Quick and Easy Beef Stroganoff Recipe

Tender beef fillet quickly sautéed with a sour cream sauce, beef stroganoff is an ideal recipe for a quick weekday supper or as an elegant meal for last-minute guests. Originating in 19th century Russia, this simple recipe has since made its way all around the world, adopting additions of mushrooms and onions on the way, until we have the classic dish that we know and love today.

The secret of a good beef stroganoff is in the cut of meat you use. Beef fillet is the best, as it gives tender slices of meat that can be cooked very briefly so that they don’t toughen. Whatever you do, don’t try to use stewing steak, which needs long slow cooking to soften it.

Serve beef stroganoff with rice and a salad or try it with the crisp potato straws or matchstick potatoes that are the traditional garnish in Russia.

Recipe for Beef Stroganoff
(Serves four)

Ingredients
675g / 1 ½ lb beef fillet
1 large onion, thinly sliced
350g button mushrooms, sliced
65g 2 ½ oz butter
3 tablespoons sunflower oil
300 ml / 1 ¼ cups soured cream
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons lemon juice
salt and pepper
small bunch parsley, washed and chopped fine.

Cut the fillet across the grain into thin slices about 1cm / ½ inch wide or less.

In a large frying pan, melt the butter and cook the onion with the paprika over a low heat until soft and translucent. Add the mushrooms and continue to cook gently for about three minutes more. Using a slotted spoon remove the onions and mushrooms to a plate.

Use the same pan to heat 1 ½ tablespoons of sunflower oil until hot. Quickly fry half the beef fillet strips, turning and adding salt and pepper as you cook for about one minute. Remove to another plate and fry the rest of the strips in the remaining oil. Transfer this batch of meat to the plate.

Return the onions and mushrooms to the pan and pour in the cream. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for one minute until it thickens slightly. Return the beef fillet strips to the pan and heat gently for one more minute, without letting the mixture boil.

Stir in the lemon juice and chopped parsley, then serve immediately.

Want someone else to do the cooking for you tonight? Try the beef stroganoff or one of the many other tasty dishes at Latino restaurant in Nottingham.