What Herbs Go With Beef? (Top 5 Herbs That Go With Beef)

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What herbs go with beef? Well, some of the most popular herbs well known for accentuating the flavor in beef dishes are thyme, rosemary, parsley, sage, etc.

Cooking demands some level of creativity, and what other way is there to explore it than experimenting with different herbs? Herbs are highly nutritional, and it is advised that you use fresh herbs rather than dried herbs in your recipes.

More so, most of these herbs can be grown in your backyard, so you don’t need to waste so much time in the store searching for them.

Admittedly, beef recipes have unique needs and require specific savory herbs that have strong flavors.

What Herbs Go with Beef?

What Herbs Go With Beef

Below are some great herbs for flavoring beef dishes. Most chefs prefer fresh herbs due to their earthly taste.

The herbs below can be used either fresh or dried based on your preference.

1. Rosemary

Rosemary is perfect either for your old-fashioned beef stew​ or deep-fried prime rib roast. The herb has a piney flavor that pairs wonderfully with beef dishes.

Use rosemary to flavor roasts and tough cuts of meat cooked for long periods.

Both fresh and dried rosemary can be used in beef dishes. If you prefer your fresh herbs, you can grow a rosemary plant indoors or in your backyard.

2. Sage

You may have overlooked sage as a potential herb to flavor your beef dishes. If you want a fragrant aroma and warm taste to your beef dishes, then you need sage.

Sage is quite popular in recipes like garlic-sage steak topping and herb-crusted roast beef top loin roast.

Just like rosemary, you can grow sage indoors provided it has adequate lighting. You can either opt for fresh or dried sage in your beef dishes as both work wonderfully well.

3. Basil

Basil is probably one of the best herbs that pair well with the deep flavors of beef dishes.

You can use it as an ingredient, although the taste is best appreciated when added towards the end of the cooking time to brighten the dish and add a new facet of flavor.

While rosemary and sage can be dried, it is pretty futile to dry basil as it becomes black and tasteless when dried.

The best you can do is blend fresh basil leaves to form a paste and then store it by placing it into ice cube trays to freeze. The basil flavor is best appreciated in pot beef stew and baked ziti with ground beef.

4. Parsley

Initially, parsley is used simply as a garnish. However, in recent years, cooks have discovered the tasty quality of the herb, especially when used in beef dishes. Parsley gives a dish a fresh flavor, especially when added to the end of cooking.

Parsley is popular in and beef stroganoff and cabbage with meatballs. Unfortunately, parsley plants might not thrive indoors, being a biennial herb. Still, with enough patience and care, the herb plant might flourish.

5. Thyme

You can never go wrong with thyme on your beef dishes. Both fresh and dried thyme pairs wonderfully with beef and gives the dish a flavor rich in depth.

Some recipes you can try that contain thyme are classic steak marinade and herb-crusted filet mignon.

Thyme is a garden plant that thrives under the sun; however, you can comfortably grow your thyme plant in a sunny window.

Best Spices for Beef Dishes

Spices can be added directly to the beef before cooking or added to braising pots, stews, curries, and casseroles.

You can also use a combination of spices as a dry beef rub to soak your beef for a few hours before cooking.

The following spices taste great with beef:

  • Cumin
  • Cinnamon
  • Dark chilis
  • Red pepper flakes
  • Cayenne pepper
  • Curry powder
  • Mustard powder
  • Black pepper

How To Season Beef With Herbs And Spices

One of the easiest ways to give your beef dishes a robust and spicy taste is by mixing up a combination of seasonings in a small bowl for a rub. The following spices and herbs will be required for a beef rub:

  • 3 tsp ground black pepper
  • 2 tsp Sea salt
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 2 tbsp dried minced onion
  • 2 tbsp dried oregano
  • 2 tbsp dried rosemary
  • 2 tbsp dried thyme
  • 1 tbsp paprika

Instructions

Mix the herbs and spices mentioned above in a small bowl.

Use your hands to rub the mixture all over the beef covering all areas.

Allow the rub to sit on the meat for about 15 minutes before cooking using your desired method.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Herbs Go with Beef Stew?

Some of the spices and herbs that will go perfectly with your beef stew recipe are onions, pepper, salt, garlic powder, crushed rosemary, dried oregano, dried basil, ground marjoram, bay leaves, and tomato paste.

What Herbs Go With Beef Joint?

Some herbs that will pair wonderfully with beef joints are rosemary, dried basil, marjoram, savory, thyme, and sage.

What Fresh Herbs Go With Beef?

Chives, basil, coriander, and parsley are fresh herbs that taste fantastic with steak, burgers, and any grilled beef:

What Herbs Go With Beef Brisket

Savory Herb Beef Brisket is a mouthwatering dish with an easy-to-go recipe. The ingredients below are required in its preparation:

  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Diced onions
  • Peeled carrots
  • Celery stalks
  • Sprigs thyme
  • Sprigs rosemary
  • Bay leaves
  • Garlic
  • Beef or chicken broth
  • Kosher salt
  • Black pepper

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Conclusion

Using herbs on beef is a great way to enjoy a scrumptious beef dish. You can opt for dried herbs like rosemary, oregano, tarragon, and thyme or fresh herbs like chives, basil, coriander, and parsley.

Remember that fresh herbs taste best when sprinkled over meat just before serving.

The nutritional value of herbs makes them a must-added addition to your meal. Most importantly, most of the herbs discussed in this post can be grown in the comfort of your home since most of them thrive very well indoors.

This post has successfully answered the question, what herbs go with beef. Now you know the herbs to go for when preparing your favorite beef dish.