Author:Aura RuggeriPublished: September 10, 2022 (Updated: October 11, 2023)
This article was fact checked and it's 100% helpful.
Are you craving some sushi? Despite being totally delicious and an ideal way to enjoy Japanese cuisine, sushi can be elevated with a variety of different food dishes. The only question is, what goes well with sushi, exactly? This is a question many sushi lovers find themselves asking.
If you would like to find out what goes well with sushi (see also ‘Do You Eat Sushi With Your Hands?‘), then rest assured that you have come to the right article! In this post, we are going to be providing you with a list of the best foods to pair with sushi (see also ‘Can Sushi Be Cooked?‘).
From traditionally authentic options to quick and easy weekday picks – we’ve covered all bases.
Read on!
What Goes Well With Sushi?
As we’re sure you might already know, sushi is one of the most versatile and popular food choices to reach for when you’re in the mood for a light lunch or yummy snack – but did you also know that sushi can be elevated with a variety of additional foods, too?
Just keep reading to discover some of the most popular foods that you can use as a side dish when tucking into some moreish sushi:
Edamame Beans
First up on our list we have selected edamame beans! By far one of the most popular (and delicious, might we add) side dish options – if you’re in the mood for something a little on the healthier side, you won’t regret pairing your favorite sushi with some edamame beans next time that you decide to eat it.
Besides being packed full of nutrients that your body and mind will surely love, edamame beans have a crunchy texture that contrasts perfectly with the softness of the sticky sushi rice and whatever fillings that you have on the inside.
Another major benefit of edamame beans is just how easy they are to prepare! All you’ll need to do is blanch them in some salted water and then boil/steam them until you’re happy with them.
Crispy Golden Tempura
Next up on our list? Crispy tempura! As a true sushi side dish favorite, our list just wouldn’t have been complete if we didn’t include this traditional sushi side dish in our roundup.
If you’re not too sure of what tempura is, it is essentially a mixture of carrot, sweet potato, bell peppers (and similar veggies) that are then covered in batter and deep fried.
When combined with a dipping sauce such as sweet chili flake sauce – trust us when we say that you’ll savor every bite. Not just that, but thanks to the veggie contents, it makes tempura a great addition to your sushi if you’re in the mood for something a little more filling.
Traditional Miso Soup
If you want an authentic Japanese dish, then why don’t you consider pairing your favorite sushi dish with a traditional miso soup? Miso soup is one of the most classic Japanese dishes that you can have, and the best part is that it only takes around 10 minutes to prepare.
If you’d like to make some traditional miso soup for yourself to pair with your sushi dish next time that you decide to have it, you’re only going to need to use around 5 ingredients including dashi, negi, miso paste and wakame.
As a side note, if you are going to be preparing your very own traditional miso soup, then we recommend that you prepare your own dashi instead of purchasing it from the grocery store.
Dashi is incredibly easy to make and always tastes better homemade and fresh. Give it a go! It’s a great choice for hot days when you’re not in the mood for anything heavy.
Classic Seaweed Salad
If you’re not in the mood to cook, why don’t you consider trying some seaweed (see also, ‘What is Nori?‘) salad? Healthy and satisfying, this classic seaweed salad is a great addition to any sushi dish and can often be picked up from any local grocery store.
However, if you have the time and you don’t mind getting creative in the kitchen, then we strongly recommend that you try out making your very own seaweed salad – you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to do!
Despite being healthy, sushi can often be quite heavy and filling due to the rice that the sushi fillings are held in. For this reason, it’s a great idea to opt for a lightweight side dish because it will help to elevate your dining experience without overloading your stomach.
This seaweed is also super crunchy and salty, which will contrast beautifully with the soft texture of your sushi. On top of all of that, if you’re someone that likes a fiery kick in their food, then you can even opt to sprinkle a few chili flakes over your seaweed salad, too.
Gyoza Japanese Dumplings
Last but certainly not least, the final way that you can elevgoate your sushi is with Gyoza Japanese dumplings! Yummy, buttery and oh so satisfying, Gyoza Japanese dumplings are full to the brim with chicken (or any other meat alternative that you might like to include instead) lashings of garlic butter and any other additional fillings that you might like to add.
Similar to the seaweed salad dish that we have already included above, Gyoza Japanese dumplings can also be elevated with a few sprinkles of chili flakes for a fiery kick any spice enthusiast will love.
The Bottom Line
There We have it! You’ve made it to the end of the article. Now that you have taken the time to read through everything above, we hope that we’ve been able to give you some food inspiration for additional side dishes to accompany your favorite sushi dishes.
From dumplings to seaweed, these 5 side dishes can be enjoyed on their own or can be used to elevate your sushi eating experience. Plus, if you’re in the mood to get creative, you can easily customize these dishes to suit your taste. Thanks for reading!
Hi, I’m Aura Ruggeri and I want to make sure that no one makes the same mistake that I did.
So, if you’re planning a trip to Japan anytime soon, do exactly that - plan! Read up on all of the amazing things to do here to make the most of your time. I can bet that you’ll still return home feeling like you could’ve explored much more.
