3 Best Dishes To Serve With Tempura Chicken And Why You Should Make Them

In Japan, tempura is a popular dish served as an appetizer or main course.

The word “tempura” means “deep-fry” in Japanese.

In addition to being popular in Japan, many Asian countries have adopted this dish into their food culture including China and Thailand where it’s called “chao moo”.

This article will walk you through what chicken tempura is, top 3 side dishes to serve with this dish and tips for choosing them.

Read on to find out.

What is Tempura Chicken?

Tempura Chicken is a dish that originated in Japan and consists of chicken coated with a crispy batter and deep-fried.

Tempura is typically served as an appetizer, but can also be eaten as part of a main course meal.

It’s often served alongside rice, miso soup, salad, and tempura soba noodles.

The cooking technique for Tempura Chicken has been around for centuries, and it continues to be a favorite among people all over the world.

The idea of deep-frying food in hot oil may seem unhealthy to some, but it’s actually quite delicious and surprisingly healthy!

Tempura dough contains only flour and water, so there are no additional fats that other frying methods use.

And since the batter is very light, proteins like chicken or pork, and vegetables cooked this way don’t absorb any more fat than they would if boiled or steamed instead.

What to Consider When Choosing a Tempura Chicken’s Side Dish?

When you are out with your friends or family, it is always nice to get some tempura chicken.

When I think of tempura chicken, I think about all the different side dishes that one can choose from in order to complement their meal.

With so many choices, how do you know which one will be best? Here are a few factors to take into consideration when choosing the best side dishes to serve with tempura.

How you want to enjoy the delicate flavor of your tempura dish

When choosing a side dish for your tempura chicken, it is important to choose a side dish that will not overpower the delicate flavor of the fried chicken.

A side of boiled broccoli or asparagus would pair perfectly with your tempura chicken if you want to enjoy the dedicated flavor of your dish with minimal effort.

On the other hand, choosing a side such as mashed potatoes which have very strong flavors may overpower the taste of your tempura chicken and leave you disappointed in your meal.

How fulfilling your meal should be

If you only want a light breakfast or brunch, then go with vegetables such as steamed broccoli or asparagus, or even miso soup.

If you want to have a hearty meal which can satisfy your stomach, brown rice or fried rice would be the perfect pair.

3 Best Side Dishes to Serve With Tempura Chicken

My favorite side dishes to serve with Tempura Chicken are apple sauce, mashed potatoes, and pineapple salad.

I like the way these three dishes complement each other because they all have similar flavors.

You can’t go wrong with any of them!

Fried or steamed rice

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Fried rice is an excellent choice because it contains rice which has a neutral flavor and will absorb any sauce that accompanies the meal.

However, fried rice can be soggy if not eaten immediately after preparation.

Another popular option for tempura chicken sides is white or brown steamed rice; however, this tends to go unnoticed by many people due to its bland taste and texture.

So if you want to enjoy the more flavorful dishes, checkout the options below.

Vegetables

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A third option for those who prefer vegetables with their meals would be onion rings as they give off an appetizing aroma when cooked properly and provide a crunchy element that contrasts nicely with the softness of the tempura.

Some other options to check out if you want to have a light meal such as green beans, corn fritter, cucumber salads or steamed vegetables.

Cheesy side dishes

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The next delicious side dish that goes well with tempura chicken is macaroni and cheese – a great option for those looking for something cheesy, but not too heavy!

The only down point with this is that it takes away from the authenticity of what you are trying to recreate.

The Bottom Line

The answer to the question of what side dish you should choose for tempura chicken is easy.

The best choice would be rice because it goes perfectly with any kind of Japanese food, especially fried foods like tempura chicken.

The combination of tempura chicken being served on top of rice makes for an absolutely mouthwatering meal!