Although I tend to share a lot of Asian recipes, this comfort food list is not limited to just Asian recipes! I'm a huge fan of comfort food from all parts of the world, so some of these recipes will be comforting nostalgic, some will be warm and cozy, and some will just flat-out give you that comfort food kick like crispy fried chicken! Yum! Hope you enjoy this list!
Fried Chicken (The Extra Crispy and Crunchy Kind)
Fried chicken needs no introduction and it is my ultimate comfort food. My only requirement is it's super crispy (the more nooks and crannies the better) and the batter must stay on the chicken with every bite. After experimenting for years I finally have my perfect fried chicken recipe. It uses starch to form that crispy and crunch batter, and 2 simple techniques to get the nooks and crannies and have the batter stay put as well with every bite.
Get the Extra Crispy Fried Chicken recipe here.
Sweet and Sour Pork
Chinese takeout is always a comfort food to me, especially if it's deep fried and drowning in sauce. My favorite Chinese takeout recipe? Sweet and sour pork. It's a classic and you know exactly what you're going to get. This recipe has a perfectly balanced sweet and sour sauce and is tossed with a crispy battered pork.
You can get the Sweet and Sour Pork recipe here.
Bangers and Mash with Stout and Onion Gravy
Mashed potatoes and gravy is one of the ultimate comfort foods out there. This one is one of my favorite ones because of the thick beer and onion gravy smothered in bite sized sausages and garlic mashed potatoes. Easier to eat than the traditional bangers and mash absolutely comforting (like a warm cozy blanket).
Get the Bangers and Mash recipe here.
Teriyaki Chicken Yaki Udon
If you're noticing a trend with my comfort foods, you're right. Chewy noodles drowning in a thick sauce hits every craving, every time. This yaki udon noodle uses chewy udon noodles that is stir-fried with a sweet and savory teriyaki sauce. It has a bit of veg (because you need some veg, don't be a carb fiend like me) and chicken as well, which makes it a complete meal as well!
Get the Teriyaki Chicken Yaki Udon recipe here.
Cheese Ramen
A twist on Mac and Cheese, this quick-and-easy cheese ramen recipe uses cheddar cheese, a pack of instant ramen noodles, and a corn starch slurry to thicken up milk to create a creamy, indulgent cheese sauce. Perfect for days when you want something creamy, and comforting.
Get the Cheese Ramen recipe here.
Tteokbokki
Tteokbokki is a Korean comfort food made with chewy rice cakes cooked in a sweet and spicy gochujang sauce. The rice cakes are unbelievably chewy and the spicy sauce is warm and comforting and make it completely, I like to also server it with a jammy boiled egg.
Get the Tteokbokki recipe here.
Beer Braised Pork Belly (Chinese Style)
Sweet and sticky, this melt-in-your-mouth Chinese-style beer braised pork belly is simple to make and incredibly flavorful. I like to drown my rice, potatoes, noodles and fries in the sauce but the star is really the pork belly.
Get the Beer Braised Pork Belly recipe here.
Thai Red Curry
Thai curries to me are warm, coconutty, spicy and full on flavor, this Thai red curry has all of that and more. I use sweetened condensed milk to give it a creamier touch and sweetness, coconut cream to make it even more creamier and coconutty (but you can use coconut milk, full fat only please) and kaffir lime leaves to give it that punch of flavor.
You can get the Red Thai Curry recipe here.
Thai Basil Chicken (Pad Krapow Gai)
A delicious, simple, quick, and easy, spicy Thai Basil Chicken recipe made with diced or ground chicken, yardlong beans (or green beans), and fresh Thai basil tossed in a savory umami sauce made with fish sauce, oyster sauce, and sugar. It's one bowl, salty and served over white rice with a fried egg. Pure comfort especially when I am craving it and I don't want to spend more than 30 minutes in the kitchen.
You can get the Pad Krapow Gai recipe here.
Egg Drop Soup with Corn
If you're craving a warm and cozy soup, this might be the one you're looking for. This 15-minute, quick and easy comforting corn egg drop soup is made with an umami miso soup base and little bits of sweet corn. It's a little bit sweet, savory with swirls of egg running through it.
Get the Egg Drop Soup with Corn recipe here.
Bun Bo Hue (Spicy Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup)
If you have ever had Vietnamese pho then you'll know exactly why it is the ultimate comfort food. It's a hot, broth soup that is full of flavor and served with very slurpable noodles. Bun bo hue is its cousin but has a more robust and flavorful broth and it's slightly spicy! If you love pho then you need to try this!
You can get the Bun Bo Hue recipe here.
Three Cup Chicken
Three cup chicken is an Taiwanese chicken dish that is made with chicken pieces being braised in soy sauce, cooking wine and sesame oil. The sauce is sweet and savory, garlicky with ginger and onion flavor and is seriously one of the yummiest sauces you can eat with rice. I love this version because I love chicken wings, and it is made with exactly that!
Get the Three Cup Chicken here.
Chilli Chicken
Another takeout dish that fulfills my comfort food cravings is chilli chicken. It's a Hakka takeout dish made with crispy chicken tossed in a spicy and savory chili sauce. If you like takeout dishes with deep fried chicken tossed in a savory spicy sauce, you'll love this one.
Get the Chilli Chicken recipe here.
Beef Noodle Stir Fry
This noodle dish is as simple as it gets. It's beef, onions, a sweet soy sauce made with soy sauce and sugar and spaghettini (yes pasta!). If you want dinner on the table in 15 minutes and you're itching for a comfort food, then try this noodle dish.
Get the Beef Noodle Stir Fry recipe here.
Udon Noodle Soup
This is another very simple soupy noodle dish that is made with a very easy to make miso soup and frozen chewy udon noodles. You don't need to pre-cook the noodles and it works very well with store-bought rotisserie chicken. This comforting noodle dish is super slurpable, cozy and can be made in 30 minutes or less.
Get the Udon Noodle Soup recipe here.
Congee
Congee is a staple whenever anyone is feeling under the weather in an Asian household. It's simple, warm, cozy and there's nothing more to it than that. If you're like me, you have it as a comfort food and load it up with a gazillion different toppings and garnishes! If you have never tried it, or you are looking for a very creamy and silky version of congee then definitely give this recipe a try.
Get the Chicken Congee recipe here.
Hawaiian Butter Mochi
Sometimes it's not enough to have comfort food, you need to make the house smell comforting as well. Make these Hawaiian butter mochis and I promise you, your house will smell fabulous! I make them in muffin tins (not the traditional way) so I can have more crispy edges for a crunchier texture but still maintain that chewy center. It makes a lot, and I never like to share them but you should be nicer than me and share them with friends and family.
Get the Hawaiian Butter Mochi recipe here.
Wonton Noodle Soup
Making wonton dumplings can be a labor of love, but they are easier to make than you think and you can make a big batch and freeze them so you can make them easily anytime you need a quick wonton noodle soup! Alternatively, you can also buy pre-made wonton dumplings to keep things simpler, and I can show you how to put together this warm and cozy wonton soup in minutes for a delicious meal.
Get the Shrimp Wonton Soup recipe here.
Saucy Beef Chow Ho Fun Noodles
Noodles will always be a comforting meal, but what makes this one extra cozy is the thick, savory sauce and chewy rice noodles. I highly recommend doubling the sauce so you can drown these chewy noodles in it.
Get the Saucy Beef Chow Ho Fun Noodles recipe here.
Chicken Khao Soi (Thai Coconut Curry Noodle Soup)
Khao soi is a Thai curry noodle dish (2 comfort foods right there!). This dish has a rich, creamy, and spicy Thai coconut curry soup made with coconut cream, red curry paste, and aromatics and served with soft egg noodles and topped with crispy noodles!
Get the Chicken Khao Soi recipe here.
Bo Kho (Vietnamese Beef Stew)
If you love any type of beef stew, then you definitely should try this Vietnamese version. It is made with a lot of spices and aromatics which give it a lot more flavor, and you can serve it with noodles or a baguette! If you're planning on making a beef stew soon, try this one instead!
Get the Bo Kho recipe here.
Kimchi Soondubu (Spicy Korean Soft Tofu Stew)
This easy Korean spicy soft tofu stew (soondubu jjigae) recipe is made with an anchovy broth and kimchi and is loaded with pork and shrimp. It's served piping hot with a side of rice and a cross between a stew (because it has so much food!) and a soup. The best kind of comfort food out there.
Get the Kimchi Soondubu recipe here.
Tom Kha Gai (Thai Coconut Chicken Soup)
This authentic tom kha gai (Thai coconut chicken soup) is packed with flavor and made with coconut milk and aromatics like lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal root. It's has a balance of tangy, savory and sweetness and a creaminess from the coconut which ties everything together.
Get the Tom Kha Gai recipe here.
Savory Cheese Oatmeal
Sweet oatmeal is always what comes to mind whenever I think of oatmeal, but did you know savory oatmeal is a thing? This savory oatmeal is made with cheddar cheese, caramelized onions and flavored with miso which gives it a savory and umami flavor. Top it with a jammy soft boiled egg and a comfort food is born.
You can get the Savory Cheese Oatmeal recipe here.
Chinese Eggplant with Garlic Sauce
Another dish I love that's super saucy is this Chinese eggplant dish made with minced pork in a garlic sauce. It's a bit different than the Sichuan ones that are typically made with a spicy bean paste. This version is the kind you find at Cantonese restaurants and is milder, and has more of a sweet and savory sauce, (and in my opinion) one of the best sauces out there to drown your rice in.
Get the Chinese Eggplant with Garlic Sauce recipe here.
Tom Yum Goong
If you're familiar with Thai food, then tom yum soup needs no introduction. Tom yum soup has a perfectly balanced sweet, savory, and tart kick and is delicious on its own or with some glass noodles and shrimp. I like to add a bit of shrimp to mine to give me more things to eat and to make a meal out of it as well.
Get the Tom Yum Soup recipe here.
Miso Red Wine Braised Lamb Shanks
Anything braised means comfort. This lamb shank is no different. These lamb shanks are braised in a savory miso red wine sauce and tastes best served over mashed potatoes, noodles or rice.
Get the Red Wine Braised Lamb Shanks recipe here.
Sweet and Smoky Pineapple Chipotle Chili
Everyone knows chili is always going to be a comfort food, and I completely agree! Especially this chili which has a bit of spicy smokiness from the chipotle, a bit of sweetness from the pineapple and Korean gochujang paste, and a rich flavor from the cocoa powder! Sounds like an odd combination? You need to try it to believe it that it's actually very tasty if you love sweet and savory foods. I like to eat it with nacho chips with a side of sour cream, but I'll also eat it straight up as well.
Get the Pineapple Chipotle Chili recipe here.
Easy Moist Banana Bread with Condensed Milk
I don't typically eat a lot of sweet stuff, but banana bread is an exception. This one is made with yellow bananas that are roasted in the oven, that releases a lot of banana extract so it makes this banana bread extra banana-y and moist. It also uses sweetened condensed milk as well, which gives it another layer of moistness. The key to keeping this banana bread tender is to not over mix it!
Get the Banana Bread with Condensed Milk recipe here.
Butternut Squash Curry
I like to make this comforting curry whenever I have a lot of leftovers from family gathering (from Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas) It's very simple and easy to make, uses one-pot and has a naturally creamy and sweet flavor from the butternut squash once it breaks down completely. Use it with leftover turkey or ham and you have a brand new comforting meal with your leftovers!
Get the Butternut Squash Curry recipe here.
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This article originally appeared on Pups with Chopsticks.
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