Beef Stroganoff with Shallots & Brandy
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The first recipe of my Valentine’s series, this beef stroganoff with shallots and brandy is the perfect comfort food. Stroganoff has been one of my all-time favorites since childhood. I have the best memories of enjoying this cozy dinner countless times with my family.
Yay, I’m so excited that it’s finally February! 1. Because I just needed January to end. And 2. Because I can finally announce my Valentine’s recipe series!! Idk that this is really an official thing, but I decided that for the month of February, I will be sharing recipes that represent the people I love! Going in no particular order, I decided to start with a recipe for my family. Considering I started this blog to document family recipes, it was v hard to pick just one. But, this beef stroganoff is probably the dinner I associate with my family the most. It’s definitely not the prettiest food on the planet, but it’s the meal that I have the best memories of.
About this family recipe
Stroganoff itself is a traditional Russian dish, although this recipe is based off of my grandma’s. It’s definitely one of those dinners that doesn’t have a “recipe”, my family just throws it together. Any time my mom asked me what I wanted for dinner, it was almost always beef stroganoff. To this day, it’s still the recipe that makes me think of my childhood home and all of those dinners around the kitchen table.
As I said, this is my grandma’s recipe, but of course, each of us has our own version. I have evolved mine quite a bit, adding more spices and flavors over time. Finally, I have reached the point where I feel like my version is totally it. It’s now my go-to recipe when I want something comforting, especially on chilly nights!
all the ingredients you’ll need
- Beef – I personally use something like round steak, but we’ll get into the best cuts later.
- Shallots – you can also use half a yellow onion but the sweetness of the shallots adds an incredible flavor to this dish.
- Brandy – replace with sherry, a drier white wine, or just beef broth for a booze-free option.
- Spices & Condiments – a bay leaf, Dijon mustard, thyme, and parsley.
- Sour cream – to make the sauce creamy!
- Kitchen basics – all purpose flour, unsalted butter, garlic cloves, beef broth, salt and pepper.
- Mushrooms – ok, so I do not *love* mushrooms and pretty much only eat them at other peoples’ houses or restaurants. I genuinely cannot figure out the appeal to that texture. That said, I don’t add mushrooms to my beef stroganoff, but you can totally add them to yours! It’s included it in the recipe below if you feel so inclined.
How to make this recipe
This recipe is pretty straight-forward but does require some simmering time! Plan on having at least one and a half hours to prepare this recipe from very beginning to very end.
- Coat the sliced steak with flour, salt, and pepper. Melt a few pats of butter in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef to the pan and sear until the beef is browned all over. Transfer the seared steak to a plate.
- Add the shallots and mushrooms to the pan. Saute until the veggies are golden brown. Then, add the garlic and cook until fragrant. Add the beef back to the cast iron skillet.
- Deglaze the pan with the brandy, scraping up any brown bits. Let reduce about halfway.
- Next, add the beef broth, bay leaf, Dijon mustard, thyme, salt, and pepper. Reduce the heat to low and let simmer for 1-1 1/2 hours until the meat is tender.
- Lastly, add the sour cream and stir until smooth. Garnish the stroganoff with parsley and serve with buttered egg noodles or rice.
What cut of beef is best?
Since we’re simmering this for a while, we can use a more affordable, leaner cut of beef! Simmering the beef for at least an hour helps tenderize the meat. Whatever you choose, just make sure to choose higher-quality beef for the most flavorful stroganoff! Here are a few options:
- Top round – this is a leaner cut of steak that is traditionally used in stroganoff.
- Flank steak – another flavorful, tougher, affordable cut of beef!
If you’re in a rush, you can also go for a more expensive, tender cut of steak and just simmer it for less time (around 15 minutes). This is a great option if you’re short on time and have a few extra dollars to spend. Some recipes call for filet mignon but honestly? We’re mixing it with gravy here. Save that for a special occasion, unless you can get your hands on some scraps. Here are some nicer cuts I would use instead:
- Top sirloin steak – a savory cut of beef that is commonly used in stroganoff
- Boneless ribeye – this cut is very tender and has a pronounced beef flavor
- New York strip – another option that is tender and delicious
What should i serve with stroganoff?
At this point, you’ll have to decide whether you are #TeamNoods or #TeamRice. My mom always made egg noodles, while my grandma and aunt always made rice. I am die-hard #TeamNoods personally. Here are a few more ideas if you’re not into either:
- Buttered egg noodles or rice are go-to options
- Mashed potatoes
- Toasted, crusty bread
- French fries
- Veggies like peas, green beans, or a classic green salad
- Pickles
How to make the beef nice & tender
There are two factors that will help make this meat uber tender, even with a tougher cut. First of all, make sure that you slice against the grain! Next, ensure that you are simmering the meat for a proper amount of time. For a tougher cut, simmer for at least an hour, but preferably an hour and a half. If you’re using a tender cut of beef, you can simmer the stroganoff closer to 15 minutes.
To keep the sauce from curdling
Adding cold sour cream to hot broth can make it curdle. Instead, try tempering the sour cream by whisking a few tablespoons of hot broth to the sour cream before you stir it into the dish. Or, you can simply bring the sour cream up to room temperature for 30 minutes or so before you stir it into the stroganoff. This is typically how I keep the sauce from curdling and it works every time!
Storing & reheating
If you have leftovers, just store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. To reheat, I like to either put it in the microwave (lazy) or heat it on the stove. Just add a splash of broth to thin the gravy out a bit. Then, heat it over medium, stirring frequently, until it’s nice and hot.
As a side note, I would not recommend freezing this recipe. It will completely change the texture of the dish and make it taste stale.
Tips & Tricks
- Use a cast iron skillet or non-stick pan to make this recipe. You want the brown bits from the beef to add flavor to the dish!
- Cut the steak thinly against the grain to ensure that it cooks up nice and tender.
- To make a vegetarian version, replace the beef with mushrooms and the beef broth with veggie broth.
- Don’t crowd the pan when you’re searing the beef or mushrooms. Cook in batches if necessary. Crowding the pan will lead to grey, steamed meat and rubbery mushrooms.
I hope you make this for some loved ones and sit around a table laughing and hugging warm bowls of buttery, gravy-ed noodles. And I hope it makes you feel like you’re in your mom’s kitchen or at your grandma’s house. It certainly does that for me!
If you make this recipe, I would love if you left a star rating and review! I read every single comment and love hearing what you think about my recipes. Thank you for supporting Sunday Table!
Beef Stroganoff with Shallots & Brandy
Ingredients
- 1 lb round steak, thinly sliced against the grain
- 1/4 c flour
- 1/2 c unsalted butter, divided
- 1/2 lb mushrooms, sliced (optional)
- 1 large shallot, finely diced
- 2 large garlic cloves, minced
- 1/3 c brandy (or sherry)
- 2 c beef broth
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1/2 tsp thyme (fresh or dried)
- 8 oz sour cream
- 2 tbsp parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Egg noodles or rice, for serving
Instructions
- Start by drying the beef with paper towels. Place the meat in a medium bowl. Coat the steak with the flour and lots of salt and pepper. Set aside.
- In a large pan, heat 1/4 cup of the butter over medium high heat until melted. Sear the beef until browned on all sides. Don't overcrowd the pan, or the meat will steam instead of brown! You can sear in batches if necessary. Once the beef is nice and browned, transfer it to a plate.
- Melt another pat of butter in the skillet over medium heat, and add the shallots and mushrooms (if using). Saute, stirring frequently, until the veggies are golden brown, about 5-7 minutes. Stir in the garlic and saute until fragrant. Then, add the beef along with any juices back into the pan.
- Deglaze the pan with the brandy, and let it reduce until there are only a couple of tablespoons left (it may thicken a little). Add the beef broth, bay leaf, mustard, thyme, salt, and pepper. Let the beef simmer for at least 1 hour, preferably 1 1/2 hours, to tenderize the meat.
- Meanwhile, cook the egg noodles (or rice) according to package directions. Stir in a pat of butter and couple pinches of salt.
- When the beef is done simmering, stir in the half of the sour cream. Taste, and add more sour cream, 2 Tablespoons at a time, until it's to your desired consistency. Cook for about 5 more minutes to heat. Garnish with parsley and serve the stroganoff over noodles or rice.
Notes
xo Sara Lynn
Song of the day: Something Good Coming by Tom Petty
I’d love some, Sara Lynn!
It’s the best!!
I have an easier recipe for stroganoff — my family has made it for decades, and the recipe came from my great-uncle’s Russian girlfriend, so I’d say it was authentic, and we all love it. But this? Hands-down, no contest, it is the best Beef Stroganoff I’ve ever tasted, and my husband and children agree. The depth of flavor from the long simmer time just cannot be overstated. Make it on a Saturday afternoon, when you aren’t pressed for time, and just enjoy the process. Or serve it up for guests — they will surely rave. Thanks so much for this recipe!
Thanks so much, GW! This means so much to me! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
My mom made beef stroganoff when I was a kid and I know always using the cheapest cuts of steak (round steak if not hamburger), and no fancy add-ins like brandy…so we could stretch our budget. It was still one of our more expensive and fancy meals! Yes, I then had the (arguably tasty) school cafeteria versions too. Ah, the memories! And then in college…Hamburger Helper, of course. 40 years later, with the taste of some early versions out of my mouth, and having literally traveled the world and eaten this dish made the proper way several times…I can say THIS recipe from Sara does have “It” as she says–and it came out great for me too! Definitely, the delightful, complex, authentic take and NOT the canned soup starchy taste of some dinners psst. But…to me, mushrooms are a must and white mushrooms are just fine too, and are actually used over cremini shrooms in most places due to availability, cost, or both. I also used sirloin steak as it is very lean with little gris and best value overall for me. I suggest avoiding fatty steaks like ribeye. The key is real butter, full fat sour cream, and especially…1 shallot (not onions) finely chopped, per pound of meat used, and 1/3 cup of sherry per pound. I served it over shoestring fries (common in cafes in Europe) sprinkled with fresh chopped chives….store brand of fries is okay…I like “Idaho” brand). I also served it over seasoned boiled potatoes (with salt pepper and butter and then very coursely stirred, not mashed, and scooped out of the pan and sprinkled with fresh dill). This all pairs well a cucumber salad. It freezes well for me and tastes fine if adding the sour cream after thawing and reheating–I put a “note to self” right on the label! THANK YOU, SARA!
Thank you so much, Fred, I’m so glad you loved this recipe! Definitely trying with shoe string fries next time, that sounds so delicious!
Cooking this right now and it smells delicious!. 45 mins to go. I love stroganoff & have been searching for a great recipe. I’ll keep you posted how it turns out :). Rice with it for me
Thanks so much, Dianne, I hope you love it! I can’t wait to hear how it turns out. 🙂