What to Serve with Oxtails? 7 BEST Side Dishes

Oxtails are one of those ingredients that make you feel fancy without breaking a sweat. They sound impressive, right?

But figuring out what to serve with them can leave us scratching our heads.

We've all been there, staring at a beautiful plate of oxtails and thinking, "What now?" Finding the right side dishes means we get to stretch our culinary muscles a bit.

Roasted veggies or creamy polenta can really shine alongside those tender tails. And trust us, your dinner table will thank you!

So, here's our lineup of side dishes that go well with oxtails, making dinner not just a meal, but a little feast.

7 Ideal Sides to Pair with Oxtails

Check below the list of seven side dishes that make a great accompaniment with oxtails:

1 - Steamed White Rice

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Rice is one of the most widely eaten staple worldwide and also a flexible ingredient.

Simple steamed white rice tastes great with most foods, so you can serve it with oxtails.

It's not difficult to make steamed white rice, but you need to keep two aspects in mind.

Firstly, measure the rice by volume so that you can add the correct amount of water.

Secondly, never stir the rice as it cooks, or it will break and become sticky.

To make it fluffy, always rinse white rice before cooking.

Water is the common liquid used to cook rice, but you can also use milk or meat broth for a more enhanced flavor.

2 - Cucumber Tomato Salad

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A combination of fresh and crunchy salad with tender and juicy oxtails can be a pleasure to eat any time.

Salads go well with meats, and they don't take much of your time to make.

Besides cucumber and tomato, you can also include red onion, cheese like feta or mozzarella, fresh herbs such as basil, dill, parsley and cilantro.

Use aged balsamic vinegar or a mixture of lemon juice and red wine vinegar for dressing.

Don't forget to add some salt and ground black pepper.

Start with small amounts till you get the right taste.

Chop or slice the veggies and mix with the dressing and store, covered in the fridge for some time.

Add the cheese, herbs and other toppings just before serving.

3 - French Baguette

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Just imagine the bread soaking up the juices of the oxtails, and it's enough to make your mouth water.

While you can use other types of bread to eat with oxtails, a French baguette is the first choice for most people.

Also called French bread, the traditional ingredients are yeast, flour, salt and water, but it's yummy with many items.

The crispy crust and chewy texture make it a perfect accompaniment to oxtails which are juicy, tender and rich in taste.

When you eat them together, your palate gets a pop of flavors that can be pretty heavenly.

4 - Green Beans with Garlic

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When you have a rich-flavoured meat dish like oxtails, a vegetable side is always a welcome addition.

So, what better than crunchy green beans with garlic lightly roasted to perfection?

Yes, it's quite a simple item and doesn't get much attention.

But it's extraordinarily yummy and clicks perfectly fine with oxtails.

The secret of its incredible taste lies in putting raw garlic on hot vegetables and not cooking them together.

All you have to do is roast the beans with salt and pepper, and once done, add the raw garlic and toss them together.

You will have a sweet, crunchy, aromatic dish of beans and garlic ready to go with oxtails.

5 - Creamy Mashed Potatoes

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Potatoes make good side dishes no matter whichever way you cook them.

But the classic creamy mashed potatoes are definitely on top of the list.

It's because there must be only a few people who do not like the humble potato dish.

Creamy mashed potatoes are also available in different versions.

You can make variants that reduce fat and calories but without losing the creaminess.

Make a dish with floury potatoes, butter, semi-skimmed milk and crème fraîche.

Add some salt and pepper to taste and herbs if you prefer them.

6 - Buttered Noodles with Herbs

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A simple and lightly-flavored dish with noodles can make oxtails even better any day.

You have a heavily-flavored item in one hand and light noodles in another.

When combined, you have a balanced meal without either one overtaking the other.

Eating the two dishes will satisfy your hunger and also please your senses.

Boil the noodles till you reach the 'al dente' stage, add the butter, herbs, and salt, and it's ready to serve.

Add a little pepper if you like it, a little spicy.

7 - Steamed Broccoli with Lemon

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Here we are at the end of the list with our final dish, something simple but entirely compatible with oxtails.

Broccoli is an underrated vegetable, but it's very versatile.

You can cook it in several ways, but steamed broccoli with lemon and butter clicks the best with oxtails.

You can quickly make the dish by steaming broccoli florets till they're tender but still crunchy.

Next, add melted butter together with salt, pepper, garlic powder and, sprinkle lemon juice and mix all of them.

The lightness of the veggie dish goes with the richness of the oxtails, and you experience several flavors with each bite.