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Today’s Beef Stroganoff recipe is another one of those “What took us so long to get this on our blog?” recipes!
My husband Jack has made this delicious Beef Stroganoff countless times over the years. In a professional kitchen, all of the prep – except for cooking the beef – is done ahead of time. Then – when a customer orders Beef Stroganoff – the beef is seared, served over noodles, and topped with a fantastically-flavored, creamy sauce.
At home – the same process applies – so the sauce in this Beef Stroganoff recipe can actually be made ahead of time and refrigerated until you’re ready to serve dinner. (Perfect for a busy weeknight dinner – or for feeding a crowd!)
Selecting the right cut of beef is also critical to the success of this Beef Stroganoff!
The original dish served to the Czar of Russia used prime tenderloin. But the problem with using prime tenderloin (aside from the cost) is that it is very easy to over-cook it – especially in a dish like this – and there is nothing worse than tough, overcooked beef! A less-expensive chuck roast has great flavor, but to get it tender, you’ll need to cook it for hours – and at that point the dish becomes stew and not stroganoff.
So for our money, we think the perfect cut of beef to use in Beef Stroganoff is rib-eye. The meat is veined with fat – which makes it delicious and tender – and it is a cut of beef that is hard to mess up! (Even if you cook it a bit too long – it will still be delicious!)
One last thing: How you cook the mushrooms in a Beef Stroganoff is just as important as how you cook the beef! (And of course, we give you step by step instructions below.) 🙂
We strongly believe that the mushrooms in a Beef Stroganoff should still have some bite to them so that they are a hearty and flavorful part of the dish. Do your best not to over-cook them, and don’t even think about swapping canned mushrooms! (Fresh is always best!)
We love seeing what you made! Tag us on Instagram at @afamilyfeast or hashtag #afamilyfeast so we can see your creations!
Beef Stroganoff
If serving with egg noodles, cook them ahead and cool. When ready to serve, dip in hot water to reheat. This dish is also good served with mashed potatoes. And interestingly – the original Beef Stroganoff from the 1800s was served over potato straws and did not have mushrooms. (In fact, it looked nothing like the way Americans serve this dish today.)
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons of butter, divided
- 1 pound fresh Cremini mushrooms sliced into 1/4 inch thick slices (aka baby portobello mushrooms)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons cognac or brandy
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 pound onions, cut into medium strips the long way
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups beef stock
- 1 tablespoon country Dijon mustard (this is a product that mixes whole grain and smooth Dijon)
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 1/2 pounds trimmed rib-eye steak, cut into cubes approximately 1 1/2 inches
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons cognac or brandy
- Chopped parsley for garnish, optional
- Wide egg noodles, see note above
Instructions
- In a very large sauté pan or skillet, preferably non-stick, heat 1 ½ tablespoons of butter over high heat until just starting to brown.
- Add only half of the mushroom slices and using a wooden spoon lay out in a single layer. After two minutes flip them to brown the other side. This is a bit tedious but worth it. After the other side has browned, pour contents onto a waiting plate or platter. Each batch should take 4-5 minutes.
- Cook the second half the same way by melting 1 ½ tablespoons of butter, cooking mushrooms in a single layer, etc. Once the second batch is cooked, add the first batch back into the pan and add the salt and pepper and stir to coat.
- Take the pan off the burner and add the cognac or brandy. The liquor will immediately evaporate. Pour the contents back onto the plate in a single layer. If you did this right, there should be no liquid on the plate, just perfectly cooked browned mushrooms. Set this aside.
- Return the pan to the burner and set at medium high.
- Add 2 tablespoons of butter and onions and cook for up to ten minutes to get tender. If they brown too quickly, reduce heat to medium.
- Add tomato paste and stir and cook for one minute.
- Add flour and stir and cook for another minute.
- Add half the stock and stir with a wooden spoon. Once combined add the rest of the stock and stir. Mixture will be thick.
- Stir in mustard and sour cream and then cooked mushrooms and remove from the heat. Pour this mixture into a bowl and clean the pan.
- Lay the beef cubes on a cutting board and dust both sides with salt, pepper and the flour.
- Heat the same pan back up to high and add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and the olive oil. Once the butter starts to brown, place half of the beef cubes in using tongs one at a time, not letting them touch.
- Sear about 1-2 minutes on both sides, and on larger pieces, sear the sides. As each piece is perfectly cooked, keep removing them with tongs to the same bowl as the sauce.
- Once the first half is done, repeat for the second half, using the fat that remains in the pan.
- When the last piece of beef is removed to the bowl, add the remaining two tablespoons of liquor (off the burner so it doesn’t flare up). Then immediately add the bowl with the sauce and beef back into the pan.
- Adjust the burner just to heat the mixture back up to serving temperature and taste and re-season if needed.
- While the stroganoff is coming back up to temperature, reheat the noodles and drain.
- Then serve the stroganoff over the noodles either on a platter or individual portions.
- Top with the optional chopped parsley as garnish.
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pretty good recipe. i wouldnt be so precise on cooking the meat. used marcela wine
Thanks Dave – Sounds like you are an experienced cook and would know not to overcook the beef…not all of our readers are as experienced, so we try to be as detailed as possible in our recipes for their benefit. Marsala wine gives a different flavor but if that’s all you had on hand, it’s an acceptable swap.
Delicious
Thank you Tiffeni!
Can I freeze my leftover stroganoff? If that’s not a great idea, how much time can I have it in tupperware/refrigerated?
Hi Nancy – The sauce might separate a bit after it has been frozen and thawed. Otherwise, this dish is probably best eaten within three days or so after preparing.
I cheated a little, I made the gravy using the recipe ingredients but in a separate pan. This is a fantastic stroganoff!
Thanks Karen! (That’s totally fine!)
Just wanna say this recipe has been my go-to for quite a while now. My family loves it. I use venison backstrap. Truly delicious. Thank you!
Wow Libby – thank you! We’ve never tried it with venison – glad to know it works for that meat too!
I just made this with some venison. It was great. I’m going to have the left overs in the crock pot. Soften up that lean meat.
Great idea Genie!!
This tastes just like my grandmother (Pennsylvania Dutch, born in 1884) made nearly every Sunday.
The only difference, no alcoholic beverages used. I don’t know what flavorings she used to get the taste so similar.
Thank you so much Rhonda – we are honored that our recipe is as delicious as your grandmother’s version! (I’m not sure what she would have used for flavorings either!)
Sorry, neither my husband or I liked it. Made it exactly as outlined. No flavor and the sauce was too thin. Would not recommend.
Thanks for taking the time to share your feedback Linda!
On My! This was absolutely the best recipe that I have come across! I followed it exactly and it came out perfect. The perfect amount of spices, the most tender beef and in an awesome sauce. I will make this again and again
Yay! So glad you enjoyed the recipe Janet!
Excellent! The rib-eye was super delicious in this recipe. Thank you!
You’re very welcome Pinky! So glad you enjoyed the recipe!