Creamy Ground Beef Stroganoff Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can I use milk instead of heavy cream in stroganoff? ›

While you can absolutely use good old fashioned milk instead of the heavy cream, I would be a bad food blogger if I didn't tell you that heavy cream really makes this ground beef stroganoff super creamy and rich. Will regular milk work? Yes. It may just be a little thinner of a consistency.

What is stroganoff sauce made of? 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!

Sour cream can curdle if added directly to hot liquid. To prevent curdling, temper the sour cream by stirring a little of the hot liquid into it and then adding the warmed sour cream mixture to the pan. Buttered egg noodles (see below for details of our tasting) are the classic accompaniment to this recipe.

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.

If you have butter and milk (whole milk or even half-and-half work best), you can make your own heavy cream substitute. To make 1 cup of heavy cream, melt 1/4 cup of butter and slowly whisk in 3/4 cup milk. This works for most baking or cooking recipes that require heavy cream, but it will not whisk into stiff peaks.

Quartered mushrooms and a combination of pearl onions and shallots give the finished dish a more interesting texture and flavor. Adding gelatin to the chicken stock gives it more body, letting the sauce come together more tightly to coat the meat and noodles.

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.

Soy Sauce. In recipes relying on complex flavors, soy sauce is a great choice for a single-ingredient sub. Add a pinch of brown sugar to the mix for an even richer flavor. With or without the brown sugar, use soy sauce in equal amounts to Worcestershire.

Avoid skimping on the stock. It's time to start the wet cooking part of the stew, which is stroganoff. You can use plain tap water if that's all you have, but stock is a much better option. Stock is another vehicle for adding flavor and richness to the stroganoff, and it's the liquid of choice for many chefs.

How do you stop cream curdling in beef stroganoff? ›

How do you keep sour cream from curdling in beef stroganoff? Remove some of the liquid from your stroganoff and allow it to cool. In a small bowl, take several tablespoons of the sour cream (or however much you require) and then add a teaspoon of the cooled liquid from the stew.

Add the onion and cook gently for 10 minutes, or until softened and starting to caramelise. Stir in the garlic and cook gently for 2 minutes. Crumble in the stock cube and stir in the paprika and tomato purée. Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.

First, in a separate bowl, create a cornstarch slurry by mixing equal parts of cornstarch (start with one or two tablespoons) and cold water. Ensure it's well mixed, aiming for a smooth consistency without lumps. Once your slurry is ready, slowly introduce it to the simmering stroganoff, stirring continuously.

For an add-in that both thickens and enhances flavor, turn to a versatile, dairy-forward ingredient: sour cream. Sour cream is a common add-in for thickening soups and sauces, but it can also be stirred into gravy for a touch of tang and a smooth, creamy finish.

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

Similarly to half-and-half, milk makes a good heavy cream substitute when it's combined with melted butter. Combine 3/4 cup milk and 1/4 cup melted butter for every cup of heavy cream. This mixture is not suitable for whipping. Best for: cooking and baking.

You can make a similar heavy cream alternative using regular milk and butter. Whole milk has a fat percentage of around 3.5% and is preferable to lower-fat varieties, but you'll still want to use more melted butter than you would with half-and-half. For best results, try mixing ⅔ cup of whole milk with ⅓ cup butter.

Melt 1/4 cup unsalted butter (that's 4 tablespoons or half a stick) and let it cool to room temperature. Then, whisk it together with 3/4 cup whole milk. This mixture is equivalent to 1 cup of heavy cream and can be used in almost any recipe that calls for heavy cream. The one exception: whipped cream.

Substitute one cup of heavy cream for ¾ cup of whole milk and ¼ cup of melted butter. You can also experiment with a combination of whole milk and yogurt or sour cream, which will add a bit of body to your baked goods.