Even though it’s called “stroganoff,” this classic dish has nothing to do with Russian food.
It originated in Switzerland, where a chef named Stroganov worked at the Imperial Court during the 1860s.
According to Wikipedia, he created the dish by combining French cooking techniques with Hungarian cuisine.
The result was a creamy sauce that contained ground beef, onions, mushrooms, and sour cream.
Today, many people consider stroganoff one of the most delicious foods on earth.
What Are The Ingredients In An Old Fashioned Beef Stroganoff Recipe?
If you want to follow an authentic version of this culinary masterpiece, here is what you need to know about its ingredients:
- Beef (or lamb)
- Onions
- Mushrooms
- Creamed or mashed potatoes
- Salt and pepper
- Milk
- Butter
- Sour cream
- Chopped parsley for garnish
Some recipes call for chicken instead of beef.
If so, just use less meat per serving!
Step 1 – Make your beef stroganoff sauce
To create the perfect stroganoff sauce, start by sautéing some onion slices over medium heat until they become translucent.
Then add some butter and let it melt before adding some flour.
Stir well for 20 seconds to ensure all the butter gets incorporated into the mixture.
Slowly pour in milk while stirring constantly.
Keep doing this until the sauce thickens up.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Step 2 – Cook your beef
Once the sauce is ready, take a pot and put it over high heat.
Next, place a skillet inside the pot to cook your beef.
Once the meat starts turning brown, remove the pan from the stovetop and set aside.
You can keep the beef warm in a low oven if necessary.
When you’re done, slice the meat and return it to the pot.
Step 3 – Prepare your vegetables
Next, prepare your vegetables.
Chop your mushrooms into small pieces and then cut your onion rings into half-inch strips.
After that, peel and chop your potatoes into cubes.
Step 4 – Garnish your beef stroganoff
Now comes the fun part.
Take a bowl and mix together all your other ingredients.
Put them into a separate bowl and spoon some of the sauce onto each plate.
On top of that, layer the following items:
- Half an onion ring
- 1/4 cup of chopped mushrooms
- 2 tablespoons of butter melted
- A few drops of Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon of sour cream
- A handful of grated cheese, such as cheddar or mozzarella
- Sprinkle of paprika
Step 5 – Serve up your stroganoff
Finally, serve everyone their own portion of the traditional beef stroganoff.
Enjoy!
How Do You Make An Old Fashioned Beef Stroganoff Recipe?
Traditional beef stroganoff recipes usually contain beef, onion, mushroom, and tomato.
You can also add carrots or green beans for extra flavor.
In addition to these vegetables, there are different types of sauces used in traditional stroganoff recipes.
Some include ketchup, while others use creamed corn or mushroom soup.
When making your own version of the classic dish, be sure to choose the right ingredients based on what type of stroganoff you want to create.
- Onion-based stroganoffs tend to have more savory flavors than sweet ones.
- Mushroom-based stroganoffs will taste sweeter than those using other vegetables.
- Stroganoffs containing tomatoes or canned soups may become too thick after simmering over low heat for several hours.
- Some chefs recommend adding about 1/4 cup flour when preparing a stroganoff recipe, which helps thicken up the sauce without affecting its natural flavor.
- Most cooks prefer to cook their meat until it reaches medium doneness before they start to sauté the onions and mushrooms.
- The best way to prepare an old fashioned beef stroganoff recipe is to follow the instructions precisely, as each ingredient plays a vital role in creating the perfect dish.
Step One – Heat Your Oil
You should begin by heating some oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven.
Once the pan is hot enough, add some butter and let it melt into the oil.
Then, add the sliced beef and brown the meat on all sides.
Step Two – Add More Butter
Once the beef is cooked through, remove it from the pan and set aside.
Next, add another tablespoon of butter to the pan and let it melt again.
This time, add the chopped onion and stir well so that it starts to soften.
Allow the onion to caramelize (or turn golden) for 2 minutes before stirring occasionally.
Step Three – Add Fresh Ingredients
Now, it’s time to add fresh ingredients.
If you’re going to add mushrooms, you should slice them first.
Otherwise, just chop them.
After that, toss in the sliced mushrooms and allow them to wilt slightly before adding the rest of the onion mixture.
Next, pour in the heavy cream, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and nutmeg.
Stir everything together well and bring the sauce back to a boil.
Let the sauce simmer for 5 minutes before removing it from the stove.
Step Four – Return the Beef
After letting the sauce simmer for five minutes, return the cooked beef back to the pan.
Cook the beef for another 3 to 4 minutes, then transfer it to a serving platter and serve immediately!
What Is The History Of The Beef Stroganoff Recipe?
The first written evidence for the recipe came from a cookbook published in 1867 in Germany.
The book included instructions for making a meat-based stew served over rice or noodles.
A few years later, another German cookbook added the word “goulash” to the title of the recipe, which refers to the original stew cooked up by Stroganov.
In 1908, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) introduced the term “strogonoff” into their official records.
This name stuck until the 1960s, when the USDA dropped the word and kept only the recipe as its official record.
Today, there are several variations of the beef stroganoff recipe.
Some chefs use fresh vegetables instead of canned ones, while others add cornbread croutons along with the breadcrumbs.
You can also swap out the sour cream for yogurt, buttermilk, or mayonnaise.
Here’s how to make an authentic version of the traditional beef stroganoff recipe:
- Warm two tablespoons of butter over medium heat.
- Add 1 pound of lean ground beef and sauté 5 minutes, stirring regularly to prevent sticking.
- Pour 2 cups of water into a large pot, then add 3 tablespoons of all purpose flour and stir well.
- Once mixed, pour in 4 cups of milk, whisking constantly so that no lumps form.
- Add ½ teaspoon each kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, ¼ cup of chopped green onion tops, and 1 tablespoon of minced garlic.
- Stir well, then turn down the heat and let simmer 20 minutes, uncovered.
- After about 15 minutes, add 8 ounces of sliced white button mushrooms, cover, and continue to cook 10 more minutes.
- Finally, remove the lid and allow the mixture to thicken slightly before adding ½ cup of sour cream, stirring well.
- Serve immediately topped with additional sour cream, if desired.
What Are Some Variations Of The Beef Stroganoff Recipe?
The original version of the dish contains mushrooms, but there are countless ways to make stroganoff today.
Some chefs add bacon or garlic to their recipes, while others use chicken instead of meat.
Others include other ingredients like potatoes and peas.
No matter what you put into your stroganoff, it will always taste great!
Stroganoff with vegetables
A lot of modern-day stroganoffs contain vegetables to boost flavor.
You can cook up any vegetable you want for stroganoff.
Try using sweet peppers, carrots, spinach, zucchini, broccoli, green beans, asparagus, cauliflower, cabbage, and so much more.
One way to prepare a vegetable stroganoff is to sauté them first in oil until they become tender.
Then proceed with the rest of the instructions below.
- Add 1 tablespoon of butter to the pan.
- (You can also use olive oil.)
- When the butter melts, stir in 2 tablespoons of flour.
- Cook the mixture over medium heat for about 3 minutes.
- Pour ½ cup of milk into the pan.
- Stir well after each addition.
- When all the milk has been added, continue stirring for another minute or two.
- Now add ½ teaspoon of salt, ¼ teaspoon of black pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg.
- Continue stirring until the liquid thickens slightly.
- Once everything is mixed together, add the sliced onion and red bell pepper.
- Sauté the vegetables for 5-8 minutes.
- Finally, pour in 2 cups of beef broth.
- Bring the mixture to a boil before reducing the heat and simmering for 20 minutes.
Stroganoff with pork or lamb
If you prefer to eat something different than steak, try making stroganoff with pork or lamb.
These meats have less fat than beef does, which means the end product won’t be quite as rich.
Just remember to cut back on the amount of seasoning when preparing pork or lamb stroganoff.
- Use half the amount of seasonings listed above.
- Also reduce the amount of mushroom soup to just ¾ cup.
- Cook the meat either in a slow cooker or on the stovetop.
How Do You Serve An Old Fashioned Beef Stroganoff Recipe?
This is an easy meal to make.
First, brown your meat until nicely seared.
Then add onion, garlic, white wine, paprika, dried basil, thyme, Worcestershire sauce, and flour.
Let this cook for about 10 minutes while stirring frequently so that there aren’t any lumps or dry spots from not being stirred enough.
Then, remove the mixture from heat and pour in 2 cups of beef stock.
This will thicken the sauce as it cools down.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Lastly, stir in the sour cream and chopped parsley.
Serve over pasta noodles, rice, or even mashed potatoes if desired.
What Goes Well With An Old Fashioned Beef Stroganoff Recipe?
It makes sense that steak lovers would enjoy an old fashioned beef stroganoff recipe because it contains all kinds of ingredients that are typically associated with meat.
But there are other things that go really well with traditional beef stroganoff, too.
- Creamy sauces
- Potatoes
- Onion rings
- Chocolate desserts
- Herbs
The best thing about an old fashioned beef stroganoff recipe is that it can be enjoyed anytime!
You don’t need to wait for special occasions to eat stroganoff.
If you have some leftover roast beef from last night’s dinner party or you bought yourself a rotisserie chicken as a snack today, you can whip up your own version of the classic dish.
You might even want to make extra so you can freeze portions for later use.
If you’re not into chopping raw onions like the original recipes call for, try using onion powder instead.
This will give your stroganoff a stronger onion flavor without adding any harshness to the overall taste.
To add more depth to your meal, you could also sprinkle some paprika over top before serving.
How Do You Store An Old Fashioned Beef Stroganoff Recipe?
The first thing you need to know about storing any type of cooked or prepared dish is whether it can be reheated safely.
If not, then don’t even bother bringing it out again.
You could just as easily cook up another batch of whatever you were going to make from scratch instead.
If your recipe doesn’t specify how much water you should add when heating it over a stovetop burner, then follow the instructions for the original dish.
This way, you will get exactly what the author intended.
As far as storage temperature is concerned, you can keep almost all types of dishes (including meat) warm without risk of spoilage if they are kept below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
That means you have plenty of time to finish off your stroganoff before heading back home after work.
However, you may want to refrigerate some dishes such as salads and dips because certain ingredients become less tasty when stored above freezing temperatures.
For example, fresh tomatoes lose their flavor very quickly, so you might want to put them in the fridge right away.
You also need to make sure that leftovers aren’t exposed to moisture, which can lead to bacteria growth.
To avoid this problem, wrap leftover food tightly in aluminum foil or plastic bags, and place them into the refrigerator immediately.
In general, you should freeze items like soups, sauces, and stews within 24 hours after making them.
Otherwise, these leftovers won’t taste quite as good next time around.
How Long Does An Old Fashioned Beef Stroganoff Recipe Last?
A traditional beef stroganoff recipe is fairly simple, but there are quite a few variations out there.
Some cooks prefer to use Swiss cheese instead of cheddar or parmesan, while others add fresh herbs like parsley or thyme to round out the flavors.
You can even make your own homemade marinade from scratch if you want to get creative!
Some chefs also add vegetables like carrots, green beans, or peas as well.
If you choose to make these changes, however, be sure to adjust the cooking times accordingly.
When it comes to storing an old fashioned beef stroganoff recipe, keep in mind that, just like any other dish, the longer you let it sit, the more likely bacteria will grow.
It’s best to eat stroganoff within three days after preparing it, or else toss it into the fridge until then.
However, there may not be much point in keeping it around beyond that time period, since it won’t have much flavor left over.
What Are Some Tips For Making An Old Fashioned Beef Stro
The first step in creating an authentic version of the classic dish is to buy high-quality ingredients.
If you can find fresh mushrooms (or even better, wild ones), use them whole rather than sliced or diced.
You should also get top quality beef, which will ensure your dish tastes as good as possible.
When shopping for beef, look for cuts such as chuck roast or brisket that have plenty of fat.
These types of meat usually cost more, but they taste amazing and make stroganoff much more flavorful.
You may be tempted to try using frozen vegetables instead of fresh ones because they’re often cheaper.
However, frozen veggies tend to lose their flavor quickly, so it’ll take longer for you to finish preparing your meal.
Also, if you don’t cook the beef thoroughly enough before adding the other ingredients, there might not be any left over after eating.
That would defeat the purpose of making stroganoff!
If you want to save time when preparing this dish, you can buy all of the raw ingredients together.
Then, once you add everything else into the pot, you won’t need to worry about heating up every single ingredient separately.
This is especially helpful if you live alone or don’t have a lot of counter space to work with.
There’s no reason why you shouldn’t serve traditional stroganoff alongside mashed potatoes.
While the two dishes go perfectly well together, the latter adds extra calories without any nutritional benefit whatsoever.
So, if you really enjoy both meals, feel free to combine them.
Just remember to keep portion sizes small – otherwise, you could end up feeling bloated from overeating.
Finally, here are three key points to remember while following an old fashion beef stroganoff recipe.
- Use a large stockpot with a lid so you can brown the beef slowly.
- A smaller pan will require shorter cooking times.
- Don’t rush through the process, because slow and steady wins the race.
- Keep stirring the mixture continuously until it starts smelling great.
- Once the aroma reaches its peak, reduce the heat slightly and let the liquid simmer for another 20 minutes.
- Afterward, remove the pan from the stove and allow it to cool down completely.
Equipment
- Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 pounds beef sirloin steak sliced into thin strips
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 pound egg noodles
- 1 medium white onion sliced
- 8 ounces mushrooms sliced
- 1/4 cup salted butter
- 3 cups beef broth
- 2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Slice the sirloin thinly and against the grain. To coat, lightly dust with flour. Place aside.
- Egg noodles should be prepared as directed on the package. Drain thoroughly, then reserve.
- In a sizable, heavy skillet set over medium-high heat, warm the olive oil. Add the mushrooms and onions. About 7 minutes into the sautéing process, remove from the skillet and set aside.
- Add the butter and let it melt over medium-high heat without cleaning the skillet. Add the steak slices and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, or until browned.
- Refill the skillet with the onions and mushrooms. Worcestershire sauce and beef broth should be added. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes or until thickened.
- Stir in the sour cream and Dijon after adding them. Add the cooked egg noodles, combine, and then add salt and black pepper to taste. Serve hot with cooked rice, mashed potatoes, or egg noodles.
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