Minimalist Cooking: How to Make Authentic Beef Stroganoff with Only 5 Ingredients

When it comes to choosing what kind of meat dish you’ll cook next, the famous Beef Stroganoff is unlikely to make it to the top of the list due to its alleged complicity. However, there’s a variety of recipes proving that this dish can actually be made quickly and with the simplest (and not numerous) ingredients.

The result will definitely please even those who aren’t used to cooking this type of meat dishes, making them feel like they’re having a fine dinner in an haute-cuisine restaurant.

Here’s what you need: 500 g of beef (tenderloin), 1 onion, 30 g of flour, 200 g of 15% sour cream, 1 tbsp of tomato paste, 300 ml of water, salt, pepper and paprika to taste.

Slice the meat into thin strips, lightly pound them, and cut into neat julienne strips. Cook over high heat in small portions so that it browns nicely without releasing its juices. Set the cooked meat aside for now.

In the same pan, fry the onions until golden brown. Put the meat back in the pan, add salt, pepper, paprika, and flour, and stir quickly. Then add the sour cream, tomato paste, and water, and stir until smooth.

Simmer covered over low heat for 40–60 minutes, until the meat is tender and literally melts in your mouth.