35 Healthy Asian-Inspired Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What goes well with Chinese food? ›

Sparkling Wine

A chilled glass eases the burn of spicier dishes and the fizz cleanses the grease. We want a Brut Champagne with some richness to cope with sweet and sour flavours too, and something like this can be the companion for spring rolls, dumplings, dim sum, shellfish, and spicier dishes.

High in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, the Asian diet is also low in saturated and total fat. It is this combination that many health professionals believe protects against many chronic diseases, such as heart disease and cancer. The Asian diet is relatively low in meat and dairy foods.

Normally egg fried rice is packed with unhealthy calories from tons of cooking oil. However, this healthy version is much better for you and the egg adds protein, vitamins, and nutrients. Eggs can be a great part of a healthy diet and are a good source of protein as well as tons of nutrients.

Worst: Lo Mein

The noodles are made from white flour, which raises your blood sugar faster than fiber-rich whole grains. Plus, they're cooked with oil and soy sauce, so you get extra fat and sodium. Can't pass it up? Order the vegetable version, and only have half the order.

Steamed Fish and Vegetables

Takeout menus tend to offer a mild-tasting variety of protein-rich white fish, such as sole, and it's paired with mixed vegetables. The veggies add fiber, a key nutrient for digestion and heart health. If you have the chance to choose or add Chinese eggplant as a veggie, go for it.

Boost vitamins, minerals and fiber by requesting extra vegetables. Scan the menu for grilled and stir-fried options, and avoid deep-fried foods. Look for the word “loin” — a less fatty cut — when ordering beef and pork. Replace fried rice with white or brown rice.

Japanese people stay lean despite eating lots of white rice because they're unafraid of it. They have a relationship with it where it neither scares nor intimidates them — instead of avoiding it, they enjoy it in moderate portions, with different vegetables, filling fats, and nourishing proteins.

Have you even wondered why Asian countries have eaten white rice for thousands of years, not brown? Because brown rice is full of phytates and lectins, which bind to vitamins and minerals and prevent them from being absorbed. Phytates are anti-nutrients found in grains and legumes.

Types of Rice Eaten in Japan

However, the labor-intensive process of removing the bran meant that it was a luxury reserved for society's elites. As industrialization reduced the cost of processing, the consumption of white rice began to spread throughout the population during the Meiji Era (1868 - 1912).

Chinese cooks have been heavily sugaring foods to preserve them for over a thousand years. Sugar was also used in religious ceremonies, in rites associated with temple openings. Today, there are big regional variations in how sugar is used in local cuisines.

What sugar is used in Chinese cooking? ›

Rock sugar in particular is often used in Chinese cooking. In this article, we'll explore two different types of Chinese rock sugar and their uses.

Healthy Korean dishes include the famous bibimbap, a hearty rice bowl topped with loads of vegetables and meat. The balance of carbs, protein and nutritious vegetables make bibimbap a well-balanced meal. Kongguksu (cold soy milk noodle soup) is refreshing in the summer months and as healthy as it is delicious.