Sweet and sour chicken is a classic Chinese dish that’s easy to make at home. It has all the sweet, tangy, and savory flavors, making it one of the most popular dishes for dinner parties or family meals.
But what vegetables should you serve with sweet and sour chicken?
The key to finding excellent vegetable side dishes with this flavorful entree is to find vegetables that complement its bold flavor profile without overpowering it.
You’ll want something crunchy and fresh that can stand up against the strong taste.
Some excellent choices include bell peppers, carrots, snow peas, green beans, celery, mushrooms – even pineapple chunks if you like! With these delicious vegetables as accompaniments, your sweet and sour chicken will surely please everyone at your table.
17 best vegetables to serve with sweet and sour chicken.
1. Carrots:
Sweet and sour chicken is often served with carrots, which offer a sweet crunch to the dish. Carrots are an excellent source of beta-carotene, fiber, and vitamin A, making them a great addition to any meal.
2. Broccoli:
Broccoli is another vegetable that pairs perfectly with sweet and sour chicken. Its slightly bitter taste goes well with the tangy sauce, and its high dietary fiber content makes it a healthy choice for dinner.
3. Peas:
Sweet peas are an ideal companion to this popular Chinese dish as they add sweetness while toning down the tartness of the sauce. Moreover, peas are packed with fiber and protein and can help balance the meal.
4. Bell Peppers:
Sweet bell peppers are a natural fit for sweet and sour chicken as they bring a burst of color and flavor to the plate. They’re also loaded with vitamins A, C, and E, making them an excellent source of nutrition.
5. Green Beans:
Green beans contrast the dish in terms of taste and texture, delivering a slightly bitter taste that pairs nicely with sweet and sour sauce.
Moreover, green beans contain iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin C, and other essential nutrients.
6. Asparagus:
Asparagus adds texture to sweet and sour chicken dishes, providing many health benefits.
7. Spinach:
Adding spinach to sweet and sour chicken dishes increases the meal‘s nutritional value while adding a pleasant earthy flavor.
8. Mushrooms:
Mushrooms add a woodsy flavor that pairs nicely with sweet and sour sauce. Plus, mushrooms are low in calories but packed with essential vitamins and minerals like B vitamins and selenium.
9. Onions:
Onions provide a bit of crunch and sweetness to offset the dish’s sourness while offering plenty of health benefits. Onions are rich in vitamin C and folate.
10. Corn:
Corn pairs nicely with sweet and sour chicken due to its mild sweetness and crunchy texture. It’s also a great source of dietary fiber, vitamins A and C, folic acid, potassium, magnesium, and other essential nutrients.
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11. Eggplant:
Eggplants are often used in sweet and sour dishes as they take on the sauce’s flavor while providing plenty of health benefits such as dietary fiber and antioxidants.
12. Zucchini:
Zucchini adds a subtle sweetness to the dish while offering plenty of essential vitamins like vitamin C and minerals like potassium and manganese.
13. Snow peas:
Snow peas offer a milder flavor than regular green peas while providing plenty of essential nutrients such as dietary fiber, vitamins A and C, and folate.
14. Bok Choy:
Bok choy adds crunch to the dish while delivering vitamin K, calcium, magnesium, and other essential minerals. It also has an earthy flavor that pairs nicely with sweet and sour sauce.
15. Water chestnuts:
Water chestnuts provide a crunchy texture to the dish and offer plenty of health benefits, such as dietary fiber and antioxidants. They also have a naturally sweet taste that goes well with the tangy sauce.
Bonus part:
16. Cauliflower:
Cauliflower is an excellent addition to sweet and sour chicken dishes. It can be roasted or steamed to bring out its nutty flavor while providing plenty of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
17. Pineapple:
Pineapple adds flavor and sweetness to sweet and sour chicken dishes while supplying essential vitamins like vitamin C, magnesium, and manganese. It is also rich in dietary fiber, which helps support healthy digestion.
Others:
You must love the upper mentioned vegetables. Still, if these options are insufficient, you can try Peppers, Artichoke hearts, Green onions, etc.
