Beef Stroganoff
Strips of seared beef in a mustard and soured cream sauce with mushrooms, done in twenty-five minutes. It is a fast dish pretending to be a slow one, and it only fails if you boil the cream.
Method
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Pat the beef strips completely dry and season with half the salt and the pepper.
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Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a wide pan until smoking. Sear the beef in three batches, 60 to 90 seconds each, until browned outside and still rare within. Set aside on a plate.
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Add the butter and the remaining oil, then the mushrooms. Cook over high heat for 6 to 8 minutes without stirring much, until deeply browned.
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Add the onions and cook 6 minutes until soft, then the garlic for 1 minute.
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Stir in the flour and paprika and cook 2 minutes.
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Pour in the brandy and scrape the base clean, then add the stock and mustard. Simmer for 8 minutes until thickened.
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Take the pan off the heat and let it stop bubbling for a minute.
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Stir in the soured cream a spoonful at a time, then return the beef and any resting juices. Warm through over the lowest heat for 2 minutes without letting it simmer.
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Season, scatter with parsley, and serve over buttered egg noodles.
Chef’s Tips
- Room-temperature soured cream is far less likely to split than cold from the fridge.
- The beef finishes cooking in the residual heat of the sauce. Sear it rare.
- Full-fat soured cream only; low-fat versions split almost immediately.
Pairing Suggestions
- A Pinot Noir or a cold vodka
- Serve over buttered egg noodles with a pickled cucumber
- Finish with something light
Storage & Reheating
Refrigerate 3 days. Reheat very gently below a simmer. Freezing is not recommended — the sauce separates.
Nutritional Highlights
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.