Stewed, roasted, braised, or ground- beef is a meat that is delectable when well seasoned with complementary flavorings. Let’s share the best 7 herbs for beef that go with any dish you make.
The herbs that enhance the taste of beef include:
So, we are ready to guide you through picking the best herbs and combining them with other ingredients to get the best flavor in your beef recipe- keep reading!
The Best 09 Herbs For Beef.
The herbs you often use at home or grow in your backyard are perfect for taking your favorite beef dishes to the next level. Since beef is a rich meat with a nutty and heavy taste, you will always need equally robust herbs to go with it.
While most herbs can be used in their fresh and dried states, some herbs are particularly called either dried or fresh in some beef dishes. There are endless delicious ways to prepare this meat, while stewing, currying, roasting, grilling, baking, and grinding are the most popular.
Thus, it is essential to know what herbs go best with each method of preparation and which one to add at the beginning of the cooking process and at the end.
01- Thyme
Sharp, earthy, lemony, and almost minty thyme is one of the best herbs for beef when used in its dried state. Although we mentioned it is best in its dried form, it doesn’t essentially mean that you can’t use fresh thyme.
While dried thyme is excellent for marinades, rubs, braises, and casseroles, you can use fresh thyme with slow-roasting or grilled steak. This herb will boast a fresh aroma to this meat, adding a rounded depth to your favorite beef dish when combined with other ingredients like garlic, rosemary, red wine, etc.
02- Rosemary
This aromatic herb has a piney flavor and is a terrific pairing with heavy or rich flavors that beef dishes sometimes have. Use rosemary to add depth to roasts and chewy cuts of meat that will be cooked for long periods of time.
Like thyme, dried rosemary ideally adds up to marinades, rubs, or beef stocks. At the same time, fresh rosemary is great to be added to roasting, grilling or stewing. Pair rosemary with garlic, thyme, onion, red wine, olive oil, black pepper, etc., to give a soulful note to your dishes.
03- Sage
Sage is one of the most robust herbs you’ll find in your household. The intense, strongly aromatic, earthy, and intricate flavor profile holds up well in most of your beef recipes. Incorporate fresh sage with the richness of a thick rib-eye steak.
However, it can be domineering if used fresh but cooked or incorporated into casseroles will not be an issue at all! It would be best to use dried sage with the rest of your beef recipes, blending it with other ingredients such as lime, butter, red wine, red pepper, Worcestershire Sauce, etc.
04- Bay Leaves
Boldly flavored bay leaves lend a bitter, pungent accent to the4 beef recipes and are best when used in their dried form. Due to its sharp taste, this herb should be used sparingly and often paired with other rich flavorings like garlic, red wine, balsamic vinegar, parsley, black pepper, etc.
Bay leaves provide their best flavor and aroma when included in a dish in its initial cooking stage and left to cook for a long time. Thus, try incorporating this herb with beef casseroles, stews, and soups to get the best flavor combinations.
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05- Dill Weed
Dill is another excellent herb to pair with many beef dishes without limitations! This herb is typically and widely used fresh with roasted, stewed, grilled, or stir-fried beef. Nevertheless, depending on your preference, dried dill weed can be incorporated into braises, marinades, or rubs.
This herb’s bright, grassy, sweet, and somewhat licorice-like flavor notes are perfect when paired with fresh basil, garlic, apple cider vinegar, sour cream, etc. In addition to the classic beef dishes, dill weed could also add a signature flavor to the creamy beef-based recipes you make.
06- Parsley
Parsley is well-known for its versatility and buildable flavor when incorporated with other robust ingredients. A handful of freshly chopped parsley is great when included in many of your beef dishes in the final stages of the cooking process.
The clean, fresh, lemony, slightly bitter, and herbaceous notes of flat-leaf parsley is great, either fresh or dried, while curl-leaf parsley works best as a pretty garnish.
This is also one of the best herbs for steak and is often paired with butter, olive oil, garlic, black pepper, soy sauce, etc. Also, use dried parsley in your ground beef, marinades, wet rubs, stock, or braises, while fresh parsley can jazz up stews, soups, casseroles, curries, etc.
07- Basil
Need to revitalize your steak to create an amazing weeknight dinner? Then sweet, savory, and aromatic basil would be your best bet! This is another herb that works best in both its fresh and dried forms. Fresh basil is typically teamed up with oyster sauce, dark soy sauce, fish sauce, etc., particularly when making famous Thai dishes like Pad Gra Pow (Thai Basil Beef).
In addition, dried basil is often integrated into beef seasonings, rubs, or marinades with garlic powder, dried thyme, rosemary, oregano, black pepper, etc. However, both dried and fresh basil has the ability to add an overall depth to many of your favorite classic and special beef recipes, going well with many cooking methods.
08- Cilantro
The fresh, citrusy undertones of cilantro are another herb that can cut through the richness of the beef. Fresh cilantro is most likely considered the best form to be used and is ideal when used at the last stages of the cooking process.
Cilantro complements beef regardless of the preparation method and mainly enhances the flavor of stews, soups, stocks, and minced beef. Pair this herb with olive oil, onion, garlic, black pepper, parsley, etc., and use dried cilantro with marinades, rubs, and beef seasonings.
09- Chives
Ramp up your beef dishes instantly with a handful of freshly chopped chives! This herb is often overlooked, but we think it can be one of the best compliments you can do in your delicious beef recipes.
The onion-y, fresh flavor of chives makes a huge difference, especially when included in your stews, roasted, stir-fried, curried, souped, ground, or glazed beef. Chives can be used alone but do not forget to team this herb with fresh parsley, honey, black pepper, balsamic vinegar, etc., to get a better flavor.
Is Thyme Or Rosemary Better For Beef Steak?
As you know, rosemary has bolder, sharper flavor notes than thyme. Therefore, it is considered that the pungent taste of rosemary makes a better complement to the heaviness and richness of beef steak than thyme.
Never Miss Out On Herbs With Your Beef Dish!
Flavorful and aromatic herbs like thyme, rosemary, basil, bay leaves, dill weed, etc., are some of the best herbs that can add an amazing flavor to your beef recipes. Incorporating these herbs with other spices and flavorings will enliven your beef dish, making it a special treat for your entire family. So, what is going to be your pick? We would love to know your ideas in the comment section below!
