridge that need using up, like mushrooms and peppers.
If you want an extra protein kick, you could even add prawns or chicken.
For extra crunch and texture, add some chopped peanuts.
3. Colourful Asian chopped salad
Black bean sauce can be quite rich, so it’s a good idea to ensure you have something on the table that brings balance and vibrancy.
A great choice here is my favourite colourful Asian chopped salad.
It’s so much better than the ready prepared varieties you’ll find in the supermarket, and it’s really easy to make!
You’ll chop up carrots, cabbage, and sugar peas, before sprinkling the salad with fresh coriander and sesame seeds, and then pouring over a zesty, punchy dressing.
4. Chinese lettuce wraps
Lettuce wraps are a fun, informal way to serve up lots of different main course dishes, including beef in black bean sauce!
Iceberg and little gems are the ideal lettuces to choose, as they’re sturdy, crunchy, and each leaf is sturdy enough to hold the filling without wilting or falling apart.
Be sure to add some extra toppings to the middle of the table so everyone can add a little of what they fancy to customise their wraps.
Good choices here include chopped spring onion, grated carrot, sesame seeds, and if you like a little heat, fresh chillis or dried red pepper flakes.
5. Baozi (Chinese steamed buns)
Baozi literally translates to ‘little package’, and these stuffed buns are a fantastic staple to keep in the freezer if you like to serve up Asian inspired main courses and you want to have some easy but satisfying sides to hand.
The beauty of making your own is that you get to decide on the fillings!
Minced pork, chicken, and beef are all delicious, though you can keep things lighter if you prefer and stick to your favourite veggies.
If you plan to make these regularly, or you’re serious about your Chinese cookery, it’s worth investing in a bamboo steamer.
They’re ideal for achieving the perfect texture every time, and they can also be used for serving at the dinner table!
6. Crab rangoon
Crab rangoon are also known as crab puffs, and they’re popular in American Chinese restaurants.
They may not be authentic, but they are absolutely delicious, and they’re an ideal accompaniment when you’re trying to recreate the takeaway experience from the comfort of your own home.
They’re stuffed with cream cheese and crab meat, and they’re typically served with some sweet chilli dipping sauce on the side.
Don’t worry about making your own pastry, because you can pick up super handy ready made wonton wrappers at your local Asian supermarket!
With a few savvy kitchen hacks like this, you can create a restaurant style meal at home without too much fuss or hassle.
Your guests will only know about your shortcuts if you tell them!
7. Veggie spring rolls
Veggie spring rolls are definitely deserving of a mention when it comes to what to serve with beef in black bean sauce.
Again, you can skip making your own wrappers are pick up the ready made variety at the grocery store.
They’re fun to make, and make a delicious starter or side dish when added to a serving platter with some green leaves for decoration, and your favourite Chinese dips and sauces.
(Love Asian food? Take a look at ideas for what to serve with wonton soup!)
8. Stir fried Asian mushrooms
These stir fried Asian mushrooms are low fat, low carb, but most importantly, they make for a really delicious side for beef in black bean sauce!
You can use any type of mushroom you like, though I like to go for button mushrooms to keep things simple.
They’re readily available in supermarkets and grocery stores, they’re super affordable, and they have a wonderfully earthy taste.
I like to make an extra serving of this side dish and keep it in the fridge for a quick lunch the next day.
They’re great served as part of a buddha style bowl with rice and any other leftover veggies you might have.
9. Prawn toast
Prawn toast is a side dish with origins in Hong Kong, and it’s popular as a starter or accompaniment for Western Chinese cuisine.
It’s made from bitesized triangles of bread, spread with a paste made from minced prawns, coated in sesame seeds, and deep fried until crunchy and golden brown.
Though prawn toast will rarely appear on the menu in more authentic Chinese restaurants, it’s a tasty side dish that’s always enjoyable when served alongside some dipping sauce.
For more ideas to add to the table, check out my guide to what to serve with prawn toast.
10. Chinese broccoli stir fry
If you’re always trying to get some extra greens into your diet, you can’t go wrong with this Chinese broccoli stir fry recipe!
You’ll use plenty of ginger and garlic for flavour that packs a real punch, and cook in a very hot wok to amplify the beautiful natural flavour of your green veggies.
If you’re a lover of deeply savoury flavours, try drizzling over some oyster sauce just before serving.
This side dish is perfect with beef in black bean sauce, but it’s so simple yet delicious that you’ll likely want to make it time and time again.
It also pairs beautifully with grilled steak, chicken, and prawn fried rice.
11. Prawn crackers
I always keep a packet of readymade prawn crackers in my kitchen cupboard, and they’re a super quick way to offer up an appetiser or side dish for any Asian meal that you might have on your meal plan!
Just add them to a serving bowl with your favourite dips – sweet chilli sauce is always a good idea – and you’ve got one of the easiest sides that you’ll ever make.
If you have a little more time available and fancy learning a new skill, you could try making your own prawn crackers from scratch.
12. Tempura prawns
Do you love seafood?
If so, and you want to add an extra serving of protein to your meal, tempura prawns make a delectable side dish for beef in black bean sauce.
Though this recipe has roots in Japan, it works really well with a wide variety of Asian dishes, and can be served as a starter or as a side dish.
The secret ingredient that creates the very best batter is actually soda water.
Some recipes use beer, which also works really well!
The carbonation makes the batter light, fluffy, and satisfyingly crispy.
13. Asian garlic tofu
Tofu is popular amongst vegetarians, but when it’s prepared with a little care and attention (plus a whole lot of flavour), meat eaters are likely to be pleasantly surprised by just how delicious it can be!
This Asian garlic tofu recipe is salty, sweet, and spicy, not to mention satisfyingly crispy.
The key to achieving the very best crisp texture is to select a really firm tofu when you’re picking up your ingredients, and then wrapping in paper towels before putting it under something heavy for a little while – a cast iron pan will come in mega handy here, and also happens to be one of my essential pieces of kitchen equipment.
14. Scallion pancakes
Chinese scallion pancakes are a dim sum favourite, and they have a crispy, flaky exterior and a delicious, slightly chewy interior.
They might seem a little daunting to make at first glance, but they’re worth the effort and you can’t go too far wrong if you carefully follow the step by step process.
If you’re having friends or family over and you’re aiming for an authentic restaurant style dinner, these are just the ticket and they’re sure to impress your guests.
15. Kung Pao Brussel sprouts
To make these Kung Pao Brussel sprouts, you’ll roast your sprouts and toss them in a spicy soy and honey glaze, with green onions and peanuts for extra crunch and texture.
They’re a great alternative to Kung Pao chicken if you want to offer a vegetable based side dish for beef in black bean, and they’re sure to tempt even those who are adamant that they don’t like sprouts!
If you can’t find sprouts in your grocery store, they could be substituted for broccoli instead, and the result will be just as delicious.
For more takeaway inspired sides, take a look at side dishes for lemon chicken.
The best side dishes for beef in black bean sauce
As you can see, next time you want to make beef in black bean sauce, there are plenty of choices for accompaniments and sides that will turn your dinner into a real feast!
Just a few options that you might want to consider include:
- Egg fried rice
- Wok fried noodles
- Veggie spring rolls
- Tempura prawns
- Prawn crackers
- Asian garlic tofu
- Scallion pancakes
Which of these sides will you be trying?
For more Chinese inspired meal planning ideas, check out what to eat with orange chicken.
