When dinner is a stir-fry with rice ...

[wagamama]

is that all you serve, or do you make side dishes as well? I'm asking because whenever I make stiry-fry (usually chicken with lots of veggies), DH complains that it is not "enough" and that he would like something else too ... but he's not sure what, and neither am I. To me it's a kind of one-pot meal!

Curious what other people do, and also looking for ideas!

[EviesMom]

I usually do fruit or cheese on the side in that kind of case. I do edamame sometimes bc we all like it and its a quick side.

[cristeen]

It's a one-pot meal around here. I'd say increase the fat content for it to be more satisfying.

[lkmiscnet]

I just made a one course stir fry last night. I put it on top of brown rice.

We are vegetarian, so I added in garbanzo beans for fiber and protein and chopped walnuts on top for healthy fats.

[wagamama]

For those who just have the stir-fry, are your DH's satisfied? Do you eat dessert?

[2xy]

My DH does most of the cooking, and when he makes a stir-fry, that's all there is. He uses a ton of veggies and usually chicken or tofu.

I'll add that using brown rice is more filling and will keep you full longer than white rice, which will just spike your blood sugar and make you hungry an hour later.

[ollyoxenfree]

Just stir fry and rice.

DH is the one who usually chooses to make a stir fry, so it must satisfy him.

If you are looking for an entree/appetizer or side dish, how about some miso soup, ramen, cold spring rolls, sushi or Asian salad - something that's still within the ethnic "family" of food.

[laohaire]

Just stir fry and brown rice, and I fry it in LOTS of fat (usually coconut oil - seriously, I just glop it in the pan).

I would think that between the brown rice and a good amount of fat, and you having the chicken in there, it should be very satisfying. Assuming your quantity is fine, of course.

[seagull]

We just have the stir-fry on rice. Usually, ours are just veggie ones. They are very satisfying for us.

[calebsmommy25]

We normally do stir-fry over rice (brown, sometimes white) or rice noodles. Most of the time it is satisfying, but I'm not going to lie...sometimes both DP and I need to go back for seconds later on.

I love, love, love veggie spring rolls. Add carrot, cucumber, avocado, maybe some noodles wrapped up in rice paper! Yum! Sauce to dip: soy, garlic chili paste, garlic, chili flakes, ginger, and rice wine vinegar.

[texaspeach]

it's usually an all in one meal here, but if a little extra was needed I'd probably serve pot stickers, soup (wonton, egg drop, etc), baked egg rolls or a salad.

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

I like to add in a fresh fruit for a side. Maybe blueberries or pineapple.

I know, we are weird.

[StephandOwen]

Originally Posted by texaspeach

it's usually an all in one meal here, but if a little extra was needed I'd probably serve pot stickers, soup (wonton, egg drop, etc), baked egg rolls or a salad.

Ditto. Or sometimes we do have a little dessert later in the evening (strawberries/blueberries/etc maybe with some angel food cake if we have some).

[Chamomile Girl]

I think the notion of not being satisfyed after a one-pot meal is actually cultural/psychosomatic. In a basic western diet there are many side dishes served up with a main dish, and people get used to eating that way. My mom has a heck of a time eating dinner at my house because as vegitarians most of our meals are one pot deals, and she feels like "something is missing". I mean heck, the traditional western meal is based on the big chunk of meat "main" dish. If some is used to eating meals like that than a one pot meal might not be enough variety to "satisfy". But it has nothing to do with hunger and everything to do with traditional expectations.

[Ola_]

We often have stir fry with lots of veggies and either chicken, shrimp, tofu, or chickpeas. It goes with lots of sauce, and either rice or rice noodles. We almost never have a side dish and DH and I find it pretty satisfying (actually DH likes stir fry more than I do, he's often trying to suggest it).

We may have store-bought spring rolls or egg rolls but this is a special occassion thing only, and I don't think they're that healthy.

[Owen'nZoe]

We don't serve anything on the side - stir fry and rice (either white or brown, depending on how much time I have to cook the rice). DH is fine with it, but one pot meals are also quite common in his culture, so maybe that affects how receptive he is to it. Also, I am veg, but the rest of the family is omni, so the chicken is cooked separately and served in a separate bowl. Maybe that also makes it seem less like a one-pot meal.

[dachshundqueen]

I serve a chinese vegetable soup with it. Between the soup, and the fried rice (which has chicken, a bucket of veggies, and an egg as well as the seasonings) everyone is full.

Liz

[Grace and Granola]

Originally Posted by calebsmommy25

We normally do stir-fry over rice (brown, sometimes white) or rice noodles. Most of the time it is satisfying, but I'm not going to lie...sometimes both DP and I need to go back for seconds later on.

I love, love, love veggie spring rolls. Add carrot, cucumber, avocado, maybe some noodles wrapped up in rice paper! Yum! Sauce to dip: soy, garlic chili paste, garlic, chili flakes, ginger, and rice wine vinegar.

This sounds great! Do you bake or fry them after wrapping?


For us, stir fry over rice would be it. DH also isn't a huge fan and doesn't find any Asian food very satisfying. He's always hungry a couple hours later.

[SophieAnn]

Stir-fry over rice is a complete meal.

If DH is ever unsatisfied after a meal that I have cooked, he can help himself to some toast or a sandwich. He's a big boy.

[Magelet]

We do stir-fry and brown rice only as well. (sometimes with sourkraut, but it's not really a side, more a condiment). We cook the stir-fry with plenty of fat and it almost always has some egg in it, otherwise there's egg in the rice (and sometimes the rice is fryed, sometimes not.)

We eat a lot of stir fry and rice, particularly DP, however it's always filling enough. we don't really ever eat dessert, except occasionally some unsweetened cream.