Chef Forum banner

steak sides?

10K views 85 replies 32 participants last post by  parallax 
#1 ·
So, im still a little new to cooking like a chef rather then average joe. I need to figure out something to go with steak. Side dishes and id like to find recipes to do it from scratch(rather then store bought mash potatoes lol). Any ssuggestions?
 
#2 ·
Real mashed potatoes. 

French fries. 

Wedge cut fries. Often called steak fries. 

Creamed spinach.

Onion Rings. 

First reference would be Joy of Cooking. 

There are no hard and fast rules. 

What do you like? What fresh vegetables are available in your local market? 
 
#3 ·
Pretty much the standard stuff. We don't have upscale markets so i've yet to find unique varieties of anything. Basically its same things the grocery has but better quality.
I like mashed potatoes. Big fan of cheesy mash potatoes.
I love tomatoes and bell peppers. The girlfriend likes onions of all sorts.
I dont own a deep fryer for onion rings though. Or potato cutter to make fries.
 
#5 ·
You can cut french fries by hand. No need for a special cutter.  Onion rings can be done in a deep skillet with enough oil. Just don't leave the pot of oil unattended. Safety first. 

When cooking at home, you have the freedom to serve whatever you like, whether it's "Chef-like" or not. There's no reason you can't serve some kind of pasta as a starch and a simple salad for a vegetable. Buying good quality ingredients is the most important step. 

      As you will find if you read enough cookbooks as well as the other posts on this forum, much of chef cooking is based on proper technique. This isn't difficult or complicated. It mainly means paying attention to the details.

     For example, when you read up on steaks here, you will learn that drying the steak and adding salt and pepper just before cooking will provide better searing.  

     When you cook vegetables like green beans, a large pot of salted water is recommended. Dropping the beans in ice water when they are cooked to chill them, then reheating them in olive oil or butter in a sauté pan is a "chef" technique. 

    You don't have to know every technique before you make dinner for your girlfriend or be too stressed out over the process. Just buy good ingredients and pay attention to what you are doing. 
 
#6 ·
If you like onions and peppers this is one of my wife's favorite toppings for  steak, that I make for her regularly.  This makes more than enough for 2-3 people.

1 small onion, peeled and sliced

1 Anaheim Pepper, cut in half, seeds removed and sliced

8 oz. White Mushrooms, sliced

2 cloves  garlic, minced

1/4 cup  Worcestershire sauce

4-6 tablespoons  butter, cut into chunks

1 tablespoon  vegetable oil

Heat a skillet over medium high heat.  Add the oil then the onions.  Cook the onions, stirring often, until starting to caramelize (about 10 minutes).  Turn the heat to high and add the mushrooms.  Continue to sauté until the mushrooms are 3/4's of the way done and add the peppers and garlic.  Cook until the peppers are tender, stirring often so the garlic doesn't burn.  Add the Worcestershire sauce to deglaze the pan and allow to reduce until almost dry.  Remove pan from heat and whisk in the butter, whisking constantly so that the butter stays creamy and doesn't break.  Check for seasoning adjust with salt and pepper if needed.  Spoon over steaks as my wife does, or eat as a side I like I do (I don't like putting any topping on my steak).
 
#7 ·
I was just told asparagus. What can i do with asparagus to make it not so plain? And
You can cut french fries by hand. No need for a special cutter. Onion rings can be done in a deep skillet with enough oil. Just don't leave the pot of oil unattended. Safety first.
When cooking at home, you have the freedom to serve whatever you like, whether it's "Chef-like" or not. There's no reason you can't serve some kind of pasta as a starch and a simple salad for a vegetable. Buying good quality ingredients is the most important step.
As you will find if you read enough cookbooks as well as the other posts on this forum, much of chef cooking is based on proper technique. This isn't difficult or complicated. It mainly means paying attention to the details.
For example, when you read up on steaks here, you will learn that drying the steak and adding salt and pepper just before cooking will provide better searing.
When you cook vegetables like green beans, a large pot of salted water is recommended. Dropping the beans in ice water when they are cooked to chill them, then reheating them in olive oil or butter in a sauté pan is a "chef" technique.
You don't have to know every technique before you make dinner for your girlfriend or be too stressed out over the process. Just buy good ingredients and pay attention to what you are doing.
Yeah, I see what your saying. I just got no technique. Don't know much about proper seasoning. Pretty much I'm a complete rookie. These are some pretty cool ideas you've given me though. It really helps. I'm actually trying to grab up my father's old cook book from when he went to school. Figure I can maybe learn a few things while im waiting for classes to start.
 
#8 ·
If you like onions and peppers this is one of my wife's favorite toppings for steak, that I make for her regularly. This makes more than enough for 2-3 people.

1 small onion, peeled and sliced
1 Anaheim Pepper, cut in half, seeds removed and sliced
8 oz. White Mushrooms, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
4-6 tablespoons butter, cut into chunks
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Heat a skillet over medium high heat. Add the oil then the onions. Cook the onions, stirring often, until starting to caramelize (about 10 minutes). Turn the heat to high and add the mushrooms. Continue to sauté until the mushrooms are 3/4's of the way done and add the peppers and garlic. Cook until the peppers are tender, stirring often so the garlic doesn't burn. Add the Worcestershire sauce to deglaze the pan and allow to reduce until almost dry. Remove pan from heat and whisk in the butter, whisking constantly so that the butter stays creamy and doesn't break. Check for seasoning adjust with salt and pepper if needed. Spoon over steaks as my wife does, or eat as a side I like I do (I don't like putting any topping on my steak).
Other then mushrooms(we both hate mushrooms) this sounds amazing.
 
#9 ·
Dirty Onions,    Red Onion Marmalade    . Potatoes O Brian    , Baked Stuffed  Potato    , Creamed Spinach,     Stuffed Tomato Mont Blanc,

Deep Fried Mushrooms.    , Roast Fingerling  Potatoes with  Shallots,  Ragin  Cajin Onion Rings,,Zuchinni Pancakes. .Roast Yellow Beets

To Name A Few that  I have served with steak.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tyfghter
#10 ·
Caramelized onions with garlic and mushrooms, add a splash of wine or beer and cook off the liquid, or add worcestershire sauce and cook it down. Little tomato paste works in this too add it when onions and mushrooms are about done so it can cook out.

Baked potato of any sort

Garlic toast is a favorite of mine for sopping up steak juices

grits for those that like them

roasted vegetables are good with a steak

Anything hearty that you like can go with, there are no rules!
 
#12 ·
Sauteed mushrooms and grilled onions ... over a bigger steak. Salt and pepper too (freshly ground ... of course). NO other sides needed. Maybe you could also eat a handful of potato chips while you are grilling the steak. That would be OK.
 
#13 ·
I like to do something similar to Pete's onion and mushroom saute, but with frozen corn kernels instead of mushrooms. I'm certain I referred to "mock chew" before in these forums. Basically a quicker, simpler version of real maque choux - lots of recipes for that on the net, adapt as you see fit.

mjb.
 
#14 · (Edited)
Steak-frites! What else?

Everyone love this simple dish over and over again; My country's number one national dish; steak fried in butter and a bit of oil, pan juices (deglazed with a tbsp of water only), salad, spoonful of mayo onn the plate and the very, very best fries you can possibly make. Fries have to be fried twice of course, salt, no fantasy. Mayo serves to dip your fries in, well, and c.q. your salad.


Second; steak béarnaise. Same as above but béarnaise sauce instead of pan juices. Cress instead of salad. Fries stay.
 
#15 ·
Thanks guys for all the advice. We ended up going with roasted veggies(red/green bell peppers, and onions), Purple mash potatoes(amazing and a must try), asparagus, and of course a nice juicy steak.


Not the best photo, Girlfriend does photography, and I borrowed her dslr but forgot to bring the f stop down a few to get the whole plate in focus.
 
#19 ·
My favorite way of serving a steak dinner, I prefer the Bone In (Tomahawk cut) Ribeye. Roast it first, sear it last. I serve it with fettuccine Alfredo, pesto is optional, asparagus, topped with hollendaise sauce, and home made sourdough bread with garlic butter on it. a good bottle of a heavy red wine...

That... Would be my last meal request if I was going to be executed for a dastardly deed.
 
#22 ·
Yes...twice-baked.  You bake the potatoes, scoop them out, mix the potato pulp with various ingredients, such as butter, milk, sour cream, cheese, green onion, bacon...your choice.  Fill the potato shells generously with the mixture...bake again briefly.
 
#24 · (Edited)
The quality of steak preparation is all about timing.  You don't want to keep the steak waiting for anything before it goes out.

Thus things that hold really well (such as mashed potatoes), and things that can be cooked very quickly (such as stir fried spinach or pan fried green beans, or boiled corn on the cob), have become the standards in steak restaurants around the world.

IMO roast corn on the cob holds pretty well so long as you peel the leaves back while the corn roasts, and then re-wrap them when it's done.  It also appeals to the customer as more "authentic." Large shrimp (31-35 count) can be grilled on at one to one-and-a-half minutes per side making them the house favorite for surf-and-turf.  Skewering them makes the job even easier.
 
#25 ·
I concur with Skyler above.  Alternately, reserve the "scooped out portion" for later use as a binder, breading etc. for other dishes (but never as mashed potatoes), and the now scooped out and canoe-looking, skin portion can, when ordered, be deep-fried to be served with a  variety of fillings as the famous appetizer, "potato skins."
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top