Sides for steak

[Thebloodynine]

I’ve got a friend coming out of hospital and will finally be well enough to eat full proper meals, and they’re desperate for a steak night with all the friends. They won’t be up for going to a restaurant so I’m cooking. I need some help as they very much feel that “the sides make the meal” so give me some amazing sides which go with steak.
I think I’ve got potatoes covered as I’m making potato dauphinois and Camembert mashed potatoes.
Also doing a garlic herb mushroom dish.
But I need some veggie sides, maybe another meat or seafood sides, I don’t know. Lettuce wedges of course!

So hit me with your suggestions and any fool proof recipes.

I read that as pies and chips with steak. Strong carb work, there!

I love griddled asparagus, red onion wedges (also griddled), garlicky green beans, rocket salad. Basically anything that’s a bit crunchy and / or fresh to mitigate the richness of whatever potatoes and sauce there is.

Sounds like you’ve got some great suggestions here!

Admittedly this rather lends itself to fish more than steak but I LOVE samphire with mine, especially with a cheesy potato. Cooked in the same pan as the steak after its finished cooking, knob of butter, around a minute. Delicious. Alternatively panned fried courgette, chop into pound coin thickness slices and add some garlic whilst frying.

Onions fried in garlic butter

Chips
onion rings
mushrooms
peppercorn sauce

Don't forget the bread OP! I absolutely love a bread plate or even better, a selection, to mop up the steak juices.

Nope never heard of Miller and Carter.

Do you not like French food?

It’s mashed potato with Camembert instead of butter. Very yummy! Should really use tomme fraiche cheese but it’s harder to get.

I don’t know Miller and Carter either, maybe there isn’t one round here. Griddled veg are usually nice though. If your friends are happy with the potato options then that’s fine, just wouldn’t be my preference.

Creamed spinach, garlic mushrooms, king prawn skewers, bacon wrapped asparagus

We always have plain steamed green veg - broccoli (regular or tenderstem), green beans and sugar snap peas. I sometimes put lemon juice/zest and garlic butter on them, but mostly we have them plain.

Griddled asparagus and oven roasted vine tomatoes.

Also truffle Mac n cheese as a potato alternative.

I have been to Miller and Carter but don't recall lettuce wedges!

Alternative? Addition!

Yes! Absolutely. What I meant was maybe instead of two potato options...1 spud, 1 pasta.

I want to be your friend. I can take or leave steak. But your sides sound utterly delicious.

I would have a huge pile of purple sprouting broccoli, with good quality butter for a dressing.

(I will be honest though, I hate truffle! All over the mac and cheese though!)

@IHopeYouStepOnALegPiece I like truffle when it's not overdone, and am not generally a fan of mac and cheese, but I had the combo with steak for a treat recently, having only tray ever had steak and chips before, and it was banging!

It also depends on the cut of steak - ribeye for example is best cooked medium or medium rare, given its fat content, to develop decent flavour. But a fillet is certainly better rare, or even blue if a decent bit of beef.

Tenderstem broccoli, asparagus tips, large mushroom

My best mate is obsessed with trying to get me to like it, its not happening 😂

Have the butter as a side, herb butter or similar, but the broccoli just steamed, I can’t bear buttery veg.

Can I come? 🙏

Thank you for helping me plan this meal! It’s just dinner but we’re all so happy to have him out of hospital and feeling ready to socialise so it is a big deal to us.

Going with:
lettuce wedges with different toppings
Green salad
roasted bone marrow boats
crusty bread
creamed spinach
steamed asparagus, sprouts and broccoli
garlic mushrooms
chilli butter prawns
roasted butternut squash
parmesan tomatoes
potato dishes
peppercorn sauce, beef dripping gravy and blue cheese sauce

There are 9 guests plus me so for 10 of us, I think that’s loads of choice and not everyone will have everything.

Thanks all!