How to Season Meat for Beef Stroganoff

Beef stroganoff is a classic Russian dish that was named for a Count Stroganoff in the 19th century, although it is believed to have been around since before that time. One of the keys to the dish is the way you season the meat.

Instructions

1. Cut top round beef into thin strips. Cut across the grain to make the meat tender. If you cut with the grain, the meat will be stringy. Cut the strips into 1-inch cubes.

2. Mix together salt, fresh cracked pepper and allspice in a small bowl. Season the meat 2 hours before you intend to cook it and put it back in the refrigerator.

3. Take the meat out of the refrigerator 15 minutes before you are going to cook it. Let it sit so the meat reaches room temperature, which makes it cook more evenly.

4. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a pan, and then add the meat to brown. Follow the rest of your beef stroganoff recipe.