Sides with Roast Beef

[al88]

We're going for roast rib of beef this year for a change and I'm thinking about sides.

My plan is:

Roast potatoes
Roast parsnips
Brussels sprouts (haven't decided on recipe yet)
Carrots
Pigs in blankets (non-negotiable in our house)
Yorkshire pudding

The thing is I'd also really like cauliflower cheese but I'm concerned this won't go with the port and Stilton gravy I'm planning and also will this be a bit much? We'll only be 4 adults and 2 teens, and two of the adults are elderly so have small appetites.

What sides would you serve with roast beef?

it's Christmas so there is no such thing as too much, and you need all your favourites. definitely having cauliflower cheese (we have it with everything), I would forgo the stilton-based gravy though. DH would add mashed potatoes which I think are completely unnecessary but he will do them so there you go.

Sounds great so far, but I think I would prefer ordinary (but really good!) gravy, plain Brussels sprouts, and then cauliflower cheese if you have the time/energy/oven space for it. Stilton is very much an acquired taste. I've never bothered doing anything fancy with sprouts as there is so much other rich food in the traditional meal. Hope it goes well!

Are you plating the meals or putting serving dishes on the table? Because if it’s the latter I’d do the lot . Sometimes elderly people prefer a bit of cauliflower cheese to a big portion of meat and all of that keeps for picky stuff later anyway. I cook for about a dozen people for my lot at Christmas and there’s only 4 of us and a baby but I never throw anything away- extra veg gets made into hash/ bhagee / bubble and the boys all pick the meat and spuds off and dip it in chilli sauce during the evening 😂
I also freeze veg or caulicheese in little tubs for instant baby dinners .it’s like a Tupperware party but it all gets eaten !

Totally agree with PPs. Make your cauliflower cheese. You could also add mashed swede and red cabbage.

Left over veg (minus the red cabbage) you could cover with white sauce, top with grated cheese, and serve with eg baked ham or even bacon as an easy meal. Or make into a soup.
You can freeze and use at another time if that doesn't fit with your Christmas meal plans

Red cabbage ?

We would have that plus brocolli, brocolli cheese (not a fan of cauliflower), mash and stuffing. Like others have said, leftovers get snacked on in the evening/next day. But with a really good red wine gravy.

Roasted shallots and mushrooms.

Yes - why the '?'?
I make tons before Christmas, freeze in takeaway boxes, and serve every now and then with roast dinner, goes with all meats not just turkey.

I'll be putting serving dishes on the table for everyone to help themselves. We always do that so everyone can control their own portions (and if someone wants to eat 10,000 pigs in blankets they can go for it 😆)

I love red cabbage and I agree it would go really well but unfortunately I'm the only person who likes it. Maybe I'll make a portion just for me.

Good idea to change the gravy. Maybe a good red wine gravy would be better and won't clash with my cauliflower cheese.

Thanks everyone

Cauliflower cheese
Swede and carrot mash

Wouldn't do port and Stilton gravy. Would do port gravy but do a Brussels sprout bake with Stilton something like this https://www.riverford.co.uk/recipes/brussels-sprouts-red-onion-blue-cheese

Huw about a tray of roasted roots instead of separate parsnips snd carrots?

So:
Roasties
Roasted roots - parsnips, carrots, beets, sweet potato
Brussel sprout bake
Cauli cheese
And the other stuff you have ...,,

I would do cauliflower cheese but a more standard gravy and plain Brussel sprouts as there's so much other rich food.

The best part of Christmas dinner is having leftovers anyway so I wouldn't worry if you're letting people help themselves and not plating it up for them.