Mia Patel
Sweet and sour chicken is a popular dish among both children and adults, offering a delightful balance of savoury, tangy, and sweet flavours. Typically, the dish is served with rice, but what else goes with sweet and sour chicken and rice? Well, there are several tasty sides that can accompany this mouth-watering meal. From flavoured rice varieties like garlic rice to fresh salads, crunchy vegetables, and more, there's something for everyone. So, whether you're a veggie lover or prefer a heartier side, read on to discover the perfect partners for your sweet and sour chicken and rice feast!
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Dish | Side dish |
| Flavors | Savory, tangy, sweet |
| Cuisines | Asian, Chinese |
| Ingredients | Rice (flavored, fried, garlic, plain white, brown), vegetables (bell peppers, carrots, green beans, broccoli), cucumber salad, spring onions, sesame seeds, coriander |
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What You'll Learn
Flavoured rice
Garlic Rice
To make garlic rice, cook rice as you normally would, but add plenty of minced or crushed garlic to the pot, as well as some butter. This will give the rice a delicious, savoury flavour that pairs well with the sweetness of the chicken.
Fried Rice
Fried rice is another tasty option to accompany sweet and sour chicken. You can make fried rice with eggs and bacon, or vegetables such as peppers and spring onions. You could also add some soy sauce to give it an extra flavour boost.
Vegetable Rice
If you're looking for a healthier option, you can make vegetable rice by cooking the rice with a variety of vegetables such as carrots, peppers, and peas. You can also add some vegetable stock to the pot to give the rice extra flavour.
Pineapple Rice
For a tropical twist, you can make pineapple rice by adding some diced pineapple to the pot while the rice is cooking. This will give the rice a sweet and tangy flavour that will complement the sweet and sour chicken nicely.
Coconut Rice
Coconut rice is another option that will add a touch of sweetness to your dish. Simply cook the rice in coconut milk instead of water, and add some shredded coconut for extra flavour. This will give the rice a creamy texture and a subtle sweetness that pairs well with the chicken.
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Fresh salads
Smashed Cucumber Salad
This salad is a refreshing and crunchy side dish with a lot of flavors. Crisp cucumbers are crushed and tossed with garlic turmeric oil, fresh herbs, and chili oil. The combination of these ingredients creates a simple yet delicious salad that complements the flavors of sweet and sour chicken.
Din Tai Fung Cucumber Salad
This salad is bursting with flavor and is a great vegetarian option. The cucumbers are beautifully marinated and drizzled with chili oil, adding a spicy kick to the dish. This salad is an excellent choice for a flavorful and light side.
Green Bean Salad
For a crispy and savory salad, blanched green beans coated in garlic and spicy chili crisp make a perfect side dish. The garlic and chili flavors in this salad can echo the flavors in the sweet and sour chicken, creating a harmonious pairing.
Broccoli Salad
A broccoli salad topped with a tangy apple cider vinaigrette and marcona almonds is a delicious option. The crunch of the broccoli and the nutty flavor of the almonds create a wonderful texture and taste sensation. This salad can add a healthy and tasty element to the meal.
These fresh salad options will not only complement the flavors of the sweet and sour chicken and rice but also provide a nutritious and colorful addition to the table.
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Crunchy vegetables
Sweet and sour chicken is a delicious dish that is both savoury and tangy. It is often served with rice, but what else could you serve with it? Well, crunchy vegetables, of course!
Firstly, let's talk about salads. A cucumber salad is a great option, especially when it is a copycat Din Tai Fung Cucumber Salad. This salad is bursting with flavour as the cucumbers are marinated and then drizzled in chilli oil. It is a vegetarian dish that can be served as an appetizer or a side. Another salad option is a smashed cucumber salad, which is a crunchy side dish with big flavour. Crisp cucumbers are crushed and then tossed with garlic turmeric oil, fresh herbs, and chilli oil. This simple dish pairs perfectly with Asian-inspired meals.
If you are looking for a warm vegetable side dish, then why not try a vegetable stir-fry? You could include vegetables such as bell peppers, carrots, and garlic, which are also often found in sweet and sour chicken. Alternatively, you could try a ginger veggie stir-fry, which can be made with a variety of fresh vegetables and coated in a spicy sauce flavoured with garlic and ginger. This dish can be made in under 30 minutes, making it a quick and easy side.
Another option for a crunchy vegetable side dish is to roast your vegetables. For example, grilled broccolini topped with a tangy apple cider vinaigrette and marcona almonds adds a delicious crunch to your meal.
So, there you have it! Plenty of crunchy vegetable options to serve with your sweet and sour chicken and rice.
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Fried rice
Ingredients:
- Cooked, chilled rice (white or brown)
- Eggs
- Carrots
- Onions
- Green onions
- Peas
- Garlic
- Low-sodium soy sauce
- Oyster sauce
- Toasted sesame oil
- Butter
Instructions:
- Scramble some eggs in a large sauté pan using a small pat of butter. Break them into small pieces, then transfer them to a separate plate and set aside.
- Return the pan to the heat and sauté the onions, carrots, peas, and garlic until soft and cooked through.
- Turn the burner to high heat. Melt the remaining butter in half of the pan, then add the chilled rice, soy sauce, and oyster sauce.
- Stir to combine the ingredients and continue sautéing the rice, stirring every 15-20 seconds, for about 3 minutes, or until the rice and vegetables start to brown slightly.
- Drizzle with sesame oil and garnish with scallion greens.
Feel free to customize the fried rice with other stir-fry vegetables, proteins, or sauces. For example, you can add Chinese sausage for a nice salty and sweet touch or include shrimp, ensuring it is cooked separately and added back in at the end to avoid overcooking.
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Wine
When it comes to wine, the key to pairing it with sweet and sour chicken and rice is to consider the sauce and other ingredients in the dish. Sweet and sour is a complicated sauce to pair with most dry wines because the sweetness and acidity in the sauce make most dry wines taste flat and tart. Therefore, it is best to opt for sweeter wines.
For a white wine, a German Riesling is a good choice. Its sweetness will complement the pineapple in the dish, and its acidity will mesh with tangy flavours. The onion and bell pepper in the dish will also bring out the complex beeswax-like nuances in the wine. Other sweet white wines that would work well include Moscato, Gewürztraminer, Furmint, Kerner, and Chenin Blanc.
For a red wine, a sweeter variety is a good option. Fruity and smoky reds such as Zinfandel or Australian Grenache are good choices. If you're looking for something unique, try Brachetto d'Acqui, a sweet, lightly sparkling red from Italy.
If your dish includes a lot of green vegetables, such as asparagus or green bell peppers, it's best to match the wine to the veggies. In this case, look for whites that have a similar green or herbal flavour, such as Sauvignon Blanc or Austrian Grüner Veltliner.
As a general rule, chicken is a lightly flavoured, medium-textured meat, so a lighter wine is a good choice. However, if your dish includes dark soy sauce, you may want to opt for a rosé or red wine.
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Frequently asked questions
Some side dishes that go with sweet and sour chicken and rice include fresh salads, such as the Din Tai Fung Cucumber Salad, crunchy vegetables, and Kung Pao Brussels Sprouts.
Fried rice with eggs and bacon, garlic rice, and long-grain rice are all great options to serve with sweet and sour chicken.
A fruity rosé or a crisp Chardonnay can help cut through the sweetness of the dish.
Sweet and sour chicken can be served with egg rolls, teriyaki chicken, and vegetable fried rice.
