Winter is the season for comfort food. Beef Stroganoff has had a long and honored history. It has spread across the world and is common in restaurants from Europe to Asia to South America. Despite an elegant past, beef stroganoff is now more like down home comfort food and can be easily prepared for a hearty and satisfying family dinner. Prepared traditionally, this dish is very rich and delicious. Using beef from grass-fed cattle improves the fat profile and flavor. To make this dish a little more interesting you can use organic whole wheat fettuccini. Fettuccini noodles are a bit narrower than egg noodles, but they give the same substantial mouth feel and a significant amount of fiber.

Classic Beef Stroganoff – Winter Comfort Food

Ingredients:

4 tbs all-purpose flour, divided 
1/2 tsp salt
1/4-1/2 tsp ground pepper
1 lb beef sirloin steak, cut in 1/4-inch-wide strips (grass fed)
3 tbs butter, divided
1 cup mushrooms, thinly sliced
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbs tomato paste
1 can (10 1/2 oz) condensed beef or chicken broth (or rich homemade)
1 cup sour cream
2 tbssherry or cognac
Half of a 16 oz pachage of egg noodles or fettuccini, cooked

Preparation:

1. Combine 1 tablespoon flour and the salt. Dredge the meat in the flour mixture and brown in 1 T butter.
2. Add the mushrooms, onion and garlic to the meat, and cook for 3-4 minutes or until the onion is barely tender. Remove from skillet.
3. Add 2 tablespoons butter to the pan drippings. When melted, blend in 3 tablespoons flour and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the tomato paste. Slowly pour in the broth. Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thicken.
4. Return the meat and mushrooms to the skillet and simmer until meat is heated through, about 2 minutes. Combine sour cream with a little of the hot broth (this tempers the sour cream and helps to prevent curdling), then stir in the sour cream mixture and sherry. Season with pepper to taste. Stir briefly. Heat through but do not let boil, just simmer for a few minutes before serving.
5. Serve over egg noodles or fettucini.

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire.” – Edith Sitwell