Beef Stroganoff for Two Recipe

Written by
Janet A. Zimmerman
An award-winning food writer, cooking instructor, and author of five cookbooks. She focuses on dinners for two and date night cuisine.
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Janet A. Zimmerman
Updated 06/09/19
Recipe beef stroganoff for two recipe

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
  • Total: 38 mins
  • Prep: 20 mins
  • Cook: 18 mins
  • Servings: 2 servings

We usually make this dish when we have a few ounces of cooked steak leftover from another meal, but you can also use raw beef. Serve over egg noodles. Fresh dill is an excellent garnish if you have it, but parsley is good too.

Ingredients

  • 6 to 8 ounces cooked steak or raw sirloin tips, trimmed and sliced 1/8-inch thick
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons butter (or more if using raw beef)
  • 8 ounces cremini or white button mushrooms, washed and quartered
  • 1 large shallot or half a small onion, sliced thinly; about 1/4 cup
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 1/4 cup cognac or brandy
  • 1 cup beef stock or broth (low–sodium if canned)
  • 3 tablespoons sour cream
  • Optional: 1 tablespoon minced fresh dill or parsley

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for beef stroganoff
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  2. Remove the leftover cooked steak from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature.

    Beef
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  3. Pile the mushrooms into a small saute pan; they should be crowded. Sprinkle with about 1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt and add 2 tablespoons butter.

    Pile the mushrooms
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  4. Add enough water to cover the contents (the mushrooms will float, but that's okay). Set the pan over high heat and bring to a boil. When the butter melts, stir it in. Adjust the heat so that the water remains at a low boil. Cook until the water evaporates completely. Continue to cook, stirring, until the mushrooms begin to brown.

    Boil mushrooms
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  5. Add the shallot slices to the pan with the mushrooms and cook, occasionally stirring, until the shallots soften and start to brown, about 3 minutes.

    Add the shallot slices
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  6. Sprinkle the vegetables with the flour and cook, stirring, for a few minutes until flour is browned.

    Saute mushrooms
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  7. Remove the pan from the heat and add the cognac.

    Remove from pan
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  8. Return to medium heat and scrape the bottom of the pan to dissolve the fond.

    Return to medium heat
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  9. When the cognac is mostly evaporated, add the stock and bring to a boil. Cook until thickened to the desired texture.

    Mix
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  10. Reduce heat to very low—the liquid should almost stop simmering before the next step. Stir in the sour cream, then the beef. Heat for a few minutes, just until sour cream is mixed in and the beef is warm.

    Stir mushrooms
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  11. Serve over egg noodles.

    Beef stroganoff for two
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  12. Just before serving, sprinkle with the dill, if using.

    Beef stroganoff
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Recipe Variations

  • If using raw beef, sprinkle it with a salt toss to distribute the salt. Let rest for 15 minutes. Once it has sat for about 15 minutes to help it come to room temperature, heat a couple of tablespoons of butter in a small saute pan until the foaming subsides. Sear the beef slices on both sides just until done. If necessary, work in batches, so you don't crowd the pan. Remove the meat and set aside. Add enough water to the pan to dissolve the browned fond on the bottom of the pan, scraping to get as much dissolved as possible. Add the cleaned mushrooms to the pan and follow the remaining steps as indicated above.