What to Serve with Dumplings? 40+ Delicious Options
If you’re a foodie, chances are that you love dumplings. Depending on your preference, they can be steamed, fried, or boiled and have a unique texture unlike any other dish – plus, they’re often filled with delicious fillings like pork, shrimp, and vegetables!
But if you make the perfect plate of dumplings, what should you serve as sides?
Whether it’s light vegetable salads or flavorful sauces alongside them – we’ll give you all the details to enjoy your meal even more! Please keep reading for our advice on what goes best with dumplings.
Here are what to serve with dumplings:
Soups: Chicken Soup, Vegetable Soup, Egg Drop Soup, Spicy Sichuan Beef Soup, etc.
Dipping Sauces: Hoisin Sauce, Dumpling Sauce, Chili Oil, etc.
Noodles and Rice: Chow Mein, Fried Rice, Beef Noodle Soup, etc.
Vegetables: Sauteed Bok Choy, Stir Fry Broccoli, and many more.
Dumplings with salad. Credit: canva
Which one should you choose to serve with your dumplings? And how to prepare them. Here are some ideas for serving with dumplings that will please everyone.
Chinese food originated from the Chinese mainland and has been eaten there since ancient times.
The Asian dishes are made by wrapping dough around filling ingredients such as meat, vegetables, seafood, etc., then boiling it until cooked.
There are many dumplings, including steamed, boiled, fried, and pan-fried (shaokao). The fried dumplings and pan-fried dumplings are also called potstickers.
What is Dumpling in Chinese?
Dumplings in Chinese are divided into various types depending on how they are cooked.
Dumplings are usually made from flour, water, and salt.
Most dumplings can be made using standard ‘dumplings’ or ‘wheat’ flour. However, Har Gau (Chinese shrimp dumplings) is made with wheat and tapioca starch. And there are many other dumpling variations.
The fillings inside dumplings can be anything, from meat, pork, chicken, shrimp, vegetables, seafood, etc.
What do dumplings taste like?
Dumpling flavors vary according to their fillings. Some may be sweet or savory, but others might be spicy.
What to Serve with Dumplings?
Soups to Serve with Dumplings
Wondering what soups to serve with Chinese dumplings or potstickers for dinner? Here are some delicious, perfect side dish ideas!
Dumpling Soup. Credit: canva
Chicken Soup
Chicken soup is one of the most famous dishes in China. It is comfort food that is believed that people who eat chicken soup after illness will be cured.
You can use leftover roast chicken or rotisserie chicken to make this chicken stock recipe. Add water, salt, pepper, and garlic powder to the roasting pan and let it simmer on low heat for about 30 minutes.
Strain the liquid into another bowl and discard the bones. Add more water if needed.
Vegetable Soup
If you want to avoid using chicken, try making vegetable soup instead. There are endless varieties of soups that you can choose from. For example, you can use carrots, celery, potatoes, mushrooms, onions, leeks, cabbage, turnips, beans, peas, spinach, tomatoes, corn, zucchini, eggplant, tofu, peppers, bamboo shoots, etc.
Noodle Soup
Noodles are always good when you need something warm and comforting. You can even make noodle soup without noodles. All you need to do is boil water, add salt, and cook pasta according to package instructions. Then, add other ingredients like chicken, fish, beef, pork, eggs, mushrooms, scallions, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice wine, oyster sauce, etc.
Egg Drop Soup
Egg drop soup is a classic Cantonese dish. It is straightforward to prepare and quite tasty. If you dislike cooking, you can buy readymade egg drop soup at Asian grocery stores.
Hot Pot
Hot pots are often found in restaurants. But they are not hard to make at home. All you need to start is to boil water, add salt and spices, and put all ingredients in a hot pot.
Chinese Hot and Sour Soup
Chinese hot and sour soup is perfect to be paired with dumplings. It is a highly versatile soup because you can add whatever flavors.
Spicy Sichuan Beef Soup
This spicy beef soup is a must-try for those who love spicy foods.
Seafood Soup
Seafood soup is great for summertime. It is light and refreshing. You can pair it with dumplings or enjoy it alone.
Pork Chop Soup
Pork chop soup is a popular wintertime dish in China.
Shrimp and Mushroom Soup
Shrimp and mushroom soup is a simple yet flavorful combination. It is perfect for cold days.
Roasted Garlic Soup
Roasted garlic soup is a rich and hearty soup. It is best served alongside dumplings.
Dumpling with Soy sauce. Credit: canva
Dipping Sauces to Serve with Dumplings
Soy Sauce
Soy sauce is a staple dipping sauce in most Asian cuisines. It is commonly used to dip spring rolls, fried rice, vegetables, meats, and seafood.
Oyster Sauce
Oyster sauce is a thick brown sauce that originated in China. It is similar to soy sauce but has a stronger taste.
Hoisin Sauce
Hoisin sauce is a sweet and savory sauce originating from southern China. It is typically used as a condiment for pork dishes.
Chili Oil
Chili oil is a common dipping sauce in China. Heating chili peppers make it until they turn red. Then, other ingredients, such as sesame seeds, vinegar, sugar, and salt, are added.
Hot Sauce
Hot sauce is an essential part of any American meal. It is usually served as a side dish or condiment. Hot sauces come in various flavors, including spicy, tangy, and sweet.
Peanut Sauce
Peanut sauce is a thin and salty sauce that originated in Thailand.
Sesame Sauce
Sesame sauce is a dark reddish-brown sauce that originated in Japan. It is often paired with sushi and tempura.
Sriracha
Its name means “rooster” in Thai. It is commonly used for stir-frying vegetables and meats.
Fish Sauce
Fish sauce is an essential ingredient in Southeast Asian cuisine. It is commonly used in noodle dishes, salads, and curries.
Sichuan Dumpling Sauce
It is commonly used with steamed dumplings.
Garlic Sauce
It is typically used with boiled or baked foods.
Dumpling with noodles. Credit: canva
Noodle Dishes that Go Well with Dumplings
Chow Mein
Chow mein is a type of Cantonese noodle dish. It consists of egg noodles topped with ground beef, cabbage, carrots, and peas.
Fried Rice
Fried rice is a popular dish in many Asian countries. However, this simple recipe uses leftover white rice or even brown rice.
The key ingredients, besides the rice, are egg, veggies, meat, green onion, and soy sauce when making fried rice.
Lo Mein Noodles
Lo mein noodles are long and flat noodles that originate from Taiwan. They are commonly found in dim sum menus.
Beef Noodle Soup
Beef noodle soup is a hearty and delicious Chinese soup. It is typically made with brisket, tendon, tripe, and bones.
Chicken Noodle Soup
Chicken noodle soup is another popular Chinese soup. It is made with chicken broth and noodles.
Seafood Noodle Salad
Seafood noodle salad is a popular dish served throughout Asia. This salad bowl will usually contain clams, mussels, squid, scallops, shrimp, and octopus.
Spicy Tofu Noodle Soup
Spicy tofu noodle soup is a popular appetizer in Hong Kong. To make it, cubes of firm tofu are simmered in a stock containing soybeans, oyster sauce, and spices.
Prawns Noodle Soup
Prawns noodle soup is a tasty seafood soup from Malaysia. Simmering prawn shells, cockles, and other shellfish in a light curry broth and rice noodles make it.
Sweetcorn Noodle Soup
Sweetcorn noodle soup is a traditional favorite food in Singapore.
Pineapple Noodle Salad
Pineapple noodle salad is a refreshing dessert from Thailand. It is made with pineapple, tapioca pearls, coconut milk, and banana blossoms.
Ramen
Ramen is a Japanese noodle dish. A bowl of ramen is often eaten as a meal in its own right but can also be used as a base for soups.
Stir-fried broccoli with dumplings and cheese. Credit: canva
Vegetable Side Dishes that Go Well with Dumplings
Vegetable stir-fry dish is an important part of Asian meals. Vegetables are cooked quickly in oil until tender before being tossed with seasonings and served.
Sauteed Bok Choy
Bok choy is an Asian vegetable that resembles a white heart shape. When the fresh veggies are cooked, their stalks become tender while their leaves remain crunchy.
Stir-fried Broccoli
Stir-fried broccoli is a popular side dish in China. The Chinese broccoli’s stems are cut into small pieces and stir-fried until they turn bright green. Or if you like fresh vegetables, you can always make broccoli salad.
Stir-fried Green Beans
Stir-fried green beans are a popular side dish for dim sum. The stems of green beans are sliced lengthwise and then stir-fried until they wilt.
Braised Cabbage
Braised cabbage is a common side dish in northern China. The Chinese cabbage leaves are cut into bite-sized strips and braised in a flavorful liquid.
Steamed Carrots
Steamed carrots are a healthy option for those who want to get their daily vitamin A dose. They can be eaten plain or added to soups and salads.
Sautéed Green Beans
Green beans are sautéed in sesame oil or olive oil until they soften.
Quinoa Cabbage Salad
This nutritious salad is a perfect match that combines quinoa and cabbage. Quinoa is a grain native to South America. It has a nutty flavor and cooks up quickly.
Variations of Dumpling Dishes
Pork and Shitake Dumplings
Shitake mushrooms are cultivated in Japan. They are also known as black mushrooms because of their dark color. Pork and shitake dumplings are a Japanese specialty.
Crispy Shrimp Dumplings
Crispy shrimp dumplings are a popular snack in Southeast Asia.
Dumplings with Seafood
Fish dumplings are filled with fish paste, vegetables, and sometimes seafood.
Shrimp Mandu (Shrimp Dumplings)
Shrimp mandu are dumplings made with minced shrimp. They are usually served at New Year’s celebrations in Japan.
Chicken and Shrimp Dumplings
They are made with ground chicken, minced shrimp, and wheat flour.
Shrimp and Mushroom Dumplings (Shu-Mei)
Shrimp and mushroom dumplings are Chinese specialties.
Spicy Chicken Dumplings
For a spicy kick, they are made with shredded chicken and spices like ginger, garlic, and cayenne pepper.
Chinese Dumplings
They are filled with either pork or crab.
Shanghai Dumplings
Shanghai dumplings are traditional food from Shanghai, China. They are made using a special recipe and wrapped in bamboo leaves.
Sweet Potato Dumplings
They are made with sweet potatoes, coconut milk, pandanus leaf, and sugar.
Mango Dumplings
Mango dumplings are a sweet treat in Thailand. They are made with mangoes, palm sugar, and sticky rice.
Meat Dumplings
Meat dumplings are a common item on menus throughout Europe. They are made with different meats, such as veal, pork, turkey, and beef, mixed with black pepper.
Creamy Chicken and Dumplings
The tender chicken dish is American comfort food. For an additional side dish, you can go with fresh veggies such as green salad or arugula salad.
Gyoza Dumplings
They are stuffed with meat or vegetables.
Soup Dumplings
People made them by wrapping soup inside a steamed bun.
Korean Dumplings
Korean dumplings are similar to gyoza but have a round shape instead of a square. They can be filled with anything you want, including vegetables, meat, and seafood.
How to Serve Dumplings with Other Dishes?
Make a stir-fry with them.
Prepare the potstickers according to the package directions and add them to your favorite saucy stir-fry. You can vary the sauce and vegetable combination and never have the same thing twice.
Serve them with an Asian-style slaw.
Cabbage is a wonderfully affordable vegetable and works well in Asian-style dishes. Stir up a big bowl of slaw and top it with potstickers.
Stir them into soup
Potstickers are similar to wontons, so why not use them as a substitute in your next batch of broth? Then, you’ll have more frequent requests for soup night.
Top a rice bowl with them.
Rice bowls are quick and easy rice dish suppers that allow you to use whatever you’ve got. Stir up a batch of fried rice and feature dumplings (potstickers) as the main attraction.
Make a pasta salad with them and your favorite Asian-style dressing
Why not with potstickers if one can make a pasta salad with tortellini or ravioli? Prepare the potstickers and toss them with shredded carrot, sliced scallion, chopped cilantro, and your favorite Asian-style dressing.
Make pad Thai with them instead of noodles.
Love the flavors of pad Thai? Swap out the noodles and use potstickers instead. The dumpling filling adds an extra dimension of flavor and texture.
Toss them into a salad.
As you might top a salad with fried ravioli, you can do the same with fried dumplings. Assemble the fixings of your favorite Asian-style salad and toss a few potstickers on top for good measure.
Serve an Asian-inspired appetizer dinner.
Assemble your favorite Asian-style appetizers, such as egg rolls, summer rolls, teriyaki meatballs, and lettuce wraps.
This snacky dinner is fun, especially when served with mix-and-match dipping sauces.
Dip them in sauce and call it good.
Potstickers are so delicious on their own. There’s no harm in just serving them as is. Be sure to make your sauce, though the stuff in the frozen packets is for the birds.
How to make Dumplings Dipping Sauces?
Chili Oil Sauce Recipe
This soy-based dipping sauce recipe is my favorite.
Ingredients
For the Chile Oil:
One teaspoon of chili powder (or chile flakes)
Two tablespoons of cooking oil of your choice
For the Sauce:
Two small cloves of garlic minced
light soy sauce
Chinese rice vinegar
Two teaspoons of sesame oil
One teaspoon of chile oil, or more to taste
Instructions
Make the Chili Oil:
Place the chili powder or chile flakes into a heatproof bowl.
In a small saucepan, heat two tablespoons of oil.
Pour the hot oil into the chili powder. Let it cool.
The chile oil can be stored in the fridge in an airtight jar or container if not used immediately.
Make the Dipping Sauce:
In a small bowl, combine the garlic, soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, and one teaspoon of hot chile oil.
Whisk until well combined.
Serve with your favorite dumplings.
Easy Dumpling Sauce Recipe
Chinese dumplings or potsticker sauce is loaded with a well-rounded mix of salty, tangy heat and spicy notes.
You can make the perfect sauce for Japanese gyoza and Thai potstickers with simple substitutions.
Ingredients
One garlic clove, minced
One scallion, finely chopped
Three tablespoons soy sauce
Chinkiang vinegar (for the substitute, mix one-part Balsamic vinegar with one part red wine vinegar)
One tablespoon of chili oil (to make this, use the previous recipe)
Instructions
Whisk all the ingredients together in a bowl and serve in individual dipping bowls.
Tips
If you can’t find Chinese rice vinegar, the best substitutes are apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, sherry vinegar, and Chinese black vinegar.
Stir in 1 teaspoon of sugar for a little sweetness. Brown sugar is frequently used in Asian recipes and marinades.
For a Japanese gyoza sauce, thin strips of ginger or sliced green scallions can be used as a crunchy garnish to add flavor.
Wonton chicken soup dumplings. Credit: canva
Dumpling Side Dishes Variations
What to serve with Chinese dumplings?
You could go the traditional route and have steamed rice and vegetables on the side.
Or, you could get creative and try one of these dumpling side dishes:
Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad
Sesame Garlic Green Bean
What to serve with soup dumplings?
If you’re looking for something to serve with soup dumplings, a light salad or bowl of miso soup would be perfect. You could also try serving them with steamed rice and sauteed greens.
What to serve with pork dumplings?
I typically like to serve pork dumplings with a side of steamed rice and sauteed greens. You could also try serving them with a light salad or miso soup.
What do you serve with Gyoza dumplings?
Miso soup and rice are the most common side dishes served with gyoza. Add a simple salad or steamed vegetables to the mix for a heartier meal.
What to serve with wontons?
Soup, salad, and steamed rice are all great options for sides with wontons. You could also try serving them with a light dipping sauce or miso soup.
What goes with dumplings for dinner?
There are so many delicious things you could serve with dumplings for dinner. Here are a few of my favorites:
Pork and chive dumplings served with steamed rice and sauteed greens.
Chicken and ginger dumplings served with a light salad and bowl of miso soup.
Vegetarian dumplings served with hearty vegetable soup.
Get creative and mix and match different flavors and textures to create your perfect meal.
FAQs
What goes well with dumplings?
Dumplings can be served with various dipping sauces, but my favorite is chili oil sauce. Try an easy dumpling sauce recipe, soy sauce, or Chinkiang vinegar. Finally, for a unique flavor, serve them with pad Thai sauce.
What do you eat with dumplings for dinner?
First, you could try making an Asian-inspired appetizer meal with egg rolls, summer rolls, teriyaki meatballs, and lettuce wraps. Finally, you could enjoy them with a delicious dipping sauce.
What do you serve with Gyoza dumplings?
They also pair well with chili oil, teriyaki, or soy sauce.
How are dumplings served?
They are commonly eaten as an appetizer or main course and served with several dipping sauces.
You could also try making them into a dumpling soup or serving them over steamed rice. Finally, they make a delicious side dish for any Asian-inspired meal.
What to eat with dumplings?
They can be served as an appetizer or main course and pair well with several dipping sauces.
You could also try making them into a dumpling soup or serving them over steamed rice. Finally, they make a delicious side dish for any Asian-inspired meal.
