Beef Wellington is a classic dish that brings joy to the person who makes it, but more so to the one who devours it. However, when it comes to making it for family or friends, the person is often overcome with the question, i.e., what to serve with beef Wellington? The following article answers this question once and for all.
Dine with Wine
Beef Wellington will go well with old classic wines such as Burgundy (Red), Bordeaux (Red) or simple classics, viz., Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, or Zinfandel. |
Beef Wellington is made from resplendent beef tenderloin covered with a thin layer of pâté, covered with a mixture of minced shallots, mushroom, butter, and rich sherry. This entire ensemble is enveloped in a double-crust puff pastry baked to a golden-crisp perfection. It is a symphony of tastes and textures.
The dish simply shines on its own, but such an incredibly complex dish deserves a simple side dish to give it able support. So, in case you are wondering what to serve with beef Wellington, following are some side dishes that will not take the spotlight off your dish.
Vegetable Side Dishes
Vegetables are suitable companions that go along with almost every meal. Once cooked to perfection, they not just spruce up the overall look of the meal, but also add texture, flavor, color, and not to mention, nutrition. Following are some vegetable side dishes that will complement your beef Wellington.
Brussels Sprouts and Baby Carrots
Brussels sprouts are despised by adult and children alike. However, they have a crisp freshness to it, especially when they are lightly spritzed with fresh lemon juice, tossed with some butter, and served alongside baby carrots, prepared in the same way. You could also substitute baby carrots with some carrot puree instead.
Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce
Simply sauté medium asparagus with a hint of salt and pepper, and drizzle the crispy fresh, peppery asparagus with some rich, thick, and creamy hollandaise sauce. You can also choose to steam or grill the asparagus before drizzling it with the sauce.
Mixed Vegetables with Creamy Mash
Steam, roast, or grill some carrot batons, baby corn, baby-trimmed beans, and serve with a large dollop of sinfully delicious creamy mash made from floury potatoes, milk, butter, and crème fraîche.
Warm Wilted Winter Greens
This is a simple salad and dressing that you can easily make while the beef Wellington is baking. Make a salad dressing with some honey, balsamic vinegar, mustard, and some extra-virgin olive oil, and drizzle on top of torn Swiss chard, radicchio, and escarole. Toast in some nuts into the salad along with some pomegranate seeds, chopped shallots, and garnish with Parmesan cheese. This fresh, leafy, nutty flavor will add so much more color and texture to your dish.
Green Beans Almondine
It can’t get easier than this. Garnish some sautéed, slivered almonds to cooked and salted green beans, and add in a splash of lemon juice on top of the beans, and there you have it―a quick, simple, and fresh side dish for your mouth-watering beef Wellington.
Potato Galore
Let’s face it, potatoes make an ideal side dish to almost every meal. Potato’s versatility can be seen through the sheer volume of recipes present all over the world. Following are some side dishes you must try along with your beef Wellington.
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Garlic mashed potatoes is comfort food at its best. Make your classic mashed potatoes and add in cooked, or better yet, sautéed garlic while mashing the potatoes to your preferred consistency.
Dauphinoise Potatoes
This is another rich and delicious dish made from Yukon Gold potatoes amalgamated with butter, cream, milk, garlic, Gruyère cheese, seasoned with a hint of grated nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Once beaten to creamy smoothness and baked well to a golden hue, this side dish paired with any meal is a match made in heaven.
Roasted Potatoes with Garlic and Herbs
Crispy, soft-roasted fingerling potatoes coated with extra-virgin olive oil infused with the roasted flavor of garlic, sage, rosemary, and thyme, and seasoned with salt and pepper is just divine. This is an ideal dish that will leave you smacking your lips long after the potatoes have been devoured.
Twice-baked potatoes
Twice-baked potatoes will require a tad bit of an effort, but it is worth every bit of effort taken. The dish will satisfy all your senses, right from your eyes that will see the baked golden hue of the potatoes, the tongue that will taste the deliciousness of butter, sour cream, nutmeg, cheddar cheese, seasoned with freshly ground salt and pepper, and finally your nose that will take in all the divine aroma emanating from the dish that is so inviting. Don’t you think it is picture perfect?
Pommes Anna
No it’s not the name of a girl. It is, in fact, the name of one of the most sinfully delicious and one of the prettiest potato dishes ever. This dish is layered with thinly sliced russet potatoes that are seasoned with butter and garnished with salt, pepper, grated nutmeg, and grated Parmesan cheese.
Rice
Surprisingly, rice makes a great companion for beef Wellington as it is easy to make and digest. Its subtle flavor and soft texture complements any meat dish easily.
Risotto
Risotto is a simple Italian rice dish, wherein rice is cooked in stock, along with sautéed onions, garlic, wine, and Parmesan cheese. This dish can work well on its own, but works better when it accompanies beef Wellington.
Rice Pilaf
Rice Pilaf is a simple rice preparation with an explosion of taste and aroma. It is usually made from long grained rice, sautéed with onions and celery. It has seasoned salt, pepper, cayenne, and is cooked in stock. Finally, it is garnished with parsley.
Many don’t prefer sauces while preparing Beef Wellington; however, you might just like it. Try making shallots and red wine sauce, peppercorn sauce, Madeira sauce with wild mushroom, or simply, make your favorite gravy to drench your dish in. Bon appétit!