7 Healthy Asian Recipes To Expand Your Cooking Horizons

Exploring the world of Asian cuisine can be a delicious adventure, offering a plethora of vibrant flavors and nutritious ingredients. From fragrant curries to light stir-fries, there is a wealth of dishes that are both delicious and wholesome. If you’re looking to add some variety to your meals while keeping them healthy, look no further. Here are 7 tantalizing Asian recipes to inspire your culinary journey.

1. Vegetable Pad Thai

Ingredients:

• 8 oz rice noodles
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 cup broccoli florets
• 1 carrot, julienned
• 1/2 cup tofu, cubed
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 2 tbsp rice vinegar
• Crushed peanuts and lime wedges for garnish

Instructions:

1. Soak rice noodles according to package instructions.
2. In a wok or large pan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
3. Add bell pepper, broccoli, and carrot. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until vegetables are tender-crisp.
4. Push vegetables to one side of the pan and add tofu to the other side. Cook until tofu is lightly browned.
5. Push tofu to the side and pour beaten eggs into the pan. Scramble until cooked through.
6. Add drained noodles to the pan along with soy sauce, brown sugar, and rice vinegar. Toss everything together until well combined and heated through.
7. Serve hot, garnished with crushed peanuts and lime wedges.

2. Ginger Garlic Bok Choy

Ingredients:

• 1 lb baby bok choy, halved
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1-inch piece ginger, grated
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp honey
• Sesame seeds for garnish

Instructions:

1. Heat sesame oil in a large pan over medium heat.
2. Add garlic and ginger, sautéing for 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Add bok choy, cut side down. Cook for 2-3 minutes until slightly wilted.
4. Flip bok choy and add soy sauce and honey to the pan.
5. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until bok choy is tender but still crisp.
6. Remove from heat, sprinkle with sesame seeds, and serve hot.

3. Salmon Teriyaki with Broccoli

Ingredients:

• 4 salmon fillets
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1-inch piece ginger, grated
• 2 cups broccoli florets
• Sesame seeds and sliced green onions for garnish

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger.
2. Place salmon fillets in a shallow dish and pour half of the teriyaki sauce over them. Marinate for 30 minutes.
3. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
4. Place marinated salmon on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Arrange broccoli around the salmon.
5. Bake for 12-15 minutes until salmon is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork.
6. Drizzle remaining teriyaki sauce over salmon and broccoli.
7. Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions before serving.

4. Vietnamese Pho Soup

Ingredients:

• 8 cups chicken or vegetable broth
• 8 oz rice noodles
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 2-inch piece ginger, thinly sliced
• 2 star anise
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 lb boneless chicken breasts, thinly sliced (or tofu for vegetarian)
• Garnishes: bean sprouts, lime wedges, Thai basil, cilantro, thinly sliced chili

Instructions:

1. In a large pot, bring broth to a simmer.
2. Add onion, ginger, star anise, and cinnamon. Simmer for 20 minutes.
3. Strain the broth and return it to the pot. Discard solids.
4. Add chicken slices to the broth and cook for 3-4 minutes until cooked through.
5. Meanwhile, cook rice noodles according to package instructions.
6. Divide cooked noodles among serving bowls.
7. Ladle hot broth and chicken over noodles.
8. Serve with bean sprouts, lime wedges, Thai basil, cilantro, and chili slices for garnish.

5. Tofu and Vegetable Stir-Fry

Ingredients:

• 1 block tofu, pressed and cubed
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1-inch piece ginger, grated
• Assorted vegetables (bell peppers, snap peas, broccoli, carrots)
• Cooked rice for serving

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, combine tofu, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, garlic, and ginger. Let marinate for 15-20 minutes.
2. Heat sesame oil in a large pan or wok over high heat.
3. Add marinated tofu to the pan, reserving marinade.
4. Stir-fry tofu until browned on all sides, then remove from pan.
5. In the same pan, stir-fry vegetables until crisp-tender.
6. Return tofu to the pan, along with reserved marinade.
7. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until everything is heated through.
8. Serve over cooked rice.

6. Thai Green Curry with Shrimp

Ingredients:

• 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 can (14 oz) coconut milk
• 2 tbsp Thai green curry paste
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 1 zucchini, sliced
• 1 cup snap peas
• Fresh basil leaves for garnish
• Cooked jasmine rice for serving

Instructions:

1. In a large pan or wok, heat coconut milk over medium heat.
2. Add green curry paste and stir until fragrant.
3. Add shrimp to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes until pink.
4. Stir in bell pepper, zucchini, and snap peas.
5. Simmer for 5-7 minutes until vegetables are tender.
6. Serve hot over jasmine rice, garnished with fresh basil leaves.

7. Japanese Miso Soup

Ingredients:

• 4 cups dashi (or vegetable broth)
• 3 tbsp miso paste
• 1 block tofu, cubed
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup seaweed (such as wakame)
• Optional: sliced mushrooms, cubed potatoes

Instructions:

1. In a pot, bring dashi to a simmer.
2. In a small bowl, whisk miso paste with a ladle of hot dashi until smooth.
3. Add tofu and seaweed to the pot.
4. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until tofu is heated through.
5. Remove from heat and stir in green onions.
6. Serve hot as a comforting and nutritious soup.

These delightful Asian recipes are not only packed with flavor but also offer a healthy twist to your everyday meals. Whether you’re craving the aromatic spices of Thai cuisine or the comforting warmth of Japanese miso soup, there’s something here to satisfy every palate. So, gather your ingredients, put on your apron, and embark on a culinary journey through the vibrant flavors of Asia!