Popular Sides to Serve with Wagyu Steak

A Wagyu steak is the ideal choice for a memorable meal experience at home. It’s like bringing the luxurious flavors of a fine dining restaurant into your own kitchen. With an exquisite protein like Wagyu beef, there’s an obvious star of the meal. But that doesn’t mean you should overlook the other elements of the dish. The sides you serve alongside your Wagyu steak can help elevate the flavors even further and make you feel like an expert home chef.

The following are some of the most popular types of Wagyu steak sides. We’ve listed options in each category and highlighted specific side dishes with detailed recipes to help you craft an unforgettable meal at home.

Salad Sides

Wagyu steak features a buttery flavor so, it’s a good idea to include a fresh and light side with your dish. This helps to balance out the richness of the steak and creates a delightful contrast between bites. A salad is a wonderful way to introduce this freshness to the plate. Some salads you may want to consider making as sides for your Wagyu steak include:

  • Simple leafy green salad with parmesan and lemon vinaigrette
  • Israeli couscous and tomato salad with arugula pesto
  • Chickpea salad with bell peppers and lemon-tahini dressing
  • Grilled corn salad with cotija cheese and chili-lime seasoning
  • Smashed Asian cucumber salad with sesame oil dressing
  • Panzanella salad with red wine vinegar and Dijon mustard dressing
  • Broccoli salad with cranberries, bacon and creamy dressing
  • Quinoa salad with spinach, avocado and lemon vinaigrette

Grilled corn salad recipe
Ingredients:

  • 3 cups of corn (about 3 large ears of corn)
  • 1/4 cup chopped scallions
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup crumbled cotija cheese
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1/2 chili lime seasoning
  • Kosher salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 lime

Instructions:

  1. Grill the ears of corn over medium-high heat for 10 minutes, then cut the kernels off the cobs.
  2. Add the corn, scallions and cotija to a bowl. Drizzle with olive oil, then toss.
  3. Add the cilantro and chili lime seasoning, then toss again. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  4. Before serving, add another sprinkle of chili lime seasoning and a squeeze of lime juice.

Vegetable Sides

A vegetable side is another way to balance a rich Wagyu steak dish with some freshness. That doesn’t mean your veggies can’t feature a wonderful depth of flavor, however. There are plenty of delicious vegetable side dishes that can hold their own next to the delectable flavors of Wagyu beef. In fact, Wagyu beef is usually seasoned with simple salt and pepper to preserve its luxurious natural taste, so vegetable sides give you a chance to create an extra kick of flavor in your dish. Some of these Wagyu steak side options include:

  • Grilled asparagus with lemon and garlic
  • Sauteed mushrooms with fresh herbs
  • Roasted Brussels sprouts with cranberries and almonds
  • Creamed spinach with garlic and parmesan
  • Braised carrots with thyme or rosemary
  • Roasted artichokes with lemon aioli
  • Sauteed green beans with garlic
  • Roasted leeks with parmesan
  • Roasted okra with smoked paprika
  • Southern succotash with miso butter

Roasted Brussels sprouts with cranberries and almonds recipe
Ingredients:

  • 3 pounds fresh Brussels sprouts
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted

Instructions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  2. Trim the Brussels sprouts, then slice each one in half.
  3. Place the Brussels sprouts in a bowl and add olive oil, salt, garlic powder and pepper. Toss to combine.
  4. Spread the Brussels sprouts out on a greased baking sheet.
  5. Put the baking sheet in the oven and roast the Brussels sprouts for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  6. Combine vinegar and sugar in a saucepan. Stir while bringing the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Continue to simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  7. Add the Brussels sprouts and the glaze to a large bowl and toss to coat.
  8. Mix in cranberries and almonds before serving.

Starch Sides

Starches will make your Wagyu steak meal feel more filling while adding to the indulgent dining experience. After all, sides like mashed potatoes and soft, fluffy rolls are considered an essential part of the meal at most classic steakhouses. Though some items on this list - like potatoes, for example - are technically vegetables, they fall into the starch category since they’re higher in carbohydrates compared to other types of veggies. Here are some of the best starch sides to serve with Wagyu steak:

  • Crispy roasted potatoes with rosemary
  • Creamy mashed potatoes with chives
  • Roasted honey sweet potatoes
  • Mushroom risotto with rosemary and asiago
  • Garlic rosemary cauliflower puree
  • Hasselback potatoes with herbs and garlic
  • Parsnip puree with thyme and black pepper
  • Classic pommes frites with parsley
  • Wild rice pilaf with apples and pecans
  • Creamy polenta with spinach and garlic

Crispy roasted potatoes with rosemary recipe
Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 pounds small red potatoes
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon rosemary, minced
  • 1 tablespoon chives, finely chopped

Instructions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 425°F.
  2. Cut the potatoes into quarters. If the pieces are still a bit too large, divide them into bite-sized pieces.
  3. Place the chopped potatoes into a bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Toss to coat.
  4. Sprinkle the potatoes with salt, pepper and rosemary. Toss to coat.
  5. Spread the potatoes out on a greased baking sheet.
  6. Place the baking sheet in the oven and roast the potatoes for 35 to 40 minutes, stirring and turning over the pieces occasionally. The potatoes are done when they are crisp, golden brown and fork-tender.
  7. Sprinkle with chives before serving.