Now that summer’s here and our thoughts are turning to barbecues, there’s nothing better than a simple grilled steak. But you don’t always want fries with it, so here are some other tasty options which will enhance your meal.
Aubergine Fries
Vegetable fries can now be bought in supermarkets and have gained in popularity as a healthy alternative to chips. Try slicing aubergine into slim wedges and covering them in a mixture of breadcrumbs, egg and Parmesan before baking in the oven.
Roasted Vegetables
The BBC’s Good Food website suggests using a combination of sweet potato, peppers, green beans and tomatoes for a great veggie side option.
Tomato Salad
Juicy tomatoes are a great accompaniment to almost any dish. Try combining them with thinly sliced red onion and feta and adding whatever fresh herbs you have available.
Broccoli Salad
An alternative to the usual salad ingredients of lettuce, cucumber and tomato, a broccoli salad adds a nice bit of crunch. Similar to a coleslaw, it includes raw broccoli which is shredded in a food processor, peanuts and raisins. A dressing made from mayonnaise and soured cream makes it creamy.
Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Cut them any way you like, but wedges work great. Sweet potatoes roast really well in the oven and provide a more unusual alternative to ordinary potatoes. You could top them with soured cream or a pesto.
Squash Gratin
There’s a glut of courgettes and other summer squash at this time of year, and you can use any of them in a classic gratin by thinly slicing them and topping them with a mixture of breadcrumbs and Parmesan or cheddar before baking. If you’re looking for inspiration for beef recipes you, could look at a food website such as http://food-tales.com/food-recipes/beef/.
Veggie Kebabs
Use any combination of vegetables you fancy. Put them on a metal skewer and cover in olive oil or a garlic and lemon marinade for a colourful and interesting side.
Lemon Quinoa or Couscous
A simple grain salad goes really well with a grilled steak, and you can choose to mix in whatever you like. Lemon, courgette and dill go particularly well.
Potato and Green Bean Salad
Chop up cooled boiled potatoes and combine with cooked green beans, red onions and a classic red wine vinaigrette.