Those that love steak, really love steak. It is not something that you should take lightly, especially if you have invested money and time. Next time, make sure you have all your side dishes ready to go.
Here you can take a close look at all the best side dishes for steak. All these recipes are tasty and go well with more than just steak.
What Is Steak?
The word steak refers to a cut of meat, usually sliced across muscle fibers. Steak can come with or without bone and usually comes from beef. However, steak might also come from pork, veal, turkey, salmon, fish, or mushrooms.
These days, the market for steak is expensive, and good steak is often from specific areas of the world. Some of the most famous steaks come from Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. For the most part, you should grill steak, but it can also be fried, baked, roasted, or slow-cooked.
Steak is often cooked to different temperatures, ranging from blue or very rare to well done. The pinker the center, the juicier the flavors. Uncooked beef is part of certain dishes, like beef tartare.
There are various cuts of steak, some of which include rib eye, sirloin, tenderloin, porterhouse, T-bone, and rump. Although steak often comes on its own, it can sometimes contain sauces and seasonings.
Nutrition Facts
One top sirloin beef steak (375 g) has the following nutritional content (*):
- 664 calories
- 238 g water
- 116 g protein
- 18.9 g fat
- 0 g carbohydrate
- 0 g fiber
- 0 g sugar
- 82.5 mg calcium
- 7.2 mg iron
- 101 mg magnesium
- 948 mg phosphorus
- 1540 mg potassium
- 248 mg sodium
- 146 µg selenium
- 304 mg cholesterol
As you can see, steak is a good source of protein. Still, depending on the preparation method, it can also be high in fat and sodium. You can choose a leaner cut and use less fat when cooking your steaks at home to make your steak healthier.
What Are The Best Sides for Steak?
Below are some options for side dishes that you can serve with a steak at any time! Whenever you wonder about what to eat with steak, remember these dishes:
#1. Creamed Spinach
Serving a green vegetable with your steak is always a good idea, but it does not have to be boring. This creamed spinach is decadent and full of flavor, one of the easy and delicious steak sides.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups baby spinach
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 shallots, chopped
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Follow these steps to prepare your creamed spinach:
- Melt the butter in a large skillet. Once hot and bubbly, add the garlic.
- After a couple of minutes, add the shallots.
- Stir in the cream and Parmesan cheese. Simmer until the cheese melts.
- Add your spinach and cook for 5 to 8 minutes or until it is soft.
- Sprinkle with red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
- Serve warm next to your favorite steak.
#2. Traditional Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are often a staple of steakhouses everywhere. This recipe is easy but also a classic.
Ingredients:
- 8 to 10 Russet potatoes
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup milk
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dry parsley
- Salt and pepper to taste
Follow these steps to prepare your traditional mashed potatoes:
- Wash and peel your potatoes. Cut them into quarters and place them in a large pot with water and salt.
- Cook your potatoes for about 15 to 20 minutes. Drain them and set them aside in a bowl.
- Melt the butter in a saucepan, add the milk slowly. Continue mixing while adding the cumin, paprika, parsley, salt, and pepper.
- Stir in the milk mixture while you mash your potatoes. Continue doing this until the mashed potatoes are creamy and smooth.
- Serve your mashed potatoes warm with steak on the side.
#3. Herb and Garlic Mushrooms
When you want a vegetable to go with your heavy steak, mushrooms are always the way to go. You can add more herbs and spices to give them more flavor.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cups mushrooms, chopped
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon parsley
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
Follow these steps to prepare your herb and garlic mushrooms:
- Add the olive oil to a large skillet. Once hot, add garlic.
- After a couple of minutes, add the onion and cook for 5 minutes.
- Stir in the mushrooms and the Worcestershire sauce. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes.
- Season with herbs, salt, and pepper. Cook for another 3 minutes.
- Serve warm with your favorite steak.
#4. Scalloped Potatoes
Scalloped potatoes are another classic dish to serve with steak. This cheesy and delicious recipe will leave everyone wanting seconds!
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 8 to 10 red potatoes
- 1 yellow onion, sliced
- 1 cup milk
- ⅓ cup heavy cream
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
Follow these steps to prepare your scalloped potatoes:
- Wash and peel your potatoes. Cut them into slices.
- Place your potatoes in a pot with water and salt. Cook them for about 8 to 10 minutes or until more tender. Drain them and set them aside.
- Add the butter to a skillet, and once it melts, add the yellow onion, and start cooking it.
- After about 3 minutes, stir in the flour, garlic powder, oregano, salt, and pepper. Continue mixing.
- Stir in the milk and cream, and continue mixing until the liquid boils. Allow the mixture to thicken.
- Add the cheese, and continue mixing until it melts completely.
- Season with garlic powder, oregano, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Coat the baking dish with some olive oil. Layer the potatoes, add the cheese and onion mixture, then layer the rest of them, and repeat.
- Cover your potatoes and bake them for about 40 to 45 minutes or until golden on top.
- Serve your scalloped potatoes warm with your steak on the side.
#5. Rainbow Couscous
This couscous dish is a unique blend of flavors and colors that can complement your meat well. You can add more or fewer ingredients, depending on what you want to add to your meal.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 red onion, diced
- 1 zucchini, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup pearl couscous
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- ½ cup water
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
Follow these steps to prepare your rainbow couscous:
- Heat the olive oil in a saucepan. After a few seconds, add the garlic and the red onion. Cook everything for 2 minutes.
- Add the water, broth, zucchini, bell pepper, lemon juice, oregano, salt, and pepper.
- Slowly stir in the couscous and allow the liquid to boil. Cover the saucepan, and lower the heat to a simmer.
- Allow the couscous to absorb the liquid until it softens, about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Serve warm next to your steak.
#6. Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini
Cauliflower is another fantastic choice for pairing with your steak, especially because of the combination of tahini and meat. You can add more citrus and mint to add even more aroma.
Ingredients:
- 1 head of cauliflower
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons tahini paste
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon fresh mint, chopped
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
Follow these steps to prepare your roasted cauliflower with tahini:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees °F.
- Wash and clean your cauliflower. Break it into smaller pieces and place them in a large bowl.
- Add the olive oil, garlic, paprika, and cumin to the bowl. Toss well, so the cauliflower is completely covered.
- Place your cauliflower pieces on a baking sheet. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes or until the cauliflower is tender.
- In the meantime, make the tahini sauce by mixing the tahini paste, lemon, olive oil, salt, and pepper. If you need the sauce to be smoother, add more lemon juice or water.
- Remove your cauliflower from the oven and set it up on a serving plate. Scoop the sauce and drizzle it on top of it. Finish off by adding some fresh mint.
- Serve your roasted cauliflower with tahini warm with your steak on the side.
#7. Garlic Parmesan Noodles
When it comes to a simple yet tasty and filling side dish, these garlic Parmesan noodles are the best idea. You can add a few more vegetables if you want to make this dish more filling.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups egg noodles
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
Follow these steps to prepare your garlic Parmesan noodles:
- Cook your noodles according to the box instructions. Drain them and reserve some of the cooking water. Return them to the pot.
- Add the butter, cooking liquid, Parmesan cheese, garlic, parsley, oregano, salt, and pepper.
- Toss well, so the cheese melts, and the noodles are covered in butter and herbs.
- Serve your garlic Parmesan noodles warm with steak or in the middle of the table.
How Can I Pick The Perfect Steak Side Dishes?
Steak is a fantastic piece of meat that everyone loves to prepare, particularly for special occasions. You can prepare it on its own, with some sauce, or in a stew. No matter the preparation, these side dishes are ideal for any steak meal.
For a grilled steak, you want the flavor of the meat to stand out, which means your side dishes have to be subtle and delicate. A good one would be the traditional mashed potatoes, which add creaminess but will not overpower your meat. You can also try the garlic Parmesan noodles, which are a classic side dish for when you want to keep things simple.
If you are serving your steak with a sauce, you can try accompanying it with something that will go well with those flavors. Creamed spinach is always a nice dish that adds its aroma and flavor. The herb and garlic mushrooms are aromatic but not too strong and very tender.
In any other case, a side dish with more density or crunch can be the right choice. The scalloped potatoes are cheesy and delicious. The rainbow couscous is unique, fresh, and very flavorful.
For an even more unique experience, roasted cauliflower with tahini is the way to go. It will add creaminess, crunch, citrus, and umami.
Conclusion
Having a steak dinner can be even more exciting now that you know exactly what to prepare alongside your meat. Try any of these sides for steak and serve them together if you want. Remember that having steak can be more than just eating meat, and you can transform it into a wholesome meal. If you’re using leftover steak, make sure to reheat steak properly before serving.
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