Description
Old-Fashioned Swiss Steak is a classic comfort food featuring tender cube steak simmered in a rich tomato-based gravy with vegetables. This hearty dish is perfect for a cozy family dinner and pairs wonderfully with mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or rice.
Ingredients
Scale
Steak Coating
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
Main Ingredients
- 2 lbs cube steak or round steak, sliced
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 1–2 stalks celery, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 8 oz mushrooms, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp sugar
- Pinch of celery seed (optional)
For Thickening (Optional)
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsp water
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C) to prepare for slow cooking the steak in the oven-safe pot.
- Coat and Brown Steak: In a mixing bowl, combine flour, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Coat the steak slices evenly in this mixture. Heat vegetable oil in a large oven-safe pot over medium-high heat and brown the coated steak pieces on both sides. Remove them from the pot and set aside.
- Sauté Vegetables: Using the same pot, add diced onion, celery, green bell pepper, and sliced mushrooms. Sauté until softened. Add minced garlic and tomato paste, cooking for 1 to 2 minutes to enhance flavor.
- Add Liquids and Seasoning: Stir in the diced tomatoes, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, sugar, and optionally, celery seed. Mix well and return the browned steak pieces into the pot, submerging them in the liquid.
- Bake Until Tender: Cover the pot with a lid and place it in the preheated oven. Bake for 1½ to 2 hours until the steak becomes fork-tender and absorbs the rich flavors.
- Optional Thickening: If desired, create a slurry by mixing cornstarch and water. Stir this into the pot and simmer on stovetop for a few minutes until the gravy thickens to your preferred consistency.
- Serve: Serve the Swiss steak hot over mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or rice for a satisfying meal.
Notes
- Cube steak is ideal for this recipe due to its tenderness and ability to absorb flavors.
- For gluten-free variation, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.
- Adjust vegetable quantities based on preference or availability.
- The optional cornstarch slurry helps thicken the gravy, but you can skip this if you prefer a thinner sauce.
- Leftovers keep well refrigerated for 3-4 days and reheat beautifully.
