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9 Delicious Appetizers and Starters to Serve with Beef Wellington

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Wondering what to serve with Beef Wellington? Look no further! I’ve got you covered with this handy guide. So, you can find the perfect side dish to complete your spectacular beef dinner.

A tender beef tenderloin topped with pâté and duxelles, a mushroom paste flavored with shallots, butter, and sherry. The whole thing is wrapped in a perfectly golden puff pastry.

It’s comfort food at its absolute finest. And it’s sure to be the centerpiece of your holiday dinner table!.

You can never go wrong with the classics like mashed potatoes, a zesty arugula salad, and bread.

Here are the best side dishes for this Beef Wellington. So that you can find that perfect dish to complete your holiday feast!.

Beef Wellington makes a dramatic centerpiece for any special occasion meal. This classic dish of tender filet mignon wrapped in mushroom duxelle, prosciutto, and puff pastry is intensely flavored and rich. The right starter can perfectly set the stage for this lavish main course.

Complement the components in Beef Wellington by choosing appetizers with mushrooms, spinach, prosciutto, or red wine. Lighter seafood, vegetable, and cheese courses also contrast nicely without overpowering the beef. Here are some sensational starters to serve before this iconic entrée.

Mushroom-Based Appetizers

Sautéed mushrooms are a key ingredient in Beef Wellington, so mushroom appetizers make a natural match. The earthy, umami flavor profiles connect

Mushroom Crostini

Toast baguette slices and top with sautéed mixed mushrooms like cremini oyster and shiitake. Finish with grated Parmesan and fresh thyme.

Mushroom Bruschetta

Dice and sauté an assortment of mushrooms with minced shallot and garlic. Spoon over grilled baguette slices and garnish with Parmesan and chives.

Wild Mushroom Risotto

Creamy mushroom risotto makes a rich, flavorful starter for Beef Wellington. Fold in a mix of cooked wild mushrooms like chanterelle, morel and porcini.

Mushroom Soup

A silky mushroom soup showcases similar flavors as the duxelle stuffing in the Wellington. Garnish with crème fraîche and fresh chives.

Prosciutto & Spinach Appetizers

Prosciutto and spinach both pair wonderfully with the Beef Wellington components.

Caprese Skewers with Prosciutto

Thread grape tomatoes, fresh mozzarella balls and basil leaves onto skewers. Wrap prosciutto around the skewers for a twist on classic caprese.

Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus

Quickly blanch fresh asparagus spears then wrap with thin slices of prosciutto. These elegant bite-sized appetizers take little time to assemble.

Spinach & Artichoke Dip

Serve this creamy crowd-pleasing dip with crackers or pita chips. The spinach echoes Beef Wellington’s duxelle while the artichoke hearts add texture.

Sautéed Spinach with Lemon

Sauté spinach with olive oil and garlic, then sprinkle with lemon juice and Parmesan cheese. Simple and bright.

Seafood Starters

Rich Beef Wellington benefits from a light seafood appetizer. Oysters, shrimp and lobster all make fine choices.

Oysters on the Half Shell

Fresh oysters with mignonette sauce deliver briny refreshment before the beef main. Supply lemon wedges for squeezing over top.

Shrimp Cocktail

Chilled peeled shrimp with zesty cocktail sauce offers classic elegance. Serve on a bed of ice with lemon wedges.

Lobster Salad on Endive

Make a fancy salad by tossing lobster chunks with lemon juice, mayo, diced celery, and chives. Spoon into Belgian endive leaves.

Cheese & Charcuterie Boards

Cheese and cured meats are natural partners for Beef Wellington’s components. Create a customized board with:

  • Thinly sliced prosciutto and salami
  • Parmesan wedges, aged cheddar and Camembert
  • Olives, roasted peppers and marinated artichokes
  • Toasted French bread and crackers

Let guests assemble their own small plates to graze on before the beef entrée. Provide a fruit garnish like grapes and figs.

Red Wine-Infused Appetizers

Beef Wellington is classically paired with red wine. Incorporate wine into appetizers like:

Red wine poached pears – For an elegant starter, poach pears in red wine with spices and serve with blue cheese.

Red wine sangria – Mix red wine with brandy, fruit and club soda for a refreshing punch.

Wine-simmered mushrooms – Sauté mushrooms with garlic, olive oil and a splash of full-bodied red wine.

Vegetable Sides and Salads

Crisp, fresh vegetable starters contrast the rich beef main. Opt for green veggies and vinaigrettes.

Mixed Greens Salad

Toss assorted salad greens with a light vinaigrette and top with shaved Parmesan and toasted nuts or seeds.

Roasted Beets with Goat Cheese

Roasted beets sliced over greens with creamy goat cheese and balsamic glaze makes a stellar salad.

Asparagus with Lemon Zest

Quickly roast or grill fresh asparagus spears, then finish with olive oil and lemon zest.

Any of these delectable appetizers and starters hit the right flavor notes before the extravagance of Beef Wellington. Craft a multi-course menu to remember by selecting complementary tastes and textures leading up to the pièce de résistance. With a properly staged meal, Beef Wellington will shine as the crowning jewel of the feast.

what starter goes well with beef wellington

The BEST Side Dishes for Beef Wellington

Many of these sides for beef Wellington can be made ahead of time and kept in the fridge or freezer for up to three days. Simply check the individual recipes for full storing instructions and details on how to make ahead.

This list of things to serve with beef wellington is great! Please leave a comment and rate it below. Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

DO YOU WANT MORE? For more great platings,

what starter goes well with beef wellington

How to Make Perfect Beef Wellington

FAQ

Is Beef Wellington a main course?

Whether you’ve tried it or not, we’re pretty sure you’ve heard people rave about this dish. And they’re not wrong. Even world-class chef Gordon Ramsay has stated that it’s one of his “all-time favorite main courses,” as he calls it the “ultimate indulgence.” So you may wonder – what makes beef wellington so special?

Can Beef Wellington be prepared the day before?

What’s a Beef Wellington? It’s a beef tenderloin (better know as “filet” outside of the US) covered in a mushroom paste (duxelles) and wrapped in puff pastry. It looks stunning, tastes amazing, and can be prepared up to the final bake the day before the event.

Is Beef Wellington one of the hardest dishes to make?

Beef Wellington is a dish that is rated under the “top 10 hardest dishes to make”, at number 4. One of the hardest parts of this dish is cooking the meat correctly, and not over cooking it. Typically a beef wellington’s tenderloin should be at a medium rare – which is not always an easy feat to achieve.

What starter goes with Beef Wellington?

When it comes to what starter goes with beef wellington, watercress soup ticks all the boxes. It’s refreshing and light, cleanses the palate, and is elegant enough for a dinner party without trying to steal the limelight away from your meal.

What to serve with Beef Wellington?

Be sure to add some salted butter to the table, as it’s absolutely wonderful for spreading and dipping. Beef wellington calls for a light but refined starter, and the best options are prawn cocktail, smoked mackerel pate, goats cheese with caramelised onion chutney, smoked salmon with horseradish canapés, and watercress soup.

What salad goes with Beef Wellington?

Or actually, any fresh salad. Salad is great with the decadent beef Wellington because it’s simple, refreshing, crunchy, and not to mention, nutritious! Any combination of greens, nuts, fruits and veggies, protein, cheese, and dressing is great, but this is my favorite!

What wine goes with Beef Wellington?

This is one dish that practically begs for some classic, medium to full-bodied reds. Try an old-world burgundy or a Bordeaux. On a lighter side, a new-world pinot noir or merlot from California or Oregon would play well with the earthy notes. Going on a quest for what to serve with beef Wellington doesn’t have to be intimidating.

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