Beef for the Holidays
Gather around the table this holiday season with beef recipes made for sharing, celebrating and creating new food traditions with the people you love.
Beef as the Centerpiece
A homecooked roast on the dinner table is a special treat that evokes memories of holidays past.
Roast Swaps
Beef fits into every budget and price. Discover how these swaps will impress and make your meal extraordinary.
All About Prime Rib
For special occasions, holidays, or just a nice family dinner, you’ll want to make sure you’re giving your friends and family the absolute best - a delicious beef meal featuring a Prime Rib.
Holiday Roast Tips
These tips and tricks will guide you to perfectly cook a roast packed with flavor.
Beef 101: How To Tie a Roast
Beef 101: Resting Your Beef
Holiday Recipe Collections
Classic Holiday Dinners
Make your dinner a celebration to look forward to this holiday season. For holiday dinners, stick with delicious classics like Prime Rib, Beef Wellington or a savory Brisket.
Holiday Entertaining
Gatherings with friends and family don't have to be stressful. Save time with our recipes and simple tips to make moments with your loved ones unforgettable.
Appetizers Worth Sharing
Be warned - once you serve these bad boys, you’ll be on appetizer duty for life. From handheld cocktail hour bites to low-key yet festive pre-dinner snacks, these are sure to please.
Principles to Pairing
Simple Senses- Your smell is the strongest sense, so use this to your advantage. Take a few short sniffs of the beer or wine to get a good hint of the flavor profile. Don’t forget your other senses though. Mouthfeel is important to determine the “weight” or “body” of the drink and the dish should be similar.
Power Matching- You can’t go wrong matching a flavor of the drink with flavor of the dish. Robust flavors should be paired with a robust wine or flavorful beer. A general rule-of-thumb is the beefier flavor the dish or cut has, the more robust or flavorful beverage you’ll want. You also can’t go wrong if you match the dish’s region with a drink from the area.
Balance the Scales- If you have a spicy dish, a high alcohol content drink will keep your mouth on fire while balancing it with something smoother and lower alcohol content will balance the heat. A dish like creamy pasta would be best with a lighter drink as it will help cut through the flavors.
Scrub with Bubbles- The more carbonation in the beer, the better at cleansing your palate of flavors - especially fatty foods. With wine, the drier the drink, the better it matches with fattier cuts.
Use It in the Dish- Whatever you use to cook, whether it’s beer or wine, should be something that you would want to pair and drink with the meal.
Go Out of the Box- When it comes down to it, it’s all about your personal preference. Be brave and try your own pairings! If you’re hosting a party, know your audience and their preferences (or ask their preferences). Finally, don’t be afraid to experiment and try different dishes and drinks!
Pairing Beef with Beer
The versatility of beer cannot be ignored when it comes to pairing with beef. The perfect pairing of beef and beer can bring out the best of any meal.
Along with the basics of pairing a drink to an overall dish, beer can also be complemented by the specific beef cut. When it comes to steak and beer, robust cuts like the Ribeye or Hanger Steak go great with dark beers like a stout or porter. While less robust cuts such as the Flank or Top Round Steak go well with Pilsners and Lagers.
Pairing Beef with Wine
A general rule of thumb is to pair lean beef with lighter to medium-bodied wines and richer cuts with bolder wines. Wine and beef both offer complex, savory and rich flavors. That’s why the two are a perfect fit.
There are many factors that can impact pairing beef and wine. These include the seasoning, the beef cut used and cooking method. Remember to match flavor of food with the wine. Dishes that are bold, deserve a bold wine like a Merlot or Zinfandel. Dishes that have some spice pair well with a Shiraz and herbal dishes marry well with many Cabernet Sauvignons and Bordeaux. It’s a common belief that only red wine pairs well with beef. However, there are some instances when a white wine, or Rosé are a must-try experience. Thai beef salads or stir-frys are great with Rieslings and steak salads or meals with plenty of greens and vegetables pair well with many Sauvignon Blancs.