What To Serve With Beef Stifado: 8 BEST Sides!
Do you love Greek food?
Are you thinking about trying to recreate that traditional taverna experience from the comfort of your own home?
If so, you might be looking for ideas for what to serve with beef stifado!
This hugely popular stew is a favourite for so many, and by adding a couple of well planned side dishes, you can have a beautiful Greek inspired feast without having to book a flight.
Here, we’re going to share the best side dishes and accompaniments.
What to serve with beef stifado
There are so many tasty options for what to serve with beef stifado, including authentic Greek side dishes to turn your meal into a real feast. Some of the best choices are creamy mashed potatoes, lemon rice, Marmite roast potatoes, orzo with lemon and herbs, roasted veggies, and fried feta.
Continue reading to discover more ideas, and grab the tried and tested recipes you can recreate at home…
1. Creamy mashed potatoes
Mashed potatoes are the obvious choice for serving with a rich beef stew, and they’re one of the very best side dishes out there for beef stifado.
If you want to keep things a little authentic, try these Greek yoghurt mashed potatoes with feta cheese.
They’re tangy, moreish, and will have everyone going back for a second helping!
The addition of Greek yoghurt adds a fresh and zingy taste, as well as creating a rich, thick, and creamy texture.
2. Greek lemon rice
This Greek lemon rice recipe is fresh and packed full of flavour, and it’s made with plenty of onions, garlic, lemon juice, and a selection of herbs.
If you love Mediterranean cuisine, it’s a brilliant side dish to have in your personal recipe collection.
It’s perfect with beef stifado, though it’s also delicious when served with a wide variety of grilled meats and fish.
I like to make an extra portion and use it up the next day with some grilled prawns and a Greek salad.
Yum!
3. Marmite roast potatoes
These Marmite roast potatoes are one of the most popular recipes here on the blog, and there’s good reason for that!
They’re simple to make, and full of deep savoury flavours that lend themselves so well to being served alongside a beef stew like stifado.
I like to make this recipe using an air fryer, though you can also bake them in a traditional oven if that’s more convenient for you.
The most important step is to ensure you give them a really good shake in a colander, to create those beautiful crispy bits!
4. Orzo with lemon and herbs
This Greek orzo with lemon and herbs is a fuss free side dish that’ll only take you around 15 minutes to prepare.
The ease of this recipe makes it a genus choice if you’re catering for friends and family, and you want to make sure that you’re not spending too much time busy in the kitchen!
Orzo is an ingredient that’s very widely used in Greek cooking, and the addition of extra flavours such as lemon and oregano gives it that traditional Mediterranean taste that we all know and love.
(Love hearty beef dishes? You’ll also enjoy sides for Mongolian beef).
5. Greek salad
A Greek salad is an absolute must when it comes to planning side dishes for beef stifado!
It’s easy to prepare, and it’s just a case of chopping up veggies such as cucumber, tomatoes, and peppers, adding some good quality olives and feta cheese, and making a simple dressing using olive oil and fresh herbs.
You can serve your salad as a starter if you prefer, though I like to add it to the table alongside the main course and invite everyone to tuck in and help themselves.
6. Greek roasted vegetables
You really can’t beat a tray of roasted veggies when it comes to a side dish that’s full of goodness and tons of essential vitamins and minerals.
In this recipe for Greek roasted vegetables, you’ll take aubergine, potatoes, and onions, plus a selection of other fresh veggies, and roast in olive oil and fresh herbs until golden and caramelised.
Feel free to use any veggies that you might have to hand. My favourites include courgette, peppers, broccoli, and red onion, though this is a wonderful dish for using up any leftovers you have in your fridge that might otherwise go to waste.
7. Pitta bread and tzatziki
Whenever I’m serving up a Greek inspired meal, I love to have some fresh pitta breads on the table with a generous portion of homemade tzatziki dip.
To make the dip, just mix Greek yoghurt with diced cucumber, olive oil, fresh herbs, garlic, lemon juice, and salt.
You could serve this as a starter with a chilled glass of wine, or keep things simple by serving everything up at the same time and invite your guests to help themselves to a little bit of whatever they fancy. It’s perfect for relaxed, laid back entertaining when you want to enjoy the company and conversation.
(Psst, want to discover more about Greek cooking and the best side dishes for your main courses? Be sure to also check out my guide to what to serve with moussaka!)
8. Fried feta with honey and sesame seeds
Imagine juicy feta cheese, shallow fried in crispy golden brown sesame seeds and olive oil, and served with a honey sauce. This fried feta recipe is remarkably simple yet completely delicious, and it’s a brilliant addition to the table when you’re serving up a variety of Greek dishes.
It takes just ten minutes to make, and it can be served as a starter or as an accompaniment for beef stifado as part of the main course.
I like to add some green salad leaves to the plate for presentation purposes, as it gives this dish a pleasant pop of colour.
What to eat with beef stifado
This deliciously rich Greek dish deserves a handful of tasty sides to make it into a meal that you’ll remember for all the right reasons.
Some of the best choices for what to eat with beef stifado include:
- Creamy mashed potatoes
- Lemon rice
- Marmite roast potatoes
- Orzo with lemon and herbs
- Roasted veggies
- Fried feta
Which of these do you enjoy the most, and which will you be making alongside your stifado?
