Some Russian home food!!

They say food is the front door to culture, it’s the way to immerse yourself for the first time, and a great way to meet new people. One of my favorite Russian dishes is Beef Stroganoff.  It takes about an hour and a half to make the dish from start to finish.

The necessary ingredients are:

·         2 pounds of beef chuck roast (quality depends on your budget)

·         ½ teaspoon of salt

·         ½ teaspoon of ground black pepper

·         4 ounces of butter

·         4 green onions sliced (white half only)

·         4 tablespoons of all-purpose flour

·         1 can (about 10.5 ounces) of condensed beef broth

·         1 teaspoon prepared mustard

·         1 can (6 ounce) of sliced mushrooms (drained)

·         1/3 cup of sour cream (I know, gross, but you don’t taste it and it's necessary)

·         1/3 cup of white wine

To cook:

1.       Remove any fat and gristle from the roast and cut into strips 1/2 inch thick by 2 inches long. Season with 1/2 teaspoon of both salt and pepper.

2.       In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter and brown the beef strips quickly, then push the beef strips off to one side.  Add the onions and cook slowly for 3 to 5 minutes, then push to the side with the beef strips.

3.       Stir the flour into the juices on the empty side of the pan. Pour in beef broth and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.  Lower the heat and stir in mustard. Cover and simmer for 1 hour or until the meat is tender.

4.       Five minutes before serving, stir in the mushrooms, sour cream, and white wine.  Heat briefly, then salt, and pepper to taste.

When I made this dinner for my sorority family dinner this past weekend, I served it over a bed of wide egg noodles and everyone enjoyed it.  This is a tasty meal to share with your friends and family because it is quick, easy, and inexpensive, especially for college students on a budget!!!