Fillet of Beef Whisky Stroganoff | South African food | BIbbyskitchen recipe (2024)

If you looking for a carb-free comfort meal, my Fillet of beef whisky stroganoffis worth getting excited about. Wilted kale with zucchini and pine nuts are excellent served alongside.

Of course there’s nothing stopping you from serving this beef stroganoff with tagliatelle or fluffy mashed potatoes. Unfortunately, I don’t have a passed down stroganoff recipe so I’m making it up as I go, though I do recall my mum dusting tenderised beef strips in seasoned flour. I’ve use a more expensive cut, beef fillet, but it’ll change the way you make stroganoff in future. The creamy paprika whiskey sauce is quite exceptional.

In place of dusting the meat with flour, I’ve used almond meal which acts as a thickening agent. It also imparts a slightly nutty taste. A dash of whiskey adds depth of flavour, but you can substitute this with dry sherry, even brandy if you prefer. I serve it with a dollop of sour cream and a zesty parsley pesto which cuts through the richness of the sauce.

Fillet of Beef Whisky Stroganoff

Serves 4

    • 2 tablespoon olive oil
    • 3 tablespoons butter
    • 1 brown onion, finely diced
    • 1 garlic clove, minced
    • 250g button mushrooms, sliced
    • 125g shiitake or porcini mushrooms, sliced
    • several stems thyme or lemon thyme
    • zest and juice of half a lemon
    • 2 tablespoons almond meal
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • plenty freshly ground black pepper
    • 600g beef fillet, cut into strips
    • 1/4 cup (60ml) whisky
    • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
    • 2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
    • 250ml hot water
    • 2/3 cup sour cream or crème fraîche

Lemon Parsley pesto

  • generous handful flat leaf parsley, finely chopped
  • zest and juice of half a lemon
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped roasted almonds
  • salt and black pepper, to taste
  1. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and the butter in a large based frying pan. Sauté the onion until soft. Add the mushrooms and cook on a high heat for several minutes until all the water has evaporated. Add the garlic, thyme leaves, lemon zest and season with salt and pepper. Stir through and cook for a further 2 minutes. Remove the mushrooms from the pan and set aside until later.
  2. Add the remaining olive oil to the same pan. Combine the almond meal, salt, paprika and black pepper in a bowl. Add the meat to the spice mix and toss to coat. Brown the meat strips in the hot oil and season lightly with sea salt. Deglaze the pan with the whiskey and reduce by two thirds. Add the tomato paste, followed by the mushrooms. Stir through the Worcestershire sauce and water. Simmer for about 10 – 12 minutes until the sauce is reduced and thickened. Fold in the crème fraîche, a squeeze of lemon juice and warm through.
  3. While the meat is simmering, add a drop of olive oil to a pan and wilt a generous handful of julienned courgettes, shredded kale and baby spinach. Season with salt, pepper and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Toss through some toasted pine nuts and serve with the stroganoff.
  4. For the lemon-parsley pesto, combine all the ingredients in bowl and serve alongside the meat, for everyone to help themselves.

For more South African dinner favourites, you may like these:

Bobotie filo parcels with apple ring chutney

Cape Malay Chicken Meatballs

Stuffed cabbage with freekeh meatballs

Roast butternut and lentil bobotie

10 Comments. Leave new

  • Lindi

    29 July 2015 9:46 am

    ohhhhh my hat!!!! This looks sooooo divine!!! Definitely going to try this one too. Thanks Di.

  • Dianne Bibby

    3 August 2015 6:25 pm

    Thanks Lindi. Finally one for the men and meat eaters!! It’s one to bank.

  • Denise

    5 October 2015 7:58 am

    Can’t wait to try this! Looks yummy!

  • Dianne Bibby

    6 October 2015 5:24 am

    Hi Denise. A most delicious tweak on the classic. The fillet steak makes it super-tender.

  • Ruby

    26 March 2016 4:41 am

    Hello.
    I made this for dinner and it was excellent! The recipe and directions are well written and easy to follow. I did not see where to add the garlic in the steps, so I just added it after browning the meat. I would have added it to the mushroom mixture had I caught the omission sooner. Regardless of this I was very pleased with the recipe and will definitely make it again. I did not make the pesto sauce for this go, but will try it with it at a later date. Thank you for a delicious recipe

  • Dianne Bibby

    28 March 2016 6:16 pm

    Hi Ruby. So glad you enjoyed it. I missed the garlic completely!! Thank you for pointing it out. It does go in with the mushrooms. I’m going to amend the copy now. The pesto isn’t altogether necessary, but does add a really nice flavour surprise. Thanks for visiting!

  • Lucy Pires

    8 July 2020 12:27 pm

    Love your recipes! Thank you!

    What can I use instead of Almond meal if I don’t have?

  • Dianne Bibby

    10 July 2020 10:50 am

    So glad you do, Lucy! The almond meal is a gluten-free thickening replacer. Alternatively, cornflour will also do.

  • Stefanie

    23 July 2020 9:26 am

    Am making this tonight, how many does this serve, 4 ?
    Thank you for yummy inspirations….

  • Dianne Bibby

    23 July 2020 9:41 am

    Hi Stephanie. My pleasure. Yes, it will do four servings easily. Enjoy!

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Fillet of Beef Whisky Stroganoff | South African food | BIbbyskitchen recipe (4)

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Fillet of Beef Whisky Stroganoff | South African food | BIbbyskitchen recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the most tender cut of beef for beef 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).

How to add more flavor to beef stroganoff? ›

Searing The Meat: This meal turns out so much better when you take the time to properly sear the meat in batches, you really want those bits of stuck on pieces to collect at the bottom of the pan because it gives the beef stroganoff so much flavor.

What is an interesting fact about beef stroganoff? ›

The dish is named after one of the members of the Stroganov family. A legend attributes its invention to French chefs working for the family, but several researchers point out that the recipe is a refined version of older Russian dishes. In Russian the dish is called Бефстро́ганов from the French Bœuf Stroganoff.

Why is beef stroganoff so good? ›

This delicious comfort food is made with tender strips of beef that are simmered in a creamy sauce and served over egg noodles or rice. The sauce is what really makes beef stroganoff stand out, and it's made with a combination of spices and other ingredients that give it a rich, savory flavor.

Does sour cream tenderize beef? ›

Some cooks swear by using dairy to tenderize, such as milk, yogurt, or sour cream, as it tenderizes without making the meat too soft. You can add whatever flavors you want to the dairy, and soak it for several hours.

What is the best way to cook Scotch fillet? ›

Best cooking methods – Pan Fry, BBQ, Stir Fry

This steak is succulent, tender and full of flavour and is one of the most popular. The ribbons of fat that run through the meat keep it moist and tender while cooking. When pan frying, pat meat dry before cooking. When meat is wet it does not brown well.

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 thickens stroganoff? ›

One way to thicken beef stroganoff is with flour or cornstarch. These are both common cooking ingredients that will help create an excellent thickening agent for beef stroganoff recipes.

How do you add sour cream to stroganoff without curdling? ›

Keep Stroganoff Sauce from Curdling

Temper the sour cream by adding a few teaspoons of the hot liquid from the pan—one tablespoon at a time—before adding the sour cream to the pan. Turn the stovetop down to low before adding the sour cream and give it a few minutes for the temperature in the pan to actually lower.

What country invented beef stroganoff? ›

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.

Why does my stroganoff taste sour? ›

Sourness comes from acidic ingredients (including tomatoes, wine and vinegar). If your dish tastes too sour try to add sweetness—think sugar, honey (it's healthy!), cream or even caramelized onions. You can also dilute the dish (same as you would with a dish with too much salt).

What ethnicity is 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.

What is a substitute for beef broth in Stroganoff? ›

Depending on what you are using the beef broth for you can substitute a well made vegetable broth or chicken broth. Of course, it will change the flavor profile a bit but it is a much better solution to using cubes or powders which are sodium bombs.

Does Stroganoff contain paprika? ›

Crumble in the stock cube and stir in the paprika and tomato purée. Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the beef consommé, mushrooms and mustard. Bring to the boil then lower the heat and simmer for 10–15 minutes, or until the volume of liquid has reduced by half.

What is a substitute for beef stock in Stroganoff? ›

Like beef broth, chicken broth is a kitchen staple and makes a good substitute if you are all out of the meaty broth. This savory, salty liquid has a milder flavor than beef broth but is a good one-to-one replacement. Chicken broth also has a similar nutrition profile to beef broth, low in calories and high in sodium.

What is the softest beef to cook? ›

What is this? The Chateaubriand beef tenderloin roast is considered to be the most tender cut of beef for a roast. This cut of beef comes from the loin area of the cow, which is right below the backbone, behind the rib section and in front of the sirloin section.

Why is my beef stroganoff tough? ›

Insert an instant-read thermometer into a few random cubes at the end of the cooking time to make sure that they are at least 145 degrees F, which is medium-rare. Do not cook them over 180 degrees or they will become tough.

How to make beef tender and soft? ›

The most important thing about keeping meat soft and tender in a stew is to never let it actually boil, you cook it very low and slow. If you do that, you shouldn't even need tenderizer, you just need patience.

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