What To Serve With Chinese Pork Belly: 12 BEST Sides!
If you can’t get enough of Chinese food and you want to discover the best ideas for what to serve with Chinese pork belly, you’ve landed in the best place!
We’re going to dive right in and take a look at the 12 very best side dishes that you’ll definitely want to try, including traditional and authentic choices, through to the more creative and imaginative pairings.
One thing they all have in common is that they’re totally delicious!
What to serve with Chinese pork belly
Some simple yet tasty choices for what to serve with Chinese pork belly are egg fried rice, wok fried noodles, and salt and pepper chips.
Creating a sharing platter of appetisers is always a good idea too, and Chinese steamed buns, crab rangoon, and prawn toast all work well.
Add some extra veggies to your meal by serving up Chinese broccoli stir fry, stir fried Asian mushrooms, and Kung Pao Brussel sprouts.
Keep reading to get more ideas, as well as the best tried and tested recipes for you to make at home…
1. Egg fried rice
Egg fried rice is often the side dish of choice when you’re eating in a Chinese restaurant, cooking the cuisine at home, or ordering a takeaway for delivery.
It’s perfect when served with Chinese pork belly, and it makes for a filling, balanced, and satisfying meal. Just add some greens, if you like, and you’re good to go!
It’s a simple dish to prepare, though I found that I had to experiment a fair bit until I got it right every single time!
Common mistakes can result in mushy rice, so be sure to 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
Prefer noodles to egg fried rice?
You’ll be pleased to know that silky, wok fried noodles are another great option for what to serve with Chinese pork belly!
Cooking noodles is also a wonderful opportunity to use a little creative flair, and use up any veggies that you might have lurking in the back of your fridge.
Add mushrooms, broccoli, peppers, onion, and beansprouts. This will give you extra texture, as well as help you get towards your 5-a-day.
If you’re cooking for spice lovers, throw in some red chillis. They bring a satisfying kick of heat to the table.
3. Salt and pepper chips
You’re unlikely to find salt and pepper chips on the menu in more authentic Asian eateries, but over the past few years they’ve become a takeaway favourite in the UK, and there’s no denying that they’re completely delicious.
This salt and pepper chips recipe is foolproof, and it involves frying potato chips to perfection before tossing with an aromatic seasoning mix including Chinese five spice and white pepper.
Lots of freshly chopped veggies help to balance the dish, and I guarantee that your family will request this side again and again!
Short on time?
You’ll be pleased to know that you can use straight cut frozen chips, so you don’t even have to worry about peeling potatoes.
4. Chinese lettuce wraps
Lettuce wraps are a fun, informal way to serve up lots of different main course dishes, including Chinese pork belly!
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 kick of 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!
(By the way, if you love Chinese takeaway style food, be sure to also take a look at what to serve with orange chicken!)
7. Veggie spring rolls
Veggie spring rolls are definitely deserving of a mention when it comes to what to serve with Chinese pork belly.
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.
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.
(For more Asian side dish ideas, take a look at side dishes for bao buns!).
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 Chinese pork belly, 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. 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.
The best side dishes for Chinese belly pork
As you can see, next time you want to Chinese belly pork, there are so many delectable sides to choose from! These include:
- Egg fried rice
- Wok fried noodles
- Salt and pepper chips
- Prawn toast
- Crab rangoon
- Chinese broccoli stir fry
Which of these ideas will you be trying?
For more Chinese inspired meal ideas, take a look at what to serve with scallion pancakes, and what to serve with wonton soup.
