7 Easy Vegetable Side Dishes To Serve With Mongolian Beef

If you’ve ever had Mongolian beef, you know that it’s a spicy, tender beef dish with just the right amount of sweetness.
I'm an experienced food writer and passionate cook. My website, Cookindocs.com, features accessible, informative, and engaging content with quality recipes and articles that are thoroughly researched and enjoyable to read. You can trust my expertise with 8 years of experience in the field. Learn more about me and my work on this website, and check out my featured articles on TastingTable, Mashed, and 5-Minute Crafts. Read more about me HERE.
But there’s one thing that can make or break this meal: what to serve with it!
A good vegetable can make all the difference between a great and fantastic dish.
What is Mongolian beef?
In a nutshell, Mongolian beef is a stir-fry dish made with beef and vegetables.
The classic preparation involves stir-frying thinly sliced beef in a combination of soy sauce, sugar, and sesame oil.
Unlike what the name implies, Mongolian beef actually originated in Taiwan and was later popularized by Chinese immigrants to the United States.
The dish has become widespread and is now considered one of the most recognizable Asian dishes outside of China.
It is typically served over steamed white rice, but choosing a suitable vegetable side dish can bring out Mongolian beef’s delicious flavor and make your meal more balanced.
7 best side dishes to serve with Mongolian beef
If you are wondering what vegetable dish goes best with Mongolian beef, here are some options for you:
Steamed broccoli
[amazon fields=”B077L5RXJY” value=”thumb” image=”1″ image_size=”large” image_align=”center”]
[amazon fields=”B077L5RXJY” value=”button”]
Steamed broccoli is a great vegetable to serve with Mongolian beef.
It’s also easy to prepare and a good side dish for other Asian dishes.
Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable, which means it’s high in vitamin C, fiber, and other nutrients that promote heart health and reduce the risk of certain cancers.
It is great for steaming, grilling, roasting, or sauteing; however, steaming is the easiest, quickest, and healthiest way to enjoy this veggie.
Steamed broccoli will bring out the flavor of Mongolian beef and give you a healthy meal that is full of nutrients. Steamed broccoli works well with any sauce, so it’s not just for Asian dishes.
Roasted asparagus
[amazon fields=”B002QY5PB2″ value=”thumb” image=”1″ image_size=”large” image_align=”center”]
[amazon fields=”B002QY5PB2″ value=”button”]
Asparagus is an excellent vegetable to serve with Mongolian beef.
Roasting is a great way to prepare it, but if you don’t have time for that, steaming will also work.
Roasted asparagus is full of fiber and vitamins A, C, and K. It’s also high in protein, filling you up without adding many calories or fat to your meal.
You can roast asparagus on its own or add some garlic and olive oil for even more flavor.
Sauteed baby bok choy
[amazon fields=”B07CWZNSZC” value=”thumb” image=”1″ image_size=”large” image_align=”center”]
[amazon fields=”B07CWZNSZC” value=”button”]
Baby bok choy is ideal for Mongolian beef’s side dish.
It’s easy to prepare and can be served with Mongolian beef and rice.
You can also add this vegetable to other dishes, such as stir-fries or soups.
Bok choy is an excellent source of vitamins A and C, iron, and calcium.
It’s also low in calories and fat, making it a healthy choice for your meal.
Bok choy can be sauteed with garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and sesame oil for an Asian-inspired dish or steamed until tender for a more simple side dish option.
Sautéed sugar snap peas
[amazon fields=”B07MGSDD7L” value=”thumb” image=”1″ image_size=”large” image_align=”center”]
[amazon fields=”B07MGSDD7L” value=”button”]
If you’re looking for a vegetable that’s good for your health as well as easy to prepare, and tasty, sugar snap peas are a great choice.
As with green beans and snow peas, sugar snap peas are a member of the legume family and are thus naturally low in fat.
They also contain more protein than most other vegetables, making them a great source of energy-boosting nutrients on top of their natural sweetness.
Sugar snap peas are rich in fiber and vitamins A and C (which help protect against heart disease), plus they’re high in antioxidants—all things that make this veggie an excellent addition to any dish!
Stir-fried carrots and celery
[amazon fields=”B08B4D3C8N” value=”thumb” image=”1″ image_size=”large” image_align=”center”]
[amazon fields=”B08B4D3C8N” value=”button”]
Stir-fried carrots can celery are a quick and easy way to add vegetables to your diet.
You can make this dish with any vegetable, but carrots and celery are perfect because they are sweet, earthy, and crunchy.
After the carrots and celery have been cooked, you can add a little salt and pepper if you wish.
Mushrooms
[amazon fields=”B07XW1TNXR” value=”thumb” image=”1″ image_size=”large” image_align=”center”]
[amazon fields=”B07XW1TNXR” value=”button”]
Mushrooms are a great addition to any meal, and they’re also a good source of B vitamins, selenium, and potassium.
They’re low in calories but high in protein, which can explain why this particular vegetable is widely used as a substitute for meat in a vegan diet.
Plus, they can be prepared in many different ways—you can sauté them with garlic, cook them with meatloaf, or roast them until crispy and use them as pizza toppings.
Mushrooms should be stored in the refrigerator and can last up to two weeks after purchase.
Air-tight containers or bags help keep them fresh longer by reducing exposure to moisture that causes mold growth on the surface of their caps.
The stems should be discarded before cooking because they’ve been shown to contain more toxins than other parts of the mushroom.
The exciting thing about mushrooms is that they have a meaty texture and an umami flavor that are iconic in Asian cuisine.
Lettuce wraps
[amazon fields=”B00IZOJTKU” value=”thumb” image=”1″ image_size=”large” image_align=”center”]
[amazon fields=”B00IZOJTKU” value=”button”]
Lettuce wraps are quick and easy to make—especially if you can enlist someone else to help with the chopping—and also make a good choice for vegetarians and those who need gluten-free foods.
In fact, you can use Mongolian beef slices as the filling for this recipe.
This means what you need to prepare is only washing the lettuce leaves.
Wrapping each bite of Mongolian beef in lettuce provides a nice crunchiness and refreshing flavor, making the whole meal more balanced and palatable.
Conclusion
Mongolian beef is a popular dish that can be served with various vegetables.
It’s easy to make, but the flavors are complex and delicious!
Try some of these vegetable recipes with your next Mongolian beef meal, and we believe that all your family members and your guests cannot stop asking for more.
- 4 Dishes That Go Well With Italian Beef You Can Make In Your Kitchen
- 3 Best Side Dishes To Serve With Thai Beef Salad (and Why They’re So Amazing)
- Beef Tastes Like Cattle: Why Does My Beef Taste Like A Cow?
- 6 Thyme Substitutes For Beef: The Best Herbs And Spices To Use In Your Beef Recipes
- Beef Tastes Like Cinnamon: Why Does Your Beef Taste Like Cinnamon?