The steak, ah. The standard of American (or, maybe better, all) cuisine, the fragrant and savory morsel that, when delivered, makes everything right with the world. or at least the table.
Its creation took decades of improvement and experimentation.
But what distinguishes a superb steak?
I’ve been cooking for a very long time and have processed a lot of meat, so I can state with certainty that the answer is the side dishes.
Best Sides For Steak
Here’s one interesting story:
A couple of days ago, I went for dinner with my friends. When the moment came to order food, no one had a problem whit decision, except my friend Caroline. She asked us what would be the perfect choice when it comes to sides for steak, and everyone had a different answer.
Sara taught that mushroom sauce is the top choice, and Brittany said that she could not imagine steak without a potato on aside. I voted for spinach as my favorite side dish, but Sara taught me that it was boring.
I couldn’t believe what was happening!
At one point waitress came to us, and she asked if she can recommend the best side dish for the steak. She told us that one of the greatest side dishes is blue cheese sauce and that we will not make a mistake if we try that combination.
I was amazed at such diversity in opinions when we talked about a steak that I decided to do some research and to find who is right, and what are the finest side dishes with this delicious meal.
Related Read: How To Reheat Steak: My Guide
Vegetables – Healthy and Delicious
When it comes to vegetables, it is hard to make a mistake. You can choose the ones that are most suited for the season, like summer or winter.
I’ll show you some of the finest choices.
1. Onions
Onion is one of the most commonly used vegetables when it comes to steak.
It can be found almost during the whole year, but I suggest using it during the winter. You can use white onions as well as red ones.
Sweet onions are perfect for caramelizing, and they go well when roasted with different kinds of vegetables. You can use foil all together with steak, and the taste will be wonderful.
Here’s one recipe for the stuffed onions, that will go amazing with the steak.
Further Reading: Most Recommended Steak Knife Sets
2. Potatoes
It is hard to imagine a steak without potatoes. In this case, creativity shouldn’t be a problem. For a lighter meal, choose baked potatoes.
You can leave the skin on and enjoy in crispy flavor, or just simply double bake it.
Slice it thin and make crispy chips, or use a traditional mashed potato. Whatever your choice is, go for it, there is no way you’ll be unsatisfied.
See also: Potato Mashers That Work Perfectly
3. Rice
Adding rice on a plate next to a steak is the right choice. This low-calorie Chinese food will enhance the full flavor and texture of your meal.
Regardless of whether you choose white or integral rice, the combination will be a healthy and delicious choice.
Feel free to add another kind of vegetables (rice and beans combine great with steak) into rice if you want to make the taste of your steak richer.
See Also: The Leading Stainless Steel Rice Cookers
4. Mushrooms
The mushrooms are a good choice if you would like to enhance the flavor of the steak. You can choose between Shitake, Portobello, or Oyster Mushrooms for a peppery flavor.
You can add some seafood, like oyster (canned are an option) or lobster and you will not make a mistake.
Mushrooms can be grilled, sauteed, or cooked; it’s up to you. Use mushrooms with a firm texture to achieve the full effect of their flavor.
5. Broccoli
This healthy indigent will make any steak dish delicious. You’ve probably tried this combination a lot of times, but you must admit that it cannot escape the trend.
A quick steaming is the traditional and the most nutritious way to prepare broccoli.
You will not need more than five minutes for preparation, and your children will love it.
If you like stir-fried broccoli, it will be the perfect combination with a juicy steak. Feel free to add some noodles to make your meal even more delicious.
See also: The Perfect Way To Boil Broccoli
6. Spinach
This combination is my favorite. It is a traditional way of side dish, but it tastes amazing, and it is full of vitamins and minerals. Everyone should try this combination.
You won’t need a lot of cooking experience because it is very easy and quick to prepare. Boil it, sauté it with olive oil and onions, use it as a cream, or you can make a fresh salad.
Tell your children a story about Popeye. I did it, and it helped. I love watching them enjoying delicious and healthy food.
Sauces – The Right Choices
The second factor that makes the fantastic steak dish is the sauce.
If you nail it and serve the perfect combination, the steak’s texture will combine with the sauce flawlessly and create a mesmerizing effect.
Here are the sauces that I’ve tried so far and enjoyed:
1. Blue Cheese Sauce
The steak will go perfectly together with this sauce, like Samson and Delilah. For this sauce, you will need only about 20 minutes.
You can use it as a topping. Just spill a small amount of this amazing sauce over your steak and enjoy its beauty. Try to use high-quality cheese to achieve full flavor.
2. Mushroom Sauce
I already mentioned mushrooms as one of the greatest side dishes for steak.
It’s hard for me to imagine that there is someone who doesn’t like this combination. The mushroom sauce tastes perfect and smells amazing, and it is easy to prepare.
Oyster mushrooms will be a perfect choice, but you also can use regular white mushrooms.
You can add 3/4 cup of red or white wine to the sauce and make your enjoyment even greater.
3. Chili Sauce
If you want to spice things up, then this will be the right choice for you. Chili sauce is perfect in combination with tomato sauce, as well as with other vegetables.
Add just a little bit of Mexican atmosphere to your house, and your family will love it.
Feel free to add egg noodles with chili sauce and steak, and you will enjoy them together. Sweet chili sauce is also an excellent choice.
Related: 5 Quick and Easy Ways To Thicken Chili
4. Pizzaiola Sauce
If you are a lover of Italian cuisine, then you will love this combination. Besides it tastes great, it is easy to prepare. To prepare it, you will need tomatoes, olive oil, oregano, and some garlic.
To make this sauce, this is the best time of the year because you will be able to find fresh tomatoes. You can slip this sauce over your steak and enjoy the meal, or you can add some pasta or even potato.
See Also: Must-Have Olive Oil Dispensers
What About A Drink?
To complete the steak experience, you’ll need some quality beverages.
- I know that traditional steak lovers will prefer nothing but beer, but please hang on and try to consider these options, as the finest gourmets suggest them, and I’ve personally tested them and enjoyed them.
See Also: Most Recommended Kegerators
1. Red Wine
- This is the traditional favorite of gourmets around the world. Feel like French, and enjoy your glass of wine and delicious steak meal. Red wine tannins combine with proteins that come from meat amazingly. I will suggest trying a glass of Pinot Noir, especially if you are having a romantic dinner with your partner.
2. Lemonade or Soda
- These are a good choice when it comes to steak. Citrus drinks, like lemonade, or soda with lemon or lime (a slice and juice) are perfect for summer days and are perfect in combination with a steak meal. They are refreshing, and they do not have a strong taste, so they will not overcome the taste of the meat.
See also: What is the quantity of juice in one lime
3. Juice
- If you are not into alcohol, or you want to serve your children with some drink next to steak, you can try pomegranate or cranberry juice. These drinks are refreshing, and they go very well along with meat, especially during the summer days. Juice also contains tannins, so this is the right replacement for wine.
The Finest Steak Takes Years Of Practice And Characteristic Additions
It’s all in the details; even if your steak is perfect, a lack of attention to detail in the final dish might result in a subpar dinner.
On the other hand, a good steak with delicious sides and garnishing would create a wonderful feast.
Caroline ultimately ordered the potato-mushroom combo with her steak and was satisfied, although she skipped the mushrooms.
The small takeaway from this experience – sometimes simplicity and “less is more” philosophy can score better than abundance and variety of choices.
What are your favorite steak side dishes?
Let me know in the comments below.