Dr Mobeus
Budget Beef Mince Stroganoff
Beef stroganoff is usually a special occasion dish made with expensive steak, but this version uses budget mince and honestly tastes just as good. The secret is the smoked paprika and the creamy finish – together they create that rich, savoury sauce that stroganoff is famous for. At 73p per portion it is a fraction of what a steak version would cost. Mince browns faster than steak cubes too, so the whole thing is done in 25 minutes. The yoghurt stirred in at the end replaces the traditional creme fraiche and costs about 5p per portion.
Budget Beef Mince Stroganoff
Ingredients
Method
- Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the mince and brown it for 5 minutes, breaking it up with a wooden spoon.
- Add the onion and cook for 3 minutes until soft. Add the garlic and mushrooms and cook for 4 minutes until the mushrooms have softened.
- Sprinkle over the flour and paprika, stir well and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the tomato puree and stock. Stir well and bring to a simmer. Cook for 10 minutes until the sauce has thickened.
- Remove from the heat and stir through the yoghurt or creme fraiche. Season with salt and plenty of black pepper.
- Serve over rice or pasta.
Tips and Variations
Do not let the yoghurt boil after adding it or it can split – take the pan off the heat first. Any mushrooms work – button, chestnut or even dried porcini if you have them. Add a teaspoon of Dijon mustard with the tomato puree for extra depth. This reheats well the next day – just add a splash of water or stock to loosen the sauce.
