Beef stroganoff history — a mix of fact and fancy - Grainews (2024)

Prairie Palate: Many think it’s a Hungarian dish but it actually originated in Russia

Published: November 10, 2017

Farm Life, FarmLife

Beef stroganoff history — a mix of fact and fancy - Grainews (1)

For some time I have been under the erroneous assumption that beef stroganoff is a Hungarian dish. Must be the paprika and sour cream. The fact is, beef stroganoff originated in Russia with nary a dash of paprika. It was originally flavoured with mustard.

I learned this culinary fact in September when I visited Russia for the first time, specifically the city of St. Petersburg, where the Stroganov family lived in opulent comfort. Their home — a grand pink palace near the centre of the city — is now a museum and nearby restaurants proudly serve their namesake dish of beef, mushrooms and sour cream.

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Beef stroganoff history — a mix of fact and fancy - Grainews (2)

Brunching, part 1: Quiche

When Dave and I started to plan a recent family gathering, we quickly realized a daytime event was more likely…

How did it come to be? The story of beef stroganoff is a mix of fact and fancy. A popular legend says the dish was created by a French chef in the employ of the Stroganov family. As the story goes, Count Stroganov had such poor teeth he could no longer eat steak. A dish of tender bits of beef in a creamy sauce fit the bill. At least that’s what the tourists are told.

At the time, Russian aristocracy loved everything French so it’s easy to imagine the richest family in Russia had a French chef. That part rings true. As such, the original recipe for beef stroganoff was a marriage of French cuisine (seasoning with mustard) and Russian tastes (a good dollop of sour cream). The recipe was first published in a popular Russian cookbook in 1871 and soon became a favourite in home kitchens and restaurants. With the communist revolution of 1917 and the civil war that followed, many aristocratic Russian families fled their country for China, taking the recipe for beef stroganoff with them. Whereas in Russia beef stroganoff was (and still is) traditionally served with potatoes, in China it was served with noodles or rice. Eventually, Russian émigrés made their way to America, bringing their taste for beef stroganoff with them. The rest, as they say, is history.

The original recipe did not include paprika or mushrooms, but both are a popular variation on the theme, as is the practice of serving beef stroganoff over egg noodles. Nor is beef the required meat. I made a delicious version of beef stroganoff using beaver, the meat provided by friends who trap. If you would like to make beaver stroganoff, heed this advice: trim the meat of visible fat, boil for 20 minutes in plenty of water, remove and cool, then proceed with the recipe. Honestly, you’ll hardly know it isn’t beef.

I’ve included a picture (at top) of beef stroganoff served in a restaurant just a few blocks from the Stroganov Palace in St. Petersburg. On mashed potatoes, of course.

Amy Jo Ehman

Contributor

Amy Jo Ehman is the author of Prairie Feast: A Writer’s Journey Home for Dinner, and, Out of Old Saskatchewan Kitchens. She hails from Craik, Saskatchewan.

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Beef stroganoff history — a mix of fact and fancy - Grainews (2024)

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Beef stroganoff history — a mix of fact and fancy - Grainews? ›

The story of beef stroganoff is a mix of fact and fancy. A popular legend says the dish was created by a French chef in the employ of the Stroganov family. As the story goes, Count Stroganov had such poor teeth he could no longer eat steak. A dish of tender bits of beef in a creamy sauce fit the bill.

What is a fun fact about beef stroganoff? ›

According to one of them, Beef Stroganoff was invented by the French chef Andre Dupont for the elderly Count, whose teeth were no longer strong enough for chewing large pieces of meat. According to another, more popular version, this dish was prepared specially for the guests of Count Stroganoff.

What is the historical and cultural origin of beef stroganoff? ›

beef Stroganoff, dish of French origin by way of tsarist Russia that combines thinly sliced and lightly stewed beef and onions with sour cream and other ingredients. Beef Stroganoff is, in essence, the classic French fricassée de boeuf with the addition of equally classic Russian ingredients: onions and sour cream.

Is Stroganoff Russian or Ukrainian? ›

Beef Stroganoff or beef Stroganov is a Russian dish of sautéed pieces of beef in a sauce of mustard and smetana (sour cream). From its origins in mid-19th-century Tsarist Russia, it has become popular around the world, with considerable variation from the original recipe.

What does beef stroganoff mean in English? ›

noun. a dish of thin strips of beef cooked with onions, mushrooms, and seasonings, served in a sour-cream sauce.

Why is beef stroganoff so good? ›

Stroganoff sauce is a sour cream gravy made with beef broth that's thickened with flour. It's flavoured with mustard and has mushrooms in it. I love the pale brown creamy colour against the deep golden brown seared beef!

What are some fun facts about beef? ›

Beef is an excellent source of Protein, Vitamin B12, and Zinc. It is also a good source of Niacin, Vitamin B6 and Iron. Cattle are ruminants, meaning their stomachs have four chambers, which allow them to digest grasses. The first beef cattle arrived in the United States via Mexico in the 1500s.

Why do Brazilians love stroganoff? ›

Russian immigrants made their way to Brazil around the 1920s after the revolution, with much of the population descending from Volga Germans who were booted out of the Soviet Union. In an unfamiliar country, stroganoff no doubt cemented itself as comfort food.

Is stroganoff peasant food? ›

Beef stroganoff started as a peasant dish in Russia, being a common way for peasants with enough money to buy meat to use it and make it last. The dish is served with cubes of beef in a cream sauce, spread over wide noodles. The dish's name has unknown origins, but it may be named after the prominent Count Stroganov.

What cut of meat is stroganoff? ›

Traditionally, tenderloin is the meat of choice for Stroganoff, and after testing out a few alternatives—strip steak and ribeye along with more inexpensive cuts like flap meat, hanger, flank, and skirt—I decided to stick with tradition (flap meat and hanger came in a close second).

What is Brazilian stroganoff made of? ›

ingredients
  • 2 lbs beef or 2 lbs chicken fillets, cut into 1 inch pieces.
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced.
  • 1 onion, chopped, divided.
  • 14 teaspoon nutmeg.
  • 12 teaspoon oregano.
  • 12 cup dry white wine.
  • 2 tablespoons oil.
  • 12 lb cultivated white mushroom, sliced.

What do you eat beef stroganoff with? ›

Bread: Garlic Bread, Dinner Rolls, French Bread, Rye Bread, Baguettes. Vegetable: Sautéed Spinach, Garlic Butter Green Beans With Bacon, Steamed Cauliflower, Braised Cabbage. Rice: Wild Rice, Quinoa, Basmati Rice, Jasmine Rice, Parmesan Risotto. Salad: Russian Salad, Broccoli Salad, Shaved Fennel Salad.

Does beef stroganoff contain paprika? ›

Once the steaks are cooked and resting, we sauté the mushrooms and onions. And then it's sauce time! A splash of brandy, a couple cups of beef broth, some mustard and paprika, Worcestershire sauce and sour cream.

What is the best substitute for sour cream in stroganoff? ›

Greek yogurt is a healthy alternative to the traditionally used sour cream in beef stroganoff recipes, so you can be confident that your family is getting a satisfying, healthy meal. Fresh dill and paprika will provide a sweet, slightly smoky garnish to top off the dish.

What's the difference between stroganoff and goulash? ›

What is the difference between Stroganoff and Goulash? The primary difference between Stroganoff and Goulash comes down to the point that Stroganoff is a gravy whereas Goulash is a stew.

Why is my beef stroganoff runny? ›

If too runny, add more flour-water mixture and if too thick, add more sour cream.

What are some unique facts about sour cream? ›

The Facts. Early versions of sour cream were created when fresh milk was left to sit at room temperature and the cream rose to the surface. Naturally occurring bacteria soured it. Sour cream is prominent in central and eastern Europe, where it has traditionally been added to soups and stews (goulash, borscht).

What are some fun facts about Hamburger Helper? ›

History. The packaged pasta brand "Hamburger Helper" was introduced by General Mills in 1971 in response to a meat shortage and rising meat prices. In 2005, Food Network rated it third on its list of "Top Five Fad Foods of 1970". In 2013, the company shortened the brand's name to just "Helper".

What cut of meat is Stroganoff? ›

Traditionally, tenderloin is the meat of choice for Stroganoff, and after testing out a few alternatives—strip steak and ribeye along with more inexpensive cuts like flap meat, hanger, flank, and skirt—I decided to stick with tradition (flap meat and hanger came in a close second).

Why is Stroganoff so popular in Brazil? ›

Russian immigrants made their way to Brazil around the 1920s after the revolution, with much of the population descending from Volga Germans who were booted out of the Soviet Union. In an unfamiliar country, stroganoff no doubt cemented itself as comfort food.

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