Get your favorite steaks browned and ready to eat on the grill, but don’t forget to plan your side dishes too. It’s best to keep things simple and light on hot summer days, and fresh fruit is the best quick and easy side dish. They go great with the flavors of the grill, and your Ultimate Grilling Assortment from Chicago Steak Company is the perfect way to enjoy them. Here are a few ideas to get your juices flowing:
Watermelon is a summer favorite and a great food for barbecues. It also goes well on a grill. You can turn this into a savory side or sweet dessert depending on what you do with it. To make it taste sweet and sour, sprinkle some lime and honey on top. For a stronger flavor, add blue cheese, prosciutto, and balsamic vinaigrette.
Cut pineapple into chunks or slices and grill them on all sides to give them a smoky flavor. You can eat them plain as a sweet side dish for steak, or you can toast them in melted butter and sprinkle them with cinnamon, sugar, and brown sugar to make them more like a dessert.
Grilled cherries do wonders for fruit salad, but they’re also perfect on their own. Place the cherries in a pan that has been sprayed with nonstick spray. Cook them over high heat for about 8 minutes, flipping them over once halfway through. Or, check out this recipe for salad with grilled cherries from Two Peas & Their Pod. You can even toss in some Chicago Steak Flat Iron steaks!.
Already-soft pears become super juicy and tender on the grill. They’re also one of the best fruits for creating delicious grilled desserts with. Cut pears in half, grill them on both sides, and drizzle with caramel sauce. Top with your favorite chopped nuts and vanilla ice cream for a dessert the whole family can enjoy!.
You can add this summer favorite to the grill to make a great side dish for grilled steak or steak burgers. Cut cantaloupe into slices about two inches thick and place them on the grill over high heat. Allow one or two minutes before flipping to the other side for them to get beautiful char marks.
You’re missing out if you’ve never tried a grilled peach! These sweet treats are great for dessert with melted butter, cinnamon, and sugar, but you can also use your favorite herbs and spices to make them a rich side dish for grilled steak. Slice peaches in half, toss with olive oil, and grill on both sides. Top with a dab of mascarpone cheese, prosciutto or bacon bits, basil and thyme.
Beef is a versatile meat that can be prepared in endless ways. From steaks to stews, beef provides a hearty, savory flavor profile. But did you know that adding fruit to beef dishes can take them to the next level? The sweetness and acidity of fruit complements and balances the rich umami taste of beef.
In this article we’ll explore the fruits that pair exceptionally well with beef to create mouthwatering flavor combinations. Read on to learn how to elevate your beef recipes with strategic fruit pairings.
Why Add Fruit to Beef Dishes?
Fruit may seem like an unlikely pairing for beef at first, But fruit brings several benefits to beef dishes
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Contrasting flavors – The sweetness of fruit contrasts with the savory, mineral flavors of beef, creating more complex layers of flavor.
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Moisture – Fruit releases juice as it cooks, keeping beef dishes like stews and braises moist and succulent.
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Acidity – Bright citrus or tart berries cut through the richness of beef’s fat content.
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Complementary flavors – Certain fruits have flavors that align with common seasonings for beef, like peppers, onions, garlic, and savory herbs.
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Nutrients – Fruit adds fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to enrich beef’s primarily protein-based nutrition.
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Visual appeal – Vibrant fruit colors like red, orange, and purple make beef dishes look as good as they taste.
Thoughtfully incorporating fruit into beef recipes results in dishes with more complexity, moisture, nutrition, and eye-appeal. Now let’s look at the best fruit choices to pair with beef.
Best Fruits to Pair with Beef
Stone Fruits
Stone fruits like plums, peaches, apricots, and cherries have enough sweetness to balance beef’s richness. Their subtly floral flavor and vibrant colors also brighten up beef dishes. Try pairing beef with:
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Plums – Roast plum wedges alongside beef roast or stew meat. Or add plum jam to burgers or meatloaf.
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Peaches – Grill peaches and drizzle the juice over grilled steaks. Or make a peach salsa for tacos.
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Apricots – Stew dried apricots with pot roast or chops. Or make an apricot glaze for meatballs.
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Cherries – Roast beef tenderloin with a cherry demi-glace or chutney.
Berries
The sweet-tart flavor and juiciness of berries balances the fattiness of beef. Berries also provide gorgeous color contrast. Beef works well with:
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Raspberries – Make a raspberry-chipotle sauce for tri-tip or brisket. Or mix raspberries into ground beef for burgers.
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Blackberries – Roast beef tenderloin with a blackberry gastrique or bearnaise sauce.
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Blueberries – Make blueberry-stuffed meatloaf wrapped in bacon. Or add fresh blueberries to stuffed peppers with ground beef.
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Cranberries – The classic pairing! Make cranberry sauce, chutney, or relish for roast beef or pot roast.
Tropical Fruits
The juicy sweetness and bright citrus notes of tropical fruits complement beef’s richness. Their festive colors also energize beef dishes. Consider:
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Pineapple – Grill pineapple rings along with carne asada. Or make a pineapple barbeque sauce for ribs.
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Mango – Use mango salsa on beef fajitas or tacos. Or make mango chutney as a glaze for meatballs.
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Papaya – Mix diced papaya into ground beef for a sweet twist on burger patties.
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Guava – Puree guava with onions and chipotle peppers into a sauce for grilled flank steak.
Pome Fruits
Apples, pears, and quinces have a mellow sweetness that works well with beef. Their high pectin content also helps thicken and enrich sauces. Ideal pairings include:
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Apples – Braise chuck roast or brisket with sliced apples. Or make an apple cranberry sauce for prime rib.
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Pears – Sear medallions of beef tenderloin and deglaze the pan with pear nectar.
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Quinces – Stew quince wedges with beef shanks or oxtails in a braise. Or make quince chutney as a condiment for roast beef.
Grapes
Seedless grapes offer a juicy burst of sweetness to contrast beef’s savoriness. Try:
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Red grapes – Make red wine-grape sauce Bordelaise for filet mignon or other steaks.
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Green grapes – Toss halved green grapes with noodles and sliced skirt steak. Or skewer beef and grapes for the grill.
Cooking Tips for Beef and Fruit
Here are some tips to get the best results when cooking beef and fruit together:
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Brown beef well before braising to develop fond and flavor.
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Cut fruit into smaller pieces so it cooks through and mingles with beef.
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Add citrus juice, vinegar, or wine to the pan juices to help meld fruit flavors.
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Adjust seasoning with savory flavors like onion, garlic, thyme, pepper, and Worcestershire.
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Use fruit preserves like jams, chutneys, and salsas to quickly flavor beef.
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Combine fruit with pan sauces, compound butters, and relishes to serve with simply grilled or roasted beef.
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Let roasted or grilled fruit piggyback on beef’s residual heat to warm it through.
Full Beef and Fruit Recipes
Here are some full recipes that showcase delicious fruit and beef pairings:
Balsamic Steak with Blackberry Sauce
- Marinate beef sirloin steaks in balsamic vinegar, garlic, and herbs. Sear the steaks, then make a pan sauce from the juices using shallots, stock, thyme, and blackberry preserves.
Beef and Pineapple Kebabs
- Thread chunks of top sirloin with pineapple wedges, red onion, and bell pepper on skewers. Brush with a soy-ginger marinade. Grill until beef reaches desired doneness.
Rosemary Peach Burger
- Make burgers with ground chuck and add diced peaches to the meat mixture. Top burgers with sliced peaches, rosemary aioli, and arugula on brioche buns.
Pot Roast with Apples and Pears
- Brown chuck roast all over, then braise in red wine with diced apples, pears, carrots, onion, garlic, bay leaf, thyme, and beef broth.
Steak Fajitas with Guava Salsa
- Marinate skirt steak in lime, cumin, and chili powder. Sear, slice, and serve on warm tortillas with guava salsa and sautéed peppers and onions.
Meatloaf with Cranberry Glaze
- Mix ground beef with sauteed veggies, herbs, Worcestershire, and cranberries. Shape into a loaf, brush with ketchup and brown sugar, then bake.
Fruit Takes Beef to the Next Level
Beef and fruit combine wonderfully to deliver flavorful dishes with contrasting tastes and textures. Follow these tips to select fruits that accent beef’s flavor, then get cooking with the ample recipe inspirations. With the right fruits, you can take your beef entrees to new culinary heights. So embrace this unexpected pairing and enjoy the delicious results!
Grilled Steak and Fruit Salad: A Delectable Pairing!
You don’t have to choose just one grilled fruit to try first. Make a grilled fruit salad with your favorites for a sweet and light side dish that goes with any steak. All of those fruits go well together, and you can even add some sliced bananas, strawberries, and blueberries. Cut the fruits into small pieces and put them on a nonstick grill pan over high heat. Cook for 5 to 10 minutes, or until char marks appear, then turn them over and cook the other side. Look through our many steaks that you can order online to find the perfect one for your next barbecue.
I Only Ate MEAT and FRUIT for an Entire Week
FAQ
What fruit pairs well with steak?
What flavors go well with beef?
Can you mix fruit with meat?
Which fruit goes with meat?
What fruit goes well with beef?
Beef has a strong taste that pairs well with sweeter stronger fruit such as peaches, pineapple, kiwi fruit, plums, prunes, apricots and mangoes. Citrus and the more acidic fruits are less suitable. Try these recipe ideas to explore how you can combine fruits with meats for delightful dishes.
What are some great fruits to eat?
All fruits are very healthy, and each has a unique combination of vitamins, minerals and bioactive compounds. Choosing the best one will depend on which region you live in and the time of year, as seasonal and fresh fruits are always the best option. Some of the great options we have in Brazil are: banana, apple, mango, grape, strawberry, guava, jabuticaba, cashew, pineapple, passion fruit, orange, tangerine, pear, peach, melon and watermelon.
What fruit goes well with steak?
Rib ‘n Reef Steakhouse also recommends pairing steak with mango for its “sweet, tangy flavor,” and if you prefer tropical fruit over citrus, pineapple is another option. My Chicago Steak vouches for pineapple as one of the best fruits to grill and says you can combine multiple grilled fruits into a fruit salad to accompany your steak.
What is the best fruit & meat combination?
Best Fruit – Meat Combinations! Mango chicken is one of the more common examples of fruit and meat, and this particular recipe comes from lecremedelacrumb.com. The rest of the dish is fairly spicy, so the mango acts as a sweet contract.