What is Beef Stroganoff
Beef stroganoff is a classic Russian dish made with strips of beef, mushrooms and a creamy sauce. It is traditionally served over egg noodles, but you can also serve it over mashed potatoes, rice, or even toast. It's a great dish for a family dinner, or for an easy weeknight meal. The key to making a delicious beef stroganoff is to use the freshest ingredients and to cook the beef to the perfect doneness.
Ingredients
For this traditional beef stroganoff recipe, you will need the following ingredients: 1 pound of beef (sirloin, flank steak, or tenderloin), 1 cup of sliced mushrooms, 2 cloves of garlic, 1 onion, 2 tablespoons of butter, 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour, 1 cup of beef broth, 1 tablespoon of tomato paste, 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 cup of sour cream, and salt and pepper to taste.
Instructions
Begin by heating a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the skillet is hot, add the butter and let it melt. Then add the beef to the skillet and cook it for about 5 minutes, or until it is cooked to your desired doneness. Once the beef is cooked, remove it from the skillet and set it aside.
Next, add the mushrooms, garlic, and onion to the skillet and cook them for about 4 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender. Then add the flour to the skillet and cook it for 1 minute. Next, add the beef broth and tomato paste to the skillet and stir to combine. Finally, add the Worcestershire sauce and simmer the mixture for about 10 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened.
Once the sauce has thickened, add the cooked beef back to the skillet and stir to combine. Then add the sour cream to the skillet and stir to combine. Finally, season the beef stroganoff with salt and pepper to taste. Serve the beef stroganoff over egg noodles, mashed potatoes, rice, or toast and enjoy.
Tips and Variations
If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can add a bit more flour or a bit more tomato paste. You can also add a bit of white wine or brandy to the sauce to give it a bit of extra flavor. And if you prefer a bit of extra heat, you can add a bit of hot sauce or red pepper flakes.
For a vegetarian version of this traditional beef stroganoff, you can substitute the beef with a plant-based protein, such as seitan, tofu, or tempeh. You can also substitute the beef broth with vegetable broth. And for a vegan version, you can substitute the butter with a vegan butter and the sour cream with a vegan sour cream.
Conclusion
Beef stroganoff is a classic Russian dish that is easy to make and full of flavor. It's a great dish for a family dinner or an easy weeknight meal. Using the freshest ingredients and cooking the beef to the perfect doneness will ensure that you have a delicious beef stroganoff. And by following these tips and variations, you can make a vegetarian or vegan version of this traditional dish.
