BEEF, MUSHROOM & 'CREAM' CASSEROLE, Frugal, plant opt

Popular 1950's 'special occasion' dish gets a budget-friendly plant-conscious make-over...

Low-carb Casserole of Beef, Mushroom & 'Cream'
with cauliflower & broccoli 

This could be called a 'poor man's beef stroganoff' - in a good way - and with beef prices relatively low, it seems daft not to take advantage.  

A large proportion of the population do still love meat, eat it and enjoy it.   67goingon50 is a big supporter of higher welfare meats.    

The original Stroganoff was popular in upmarket restaurants in the 1950's.  It consisted of flash-fried sirloin strips, mushrooms and cream.  

67's version is similar but more budget-friendly and also plant-conscious.  It uses cheaper braising or stewing steak and replaces dairy cream with plant-cream (like soya) OR low-fat plant or dairy creme fraiche OR thick strained plant or dairy yoghurt.  

Though it's as tasty and appealing as the original, you might not want to serve it on Christmas day.  But it will certainly be a great people-pleaser before or after the Big Feast.

It's a doddle to cook -- made in two stages and slow-cooks to melting tenderness.  Freezing is not recommended (with all that dairy) but it will be fine in the fridge up to 3 days. 


Cost: £6.50'ish 
Feeds: 4-6, with sides

Ingreds:
   500gm/17.5oz braising or casserole steak, trimmed of fat & gristle, cut into strips
   2 tsp veg oil
   1 large onion, sliced
   1 large garlic clove, finely grated
   2 tsp liquid stock, home-made/granules/cubes
   2tsp wholegrain mustard (Dijon will also do)
   
   30 gm olive oil
   130gm/generous 4.5oz mushrooms, chestnut for preference, thickly sliced or halved if small
   juice & zest of 2/3 lemon
   pinch thyme

   1 heaping tbsp corn or rice flour
   1 generous tbsp cold water

   1-2 tbsp brandy or whiskey or white grape juice (opt)

   125gm/4.4 0-fat dairy or plant-cream (like soya) OR low-fat plant or dairy creme fraiche OR thick strained plant or dairy yoghurt. (for home- strained regular yoghurt - see dressings)

   half a packet fresh parsley leaves, coarsely chopped - finely chopped stems can be included if tender 

Method:

KID-FRIENDLY FISHCAKES: healthy, easy, make-ahead

Ideal for kids to make and eat: simple, tasty, easily digested & healthy

 Fishcakes (half recipe)
'Crispy, very tasty, delightful' Taster

updated June 2022

These fishcakes are a popular family option.  They're and easy and fun for young kids to make and eat; and they end up wonderfully crispy without deep-frying.   

67's were inspired by an award-winning fish restaurant at St Pancras Station (where the blogger made dozens every week) and M&S's deliciously crusty fish & potato offerings.

They're frugal, whether you use tinned tuna as here, or opt for defrosted cooked white fish.  They don't require any non-standard ingredients.  

The secret to making great fishcakes is to never add milk to the potato.  Just season and flavour the potato until it tastes delicious, and only then add the fish. 

Cost: £2.50
Makes: 10 x 60 gm/2.2 oz fishcakes

Ingred:

   400 gm/ 14 oz cooked potatoes (pref baked and scraped from their skins)
   1-2 tbsp ketchup (spicy is good)
   1 tbsp Dijon mustard
   zest of a large lemon or two limes
   salt & pepper
   worcestershire sauce (opt)
   1 x 160g tuna, drained

  flour for dipping
  2 beaten eggs
  6 oz breadcrumbs (fresh homemade, blitzed in a blender, or store-bought) or panko crumbs

  1-2 tbsp olive oil

Method: