Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Swiss Steak & Noodles


Swiss Steak - an American classic that has nothing to do with Switzerland. Instead, the term was an early 20th-Century word that had to do with tenderizing an otherwise tough (and frugal) cut of meat.

The way that works in this recipe is a combination of pounding the beef thin with a tenderizer mallet, and cooking it slowly with acidic tomatoes, which further breaks down the tough m,eat and transforms it into a rich, flavorful dish.

My grandmother and mother did this and I'm betting  yours did, too.  If you've never tried it, give it a try and I'll bet your family will have a new comfort dish that won't break the grocery budget.

(Note: I use a cooking bag for mine, but a lidded casserole dish works fine, too, of course. Just expect to have to do a bit of soaking and scrubbing)

As with so many everyday meals, this is quite variable by preference and what you have on hand - onions and mushrooms can be removed if you like, other veggies can be added as desired (try some frozen peas and carrots or some spinach) as long as you keep the tomatoes.  You could even add some diced potatoes.

Spices can take you just about anywhere you like from Italian to Mexican to Middle Eastern - or stick to a good shake of salt and pepper to please your great-grandmother's palate.  I'm not including specific spices here - what I do entirely depends on what I'm in the mood for that day.

Also, most recipes call for a bit of flour to thicken  the sauce, but if you're rather not, it is still delicious and flavorful without it.

In other words - this isn't a recipe to fuss about.  It's one to get a hearty dinner on the table using what you have.  And goodness knows, we all need a few of those to keep on hand.

Swiss Steak
(serves 4-6)

1 Tblsp flour
1.5 - 2 lbs round, flank or chuck steak (I used a London broil)
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 pint sliced mushrooms
1 large can of diced roasted tomatoes
1 Tblsp. minced jarred garlic (or fresh)
1 Tblsp. Worchestershire sauce
Herbs & Spices to taste
Salt & Pepper to taste
1/3 cup flour (optional)
1 Tblsp. flour (optional)
1 cooking bag (optional)

Open a cooking bag into a shallow baking pan, and sprinkle with 1 Tblsp. flour.

Cut the steak into serving portions, and pound thin.  Season with salt and pepper.

Layer half the onions and half the mushrooms to the bag inside the pan, then lay out the tenderized steaks. Cover with the remaining vegetables.

Mix together tomatoes, Worchestershire, garlic and all seasonings, along with flour if desired.  Pour this sauce over the top of the meat and veggies, coating as evenly as possible.

Leaving some airspace above the Swiss Steak, seal the bag according to manufacturer instructions, and stab the bag a few times with a knife to create air vents.

Bake at 325F for 2 hours or so - longer times at low temperatures will make this more tender.

Serve topped over rice, mashed potatoes or - as I like it, flat egg noodles and a seasonal vegetable.


Enjoy!



17 comments:

  1. Lynda, this is great. My Mother-in-Law made Swiss Steak and I could never get the hang of it. My meat always came out tough. I will have to try your method so my husband can once again enjoy a favorite from his Mom's collection.
    Thank you.
    Janis

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  2. Hi, Lynda. This looks great, however, as it's not in line with the raw fish theme for #FishFridayFoodies, I've asked Wendy to remove it from the linky. Sorry. Still, I can't wait to try this recipe soon.

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  3. It sounds an interesting idea! I think I'd replace the mushrooms though as they are my culinary arch-nemesis!!! Dropping by from Claire Justine's!x

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  4. I have a fear of making anything steak coz I am afraid the beef will be tough. Does the mallet really works every time? This looks so delicious and you make it sound like it is vert easy to make steak. Thanks for sharing and for the inspiration. Happy Fiesta Friday!

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  5. I haven't had Swiss Steak since I was a kid. I think I need to add this to the meal rotation around here.

    Thanks for sharing on #FridayFrivolity.

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  6. It looks very delicious, the steak looks tender after the longer cooking time.

    Kathleen
    Blogger's Pit Stop

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  7. I've never made Swiss steak. Thanks for sharing at Sew It Cook It Craft It!

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  8. This looks so good, I use to purchase baking bags all the time. I need to do it again, they make meat so tender. great recipe.

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  9. This looks so tasty I must try this recipe

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  10. I've heard of Swiss Steak but have never tried it! Thank you for sharing this easy recipe! Thanks for linking up at The Blended Blog!

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  11. Looks very yummy! I haven't made swiss steak for quite some time. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  12. My mother used to make Swiss Steak. How I would love to eat again. Thanks for the recipe, I'll be trying it soon!

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  13. My mom used to make something similar and it was a family favorite. I'm sure this will be also, it looks delicious! Thank you for sharing with us this week at Celebrate Your Story, have a great week and a Happy Holiday.

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  14. Congratulations!
    Your recipe was featured on Full Plate Thursday Top Ten. Your recipe has been pinned to our Feature's and thanks so much for sharing with us!
    Miz Helen

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  15. I love family recipes like this - and this is real comfort food! Thank you for sharing your Swiss Steak Recipe with us at The Hearth and Soul Link Party! Hope to 'see' you again this week :-)

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