Ina Garten's Favorite Salad Complements Steak Perfectly

Some home chefs struggle to pick the proper side dish to complement steak. Celebrity chef Ina Garten’s preferred accompaniment to steak is a refreshing arugula salad.

In a clip from her Food Network show "Barefoot Contessa," Garten prepares a simple arugula salad with a five-ingredient vinaigrette to pair with steaks.

Peppery arugula is great for cutting through a steak's richness, much like a spicy peppercorn sauce does. The tangy citrus goes a long way in that regard, too.

Garten combines a half cup of olive oil, a quarter of a cup of fresh lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper, then drizzles it over the greens and tops with parmesan.