Your Ultimate Guide to Low-Carb Chinese Lunch Delights

Asian, Low Carb, Recipes

Enjoy the flavors of Chinese cuisine while staying on track with your low-carb goals. Discover a variety of delicious lunch options, including stir-fries, soups, salads, and low-carb dim sum, all packed with flavor and nutrition. Learn tips for ordering and find healthy homemade recipes to satisfy your cravings.

Want Chinese food but watching your carbs? No problem! You can still have a delicious and filling Chinese lunch without blowing your health goals. This guide shows you various low-carb Chinese lunch options, from classics to creative twists, to tickle your taste buds and keep you on track.

Takeaways

Stir fries are a low-carb Chinese lunch winner.
Chinese soups with shirataki noodles are tasty and nutritious.
Low-carb salads with creative dressings and noodle subs are a Chinese lunch game-changer.
Low-carb dim sum choices, such as dumpling alternatives and steamed options, provide diversity and flavour.

Chinese low-carb salad with salmon and shrimps. — Low-carb Chinese salad with salmon and shrimp.

Understanding Low-Carb Chinese Cuisine

Chinese cuisine is known for its rice and noodle dishes but offers plenty of low-carb alternatives. The key is to choose dishes focused on lean protein, non-starchy vegetables, and flavorful sauces that are light on sugar and cornstarch.

Top Low-Carb Chinese Lunch Picks

Steamed or Stir-Fried Dishes: Opt for steamed fish, chicken, or tofu with an abundance of non-starchy vegetables like broccoli, bok choy, mushrooms, and snow peas. Choose sauces like garlic sauce, black bean sauce (in moderation), or a simple soy-ginger dressing.
Lettuce Wraps: These are a fun and customizable option. Fill lettuce leaves with stir-fried ground meat (chicken, pork, or beef), chopped vegetables, and a drizzle of hoisin sauce or sriracha for a burst of flavour.
Soups: Hot and sour soup (without noodles) or egg drop soup can be surprisingly low in carbs. Just ask about the ingredients and avoid adding noodles or thickeners.
Salads: Many Chinese restaurants offer delicious salads with mixed greens, grilled chicken or shrimp, and a light vinaigrette.
Moo Shu: This classic dish features stir-fried meat and vegetables wrapped in thin pancakes. For a low-carb twist, swap the pancakes for lettuce leaves.

Tips for Ordering Low-Carb at Chinese Restaurants

Communicate Your Needs: Tell your server you’re following a low-carb diet. They can often offer suggestions or modifications.
Request Sauces on the Side: This allows you to control your use amount.
Choose Brown Rice Over White Rice: Brown rice has a lower glycemic index and offers more fibre.
Beware of Hidden Carbs: Some dishes may contain hidden carbs, such as added sugar or cornstarch. Ask about the ingredients if you’re unsure.

Low-Carb Noodle Alternatives	Creative Low-Carb Dressings
Zucchini Noodles	Tangy Vinaigrette
Shirataki Noodles	Creamy Avocado Dressing
Kelp Noodles	Lemon Garlic Dressing

Low-Carb Chinese Alternatives

A woman holding broccoli and making thumbs up gesture — A woman holding broccoli

Healthy Homemade Low-Carb Chinese Recipes

Stir-fried beef and Broccoli
Spicy Garlic Shrimp
Low-Carb Egg Roll in a Bowl

Tasty Low-Carb Dim Sum Choices

To continue exploring our low-carb Chinese lunch options, we like to incorporate a variety of tasty low-carb dim sum choices that add diversity and flavour to our meals. We have discovered some delicious alternatives that hit the spot without compromising on taste when satisfying our dim sum cravings while keeping it low-carb. Here are three authentic low-carb dim sum options that we love:

Low-Carb Dumpling Alternatives: Instead of traditional dumplings made with high-carb wrappers, we opt for dumplings made with cabbage leaves or thin slices of daikon radish. These low-carb alternatives still offer a delightful combination of savoury fillings without the carb overload.
Authentic Low-Carb Bao Options: We enjoy low-carb bao by making dough from almond flour or coconut flour, which helps to keep the carb count low. These buns are filled with delicious ingredients that maintain traditional bao’s authentic taste while aligning with our low-carb preferences.
Steamed Low-Carb Dim Sum: Fresh dishes such as chicken feet, spare ribs, and seafood rolls are excellent low-carb dim sum choices. These options are packed with flavour and provide a satisfying dim sum experience without the extra carbs.

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Chinese Veggie Dishes

Our previous post on low-carb dim sum mentioned adding some nutritious Chinese veggie dishes to our low-carb Chinese lunch ideas. Some of the best low-carb and nutritious Chinese veggie dishes are stir-fried greens like bok choy, Chinese broccoli or gai lan with a bit of garlic and ginger.

Stir-frying these veggies preserves their nutrients and brings out their natural flavours. They are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, so they are perfect for your low-carb lunch. Besides stir-fried greens, steamed broccoli is an easy and yummy option with many low-carb dishes. It retains its crunch, colour, and nutrients. The simplicity of steamed broccoli lets you enjoy its natural taste, and it’s a great source of fibre and vitamin C. Adding these nutrient-dense veggie dishes to our low-carb Chinese lunch options gives us a balanced and filling meal.

Now, let’s explore the delicious world of low-carb, protein-packed entrees.

Low Carb Protein Meals

What are some low-carb, protein-packed meals to accompany Chinese veggie dishes? Shirataki noodles are great noodle alternatives that are high in protein. Made from konjac yam, they are low in carbs and calories, perfect for those watching their carb intake.

Another great option is zucchini noodles, also known as zoodles. They are low in carbs and high in fibre and nutrients, making them a nutritious and filling base for your protein-packed Chinese meals. If you are looking for low-carb tofu options, try tofu stir fry with a mix of veggies and protein-packed tofu. Tofu is a great source of plant-based protein and can be marinated and cooked in many ways to create delicious and satisfying low-carb Chinese meals. These options balance protein and flavour and cater to our need for nutritious, tasty, low-carb Chinese lunches.

Low-Carb Chinese Lunches

Low-carb Chinese lunch is easy! Now you know, and now you can! Try these out and enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

Are There Any Low-Carb Chinese Lunch Options That Are Also Gluten-Free?

Yes, we found low-carb Chinese lunch options that are also gluten-free. Traditional recipes can be high in carbs, but modern alternatives like cauliflower fried rice or lettuce wraps offer satisfying, flavorful, and healthy choices.

Can I request that my low-carb stir-fry be made with less oil for a healthier option?

Yes, we can request modifications for a healthier stir fry option by asking for less oil. This can make the dish low-carb and gluten-free. We can also explore low-carb condiments and appetizers for a complete meal.

Are there any Chinese soup options that are both low-carb and high-protein?

Are you looking for low-carb, high-protein soup choices? We’ve found some delicious options. Packed with flavour and nutrients, these soups will satisfy your cravings and keep you on track with your dietary goals.

Were you hunting for low-carb, high-protein soup choices? We’ve found some delicious options. Packed with flavour and nutrients, these soups will satisfy your cravings and keep you on track with your dietary goals.

We can substitute traditional noodles in dim sum for a low-carb alternative. Low-carb noodle substitutes, such as zucchini, shirataki, and kelp noodles, work well in low-carb Chinese appetizers.

Do Chinese Vegetable Dishes Typically Include a Lot of Added Sugars or Sauces That Aren’t Low-Carb Friendly?

Chinese vegetable dishes often feature low-carb sauces, making them a great option. However, some may contain added sugars. We can always ask for sauces on the side or opt for low-carb protein options to stay on track.