What is a good side dish for Mongolian beef? Actually, I should ask…what isn’t a good side dish for Mongolian beef? You could serve it with almost anything and it would taste great. But if you want one of the better pairings to go with a Mongolian beef recipe, I’d recommend an easy asparagus recipe or a simple cucumber salad. Here are some excellent ideas for what to serve with your takeout order of Mongolian beef.
What Is Mongolian Beef?
A traditional Chinese dish, Mongolian beef is a spicy stir-fry with tender strips of beef and vegetables. It’s often served in American Chinese restaurants with rice or noodles, but you can also serve it as a main course over cooked white or brown rice.
Mongolian beef is made with flank steak and is best when it’s sliced thin into bite-sized pieces before cooking. The meat is marinated in soy sauce and other seasonings for several hours before cooking to tenderize the meat and add flavor.
16 Easy Side Dishes For Mongolian Beef
You know those days when you want to cook a big meal but don’t have a lot of time? This Mongolian beef recipe is the perfect solution. It’s easy to make, requires minimal prep and cleanup, and it’s ready in less than 30 minutes. Plus, it’s delicious!
If you’re looking for other easy side dishes to serve with this recipe, here are 16 of our favorites:
1. Teriyaki Chicken
This recipe for teriyaki chicken is easy to make and goes great with the savory sauce of your Mongolian beef.
2. Sesame Noodles
Sesame noodles are another classic Asian dish that pairs well with Mongolian beef. You can make them at home or buy them at the store.
3. Stir-Fried Broccoli with Garlic Sauce
Broccoli is an excellent side dish to serve with Mongolian beef or any Chinese food with a lot of sauce. Add a little garlic and sesame oil to the broccoli, which will soak up all the flavors from the beef!
4. Japanese Fried Rice
Fried rice is another great side dish for Mongolian beef, but it also works well with chicken and pork dishes too! The key to making good fried rice is having cold-cooked white rice on hand (you can cook up some extra rice when making dinner). The cold rice helps separate each grain so they don’t clump together when stirring them into hot oil for frying.
5. Cauliflower Fried Rice (Gobi Aloo)
Cauliflower fried rice is a healthy alternative to regular rice, and it also goes great with Mongolian beef! This recipe only takes 10 minutes to make, so it’s perfect for busy weeknights when you don’t have much time to cook dinner.
6. General Tso’s Chicken (Tung Ting Gai)
This classic Chinese dish is a delicious and spicy alternative to Mongolian beef. The chicken is lightly battered, fried, and then coated in a sweet and spicy sauce.
7. Vietnamese Spring Rolls (Goi Cuon)
Spring rolls are a great side dish for any meal, but they’re especially good with Mongolian beef. They’re also typically served at Vietnamese restaurants as an appetizer, which is why you can get them with your takeout order.
8. General Gau’s Chicken (Gau Ji)
General Gau’s chicken is named after a famous Chinese general who was known for his bravery and wisdom. The dish is made with chicken that has been marinated in soy sauce, rice wine, and sesame oil, then deep-fried to a golden brown. General Gau’s chicken is traditionally served on top of steamed white rice with a side of broccoli or green bell peppers.
9. Simple Green Salad
A simple green salad will help balance out the spicy flavors of Mongolian beef. Make sure you use green leafy lettuce so you get some vitamins and minerals into your meal.
10. Steamed Rice
You can’t have Chinese food without rice! This side dish will help soak up all those delicious juices from the meat and sauce. You can also add some fresh ginger and cilantro for extra flavor!
11. Steamed Veggies
Steamed veggies are a great way to get your daily dose of vitamins and minerals. They are also easy to prepare and require little preparation time.
12. Tossed Salad
A tossed salad is the perfect side dish for Mongolian Beef because it goes well with the sweet and spicy sauce. It’s also quick and easy to make!
13. Fresh Fruit Salad
Fresh fruit salad is a great way to add some variety and color to your Mongolian beef dinner. It’s also easy to make, so you don’t have to spend all day in the kitchen preparing this dish. You can use whatever fruits you like or have on hand, such as bananas, grapes, apples, or oranges.
14. Potato Wedges
Potatoes are an easy side dish option for any meal and work especially well with Mongolian beef because they complement the flavors of the beef very well. If you want something a little more exotic than fries or hash browns, try making potato wedges instead!
15. Green Beans with Balsamic Vinegar
Balsamic vinegar is a versatile ingredient that can be used to dress up green beans for a simple side dish. It adds just enough flavor without overpowering the beans, which makes it perfect for people who prefer light-flavored foods without too many strong flavors competing for attention on the palate. The vinegar also helps prevent discoloration in green beans as they cook and helps retain their nutrients during cooking.
16. Caramelized Onions
Caramelized onions are delicious on their own, but they also make a great addition to many dishes. They can be cooked ahead of time and added at the last minute when making soups, stews, or stir-fries. They add a rich, sweet note that complements most savory dishes very nicely and can help balance out spicy or salty flavors if necessary.
Recipe With Mongolian Beef
Mongolian Beef is a very popular Chinese dish that is cooked with red onion and garlic, in a sweet and sour sauce. This dish is extremely easy to make, and the recipe can be doubled or tripled for entertaining purposes.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. boneless beef, cut into thin strips (I use rib eye)
- 1/4 cup soy sauce, divided
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar, divided
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch, divided
- 2 tablespoons peanut or sesame oil, divided
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
- 1-inch knob ginger, grated (about 1 tablespoon)
- 2 green onions sliced thinly on a diagonal (about 3 tablespoons)
Instructions
Step 1: Combine 1/4 cup soy sauce and 1/4 cup rice vinegar in a small bowl.
Step 2: Set aside. In a medium bowl whisk together 2 tablespoons cornstarch with 3 tablespoons water until smooth. Set aside.
Step 3: Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over high heat until smoking hot. Add half the beef and cook until browned on all sides but not cooked through (you want it to be medium-rare).
Step 4: Remove the beef from the pan and set it aside with a slotted spoon or tongs on a plate covered with paper towels to drain excess fat from the meat. Repeat with remaining beef.
Step 5: Add remaining oil to the pan along with garlic and ginger and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
Step 6: Add the sauce mixture and the sliced green onion to the pan. Whisk sauce into the pan and allow it to come to a boil and reduce for about 1 minute.
Step 7: Return beef to the pan and stir until coated with sauce. Heat through for about one-minute stirring constantly, then serve immediately with white rice and garnish with additional sliced green onions if desired.
FAQs
1. Where does Mongolian beef come from?
Mongolian beef is a stir-fried dish made with beef and vegetables, usually served over white rice. It’s often confused with another Chinese stir-fry called “Beijing Beef,” which is made with thinly sliced beef.
2. What is Mongolian beef called in other languages?
The name “Mongolian beef” is a literal translation into English of the Mandarin Chinese terms Niurou Rousi (牛肉肉丝) or Niurou Xiang (牛肉香). This dish is also known by many other names, including Szechuan beef, Sichuan beef, Shredded Beef with Garlic Sauce, and Beef with Scallions in Brown Sauce.
3. How do you make Mongolian beef?
The basic ingredients for Mongolian beef include thinly sliced steak (usually flank), scallions, ginger root, and garlic. The meat may be marinated before cooking or not; however, it’s usually stir-fried in oil until browned on both sides (or until just barely pink on the inside).
4. Can I make this recipe with beef?
Yes! You can definitely use beef in place of the chicken.
5. Will this Mongolian Beef recipe work for other meats?
Yes! If you want to make it with pork, beef, or lamb, that’s great too. Just remember that the cooking times will vary depending on how thick your cut of meat is.
6. What should I serve with Mongolian Beef?
A simple side salad or steamed vegetables would be perfect with this stir fry!
In Conclusion
But wait just a second – you may be thinking – what is a good side dish for Mongolian beef? No problem. With all the different kinds of recipes and ingredients on the internet, you can use your imagination to create something that goes well with Mongolian beef.
