Beef stroganoff has become one of the most popular ways to prepare beef worldwide, quickly becoming one of Russia’s most well-known dishes outside of its origin country.
As it is prepared in so many places, there are a few variations of beef stroganoff. However, beef stroganoff is traditionally simply chunks of beef sauteed in sour cream and mustard sauce.
Though beef stroganoff is tasteful, it can be hard to stomach just the beef by itself. You are going to want to serve it with the perfect side dish.
5 Dishes to Serve with Beef Stroganoff
From its concept to its current rendition, beef stroganoff is a savoury dish through and through.
Even takes on the dish that adds mushrooms and onion remains distinctly savoury, only adding to that richness. This can make it hard to match other dishes with, even with the slight tanginess of the sour cream in the stroganoff sauce. But do not worry.
Here is a detailed list of the best 5 dishes to serve with beef stroganoff:
1) Steamed Rice
Side dishes really do not get simpler than steamed rice.
Even if you make your own rice from scratch instead of using instant rice packets in the microwave, preparing steamed rice to serve alongside your beef stroganoff will allow you to focus on perfecting the starring dish itself.
Admittedly, steamed rice is not intended to add or change much in terms of the beef stroganoff’s flavour. Instead, the rice is there to help bulk out the dish, making it more filling.
Steamed rice can also make beef stroganoff a more affordable meal, as you will not have to fill your plates up with as much meat to stay full.
Steamed rice can also ensure that you make the most of the beef stroganoff’s creamy sauce. The rice will absorb the sauce, soaking that savoury tanginess into every bite.
2) Buttered Noodles
In the UK, it is very common for beef stroganoff to be served on a bed of buttered noodles (specifically egg noodles) in both pubs and restaurants.
This is also the go-to side dish of choice in various countries spanning from America to Japan. Why?
Because buttered noodles are easy!
Beef stroganoff is supposed to be a reasonably simple, warm and, most of all, comforting dish. Buttered noodles are extremely easy to make, requiring even less effort than beef stroganoff.
The butteriness of the noodles adds to the dish’s creamy sauce without interfering with the dish’s flavours.
This same buttery texture makes egg noodles the noodle of choice to serve with beef stroganoff. But you can just as easily use whatever pasta or noodles you have to hand so long as they are not flavoured.
3) Garlic Bread
It is just as common for beef stroganoff to be served in its own bowl in a stew or soup style as it is to be served on a bed of rice or noodles.
Beef stroganoff is not intended to be a stew, but its thick, rich sauce can sometimes be better enjoyed in a bowl. It is the perfect way to soak up the sauce with crispy garlic bread.
Unlike some other bread you could choose to serve with beef stroganoff, garlic bread has a harder exterior which means it will not break apart from sogginess as soon as it touches the stroganoff sauce.
This makes it a better vessel for enjoying the sauce and dish as a whole.
As for the taste, garlic bread is not necessarily classed as savoury, but it is not sweet either.
The garlic butter will not disrupt the taste of the beef stroganoff sauce or the beef itself. If anything, the butter aspect of the bread will add to the comforting feel of the dish.
4) Sauteed Broccoli And Cauliflower
Two vegetables often served on the same plate are broccoli and cauliflower, mainly because they are very similar in taste and texture once cooked with just enough differences to add a nice dynamic to your dish.
When combined, broccoli and cauliflower can add a similar dynamic to your beef stroganoff.
You could roast the broccoli and cauliflower if you wish, though this risks taking away from the tender texture of the sauteed beef.
But if you sauté the broccoli and cauliflower instead, they can still develop a crispy deliciousness without being distractingly crispy. Sautéing the vegetables can also help incorporate them with beef stroganoff.
The only thing to remember when sautéing your broccoli and cauliflower is not to season them too aggressively.
Otherwise, they could start affecting the savoury taste of your stroganoff sauce. If you prefer broccoli and cauliflower with plenty of seasoning, stick with rosemary or other savoury herbs.
5) Steamed Broccoli And Cauliflower
Though sautéing your vegetables is not a particularly unhealthy way to prepare the veg, it doesn’t lock in the nutritional value of veg the same. That is why many people prefer to steam their vegetables instead.
You can just as easily serve steamed vegetables alongside beef stroganoff as sauteed vegetables. They may not have the slightly crispy sauteed texture, but they will certainly be more nutritious.
You should still stick with steamed broccoli and/or cauliflower as they will be the most compatible in taste with the beef stroganoff.
Beef Stroganoff Accompaniments FAQs
Do you still have questions about what to serve alongside beef stroganoff? Then these FAQs might help you out:
Most soft, green herbs would work well as a garnish to beef stroganoff. Parsley would add freshness, whereas dill can add a fragrant aniseed-like flavour.
Generally, you don’t need to add sauce as it is already quite loose. However, you could add a few dashes of your favourite hot sauce if you prefer things with a bit of a kick.
Sources
Where we obtain our information and verify the facts in this article:
Recipe Tin Eats
Beef stroganoff recipe
BBC Good Food
Another way to make beef stroganoff
Acacia may be a freelance writer by day, but they are a food fanatic by night. They are always trying out new recipes or finding different ways to elevate classical dishes. But their biggest culinary aim is to educate others on the basics of the kitchen so that they too can enjoy delicious food.