Learn how to cook quick and easy Asian recipes! These approachable recipes are perfect for novel chefs.
Learn how to cook quick and easy Asian recipes! These approachable recipes are perfect for novel chefs.
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Cooking Asian food at home doesn’t have to be complicated. These 25 easy Asian recipes for beginners are made with simple ingredients, approachable cooking techniques, and tons of flavor. From quick stir-fry noodles to fried rice and easy stir-fries, these recipes are a great place to start if you are new to Asian cooking.
Whether you’re craving Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, or Thai food, you’ll find easy recipes here and on my entire website that you can confidently make in your own kitchen. The 25 recipes below are perfect for your busy weeknights, require minimal prep, and are so delicious they will keep you coming back over and over again.
1
Chicken Lo Mein
Easy chicken lo mein recipe featuring juicy tender chicken, springy lo mein noodles, carrots, cabbage, and a rich and savory, glossy stir-fry sauce can be your perfect weeknight dinner in under 20 minutes.
Get ready for a mouthwatering Thai fried rice (khao pad) recipe you can make in your kitchen in under 30 minutes! This Thai-style fried rice is made with fragrant jasmine rice, succulent shrimp, eggs, leafy greens, and a medley of delicious umami sauces. Name your favorite Thai takeout order.
Easy, healthy, and delicious garlic bok choy made with crisp, tender bok choy and glazed with a rich, glossy brown garlic sauce, ready in under 10 minutes.
This Japanese dish features a chicken cutlet breaded with panko breadcrumbs, deep-fried to golden perfection. Similarly, Tonkatsu, a pork version, uses a thick cut of breaded pork, while katsu uses thin, tenderized chicken breast. Both katsu and tonkatsu are typically served with shredded cabbage, rice, and katsu sauce.
Gỏi cuốn tôm thịt, or fresh Vietnamese spring rolls with shrimp and pork, is a popular, refreshing appetizer or a light meal. Goi cuon is typically assembled with boiled pork belly and shrimp, vermicelli noodles, lettuce, cucumber, and an assortment of Vietnamese herbs, all wrapped in translucent rice paper.
Chinese beef and broccoli stir-fry is a classic takeout dish that's comforting and delicious. The tender beef and crisp broccoli are tossed in an umami-rich, savory brown sauce in under 30 minutes for a quick and flavorful dinner.
Tteokbokki (떡볶이), or spicy Korean rice cakes, is the one Korean street food dish that is equal parts incredibly satisfying, addicting, and easy to make. Made with soft, chewy rice cakes, fish cakes, and a sweet, spicy tteokbokki sauce, this Korean rice cake recipe has become one of our favorite staple recipes to make on repeat.
Teriyaki chicken is a Japanese dish made with chicken and glazed with a sweet, savory, umami-rich sauce of soy sauce, sugar, mirin, and sake. “Teri” means shine, and “yaki” means grilled. In this recipe, I added garlic, ginger, and a cornstarch slurry for added flavor and a glossy, thick glaze.
This authentic pad Thai is made with flat rice noodles, tofu, bean sprouts, garlic chives, and a protein of choice, such as shrimp. It is tossed in a hot wok with a savory, tangy pad Thai sauce made from tamarind paste, fish sauce, and oyster sauce. Lastly, it is garnished with freshly crushed peanuts, a squeeze of lime juice, and chili flakes for extra flavor.
Kimchi jjigae, or Korean kimchi stew, is spicy, savory, and deeply comforting. This stew is made with thick, juicy cuts of pork belly, kimchi, shiitake mushrooms, anchovy broth, and tofu. The best part is that this recipe takes less than 30 minutes to make and is so incredibly flavorful.
Juicy, flavorful, and absolutely ideal for a weekday meal. This Vietnamese lemongrass chicken recipe features fresh lemongrass, garlic, fish sauce, five-spice powder, honey, and lime juice for a complex, delicious protein option.
Mongolian beef is a beef stir-fry dish that originated in Taiwan and is now most commonly served in Chinese restaurants. It is made with thinly sliced steak, most commonly flank steak, tossed with onions, garlic, ginger, green onions, dried chili peppers, and a sweet, salty, savory soy sauce-based sauce.
Japchae is a traditional dish that is celebrated in Korean cuisine. These Korean glass noodles feature a rainbow of vegetables, tender beef, chewy, translucent sweet potato glass noodles, and a sweet, savory, umami sauce.
Shrimp fried rice is a Chinese dish typically served at lunch or dinner, made with leftover rice, shrimp, and vegetables tossed in a soy sauce-based sauce. This dish is easily customizable by adding different proteins and vegetables and adjusting the spice level.
Pad see ew is a popular Thai noodle dish served in most Thai restaurants. The name translates to “stir-fried soy sauce” in Thai. The dish typically includes a protein such as beef, chicken, pork, or tofu that is stir-fried in a hot wok with flat rice noodles, Chinese broccoli, eggs, soy sauce, and oyster sauce.
This easy oyakodon recipe features tender and juicy bite-sized chicken pieces, caramelized onion, and softly cooked egg simmering in a sweet and savory broth. This simple and delicious donburi recipe comes together in one pan and is ready to eat in 15 minutes!
This chicken and vegetable stir-fry recipe is inspired by classic Chinese home cooking, made with marinated chicken and vegetables cooked in a hot wok, then tossed in a glossy, savory sauce made with garlic, ginger, soy sauce, oyster sauce, and a cornstarch slurry to thicken.
Yaki udon is a Japanese stir-fried udon noodle dish made with a variety of vegetables, a protein, and generously coated in a sweet, savory, and aromatic soy sauce-based sauce. “Yaki” translates to “to fry,” and “udon” indicates the type of noodles.
Galbi, also known as LA galbi or kalbi, is a popular Korean BBQ dish made from marinated beef short ribs that are cut flanken-style across the bone. The galbi marinade is typically made with Asian pear, onion, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, black pepper, and mirin. The Korean beef ribs are then cooked in a skillet or on a grill and served with a side of rice.
Thai red curry (gaeng phet) is a popular Thai dish originating in central Thailand. It is made with an aromatic, spicy, sweet red curry sauce made from red curry paste, coconut milk, fish sauce, palm sugar, and aromatics such as garlic, ginger, and kaffir lime leaves. It is typically cooked with protein such as chicken, beef, shrimp, or tofu, as well as vegetables such as bell peppers, green beans, bamboo, and Thai basil.
Gochujang chicken is a Korean dish made with chicken breast or thighs that are marinated and brushed or basted with a sweet and spicy gochujang sauce. Typically, the gochujang sauce consists of other ingredients such as garlic, ginger, sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, and sesame oil.
Pad kee mao (ผัดขี้เมา), or drunken noodles, is a popular Thai street food dish that is made with stir-fried rice noodles, beef, chicken or shrimp, and vegetables such as Chinese broccoli, carrots, baby corn, and holy basil that are tossed with a thick savory sauce made with oyster sauce, fish sauce, and soy sauce.
This easy fried rice is a household staple popular in Chinese cuisine. This simple fried rice is made with day-old white jasmine rice, eggs, salt, white pepper, soy sauce, green onion, and a hint of chicken bouillon powder.
This garlic chili oil noodles recipe is inspired by the traditional Chinese dish, You Po Mian (油泼面), which is made by pouring hot oil over aromatics. Traditionally, the dish is made from fresh, hand-pulled wheat flour noodles. But my version uses dried noodles for a simpler and more accessible recipe.
Omurice (オムライス), or Japanese omelet rice, is a popular comfort dish in Japan. This Japanese rice omelet features a fluffy egg omelet wrapped around a bed of warm, addictive ketchup-fried rice. To me, fried rice is the best comfort food because it is incredibly easy to make and always bursting with flavor.
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