Wurzfleisch -- Beef In A Sour Cream Sauce

Total Time: 2 hrs 10 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 4 tablespoons flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 2 lbs top round steaks (4 pieces, sliced 1/2 inch thick)
• 2 tablespoons butter or 2 tablespoons oil
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 6 whole black peppercorns
• 3 whole allspice
• 1 small bay leaf
• 1 whole clove
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 tablespoon madeira wine

Recipe

• 1 in a bowl, mix 3 tablespoons of the flour, salt and pepper.
• 2 dip the beef in the seasoned flour one at a time and shake off any extra flour.
• 3 in a heavy frying pan, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter over a high heat and the brown the beef quickly on both sides.
• 4 put the meat aside on a plate and add the remaining butter to the pan.
• 5 drop in the onions and cook over a medium heat for 5-8 minutes.
• 6 add the paprika, peppercorns, allspice, bay leaf and clove.
• 7 pour in the water and bring it to a boil.
• 8 return the meat to the pan, lower the heat and cover tightly.
• 9 simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, basting occasionally with the liquid.
• 10 when the meat can be easily pierced with a fork, transfer to a plate and cover to keep warm.
• 11 strain the cooking liquid through a sieve into a small bowl, pressing down hard on the onions before discarding them. there should be 1 1/2 to 2 cups of liquid. if there is less then add beef stock to make up the difference.
• 12 return the liquid to the skillet, bring to a simmer, then lower the heat.
• 13 with a whisk, beat the remaining flour into the sour cream.
• 14 a bit at a time, beat the sour cream into the liquid and cook, whisking all the time, until it thickens slightly.
• 15 don't let it boil.
• 16 return the beef to the skillet, baste it well with the sauce and cook just long enough to heat it through.
• 17 stir in the madeira and taste for seasoning.
• 18 serve with dumplings or boiled or mashed potatoes.