Ella Walter
Swiss steak is a comforting classic that involves slow-cooking a tough cut of beef, such as round steak, and braising it in a tomato sauce. While traditional recipes require over an hour of cooking, skillet Swiss steak is a quicker alternative that delivers the same flavour and comfort. To make Swiss steak in a skillet, you first dredge the steak in flour and brown it in a pan. You then add vegetables and sauce ingredients like tomatoes, onions, and garlic, and simmer until tender. The entire process takes about 30 minutes, making it a convenient weeknight meal.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Dish | Main course |
| Cuisine | American |
| Main Ingredient | Beef |
| Cooking Time | 30 minutes (skillet) to 1 hour or more (traditional) |
| Cooking Method | Pan-frying, braising |
| Cooking Utensils | Skillet, baking sheet, oven |
| Seasonings | Salt, pepper, thyme, sage, marjoram |
| Side Dishes | Roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, corn, egg noodles, rice |
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What You'll Learn
What is Swiss steak?
Swiss steak is a dish of meat, usually beef, that is prepared using a technique called "swissing", which involves tenderizing the meat by pounding or rolling it before braising. The name "Swiss steak" does not refer to Switzerland but to the process of tenderizing the meat. It is a classic comfort food dish that is easy to make and full of flavour.
Swiss steak is typically made with a relatively tough cut of beef, such as a round steak, which is then tenderized using a mallet or a Swissing tool. The meat is then coated in flour and browned before being braised in a tomato-based sauce with vegetables and seasonings. The vegetables commonly used include onions, celery, carrots, and garlic, while the seasonings can include salt, pepper, thyme, sage, marjoram, and Worcestershire sauce. The dish can be made in an oven or on a stovetop, with the oven method taking longer to cook than the stovetop method.
There are variations to the Swiss steak recipe, with some adding mushrooms, bell peppers, or other root vegetables, while others use dry herbs such as oregano. The meat can also be cut into smaller pieces before being pounded and cooked, resulting in a quicker cooking time.
Swiss steak is a versatile dish that can be adapted to personal preferences and cooking times. It is a family favourite that provides a hearty and comforting meal, perfect for a weeknight dinner.
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How to pan-fry Swiss steak
Swiss steak is a method of slow-cooking a relatively tough cut of beef, such as a round steak, until it's tender. The meat is browned, and then braised in a tomato sauce. While the traditional Swiss steak recipe involves over an hour of cooking, there are quicker methods to pan-fry Swiss steak. Here is a detailed guide on how to do it.
Preparation
Ask your butcher for four equal-size cube steaks (about 4 ounces each) so they cook evenly. Cube steak is usually from the top round or top sirloin, a tougher cut, that is tenderized by pounding or rolling thin by the butcher.
Cooking
Preheat your oven to 200°F. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Mix flour, salt, and pepper together on a large plate. Dredge the cube steak by pressing it into the flour to coat it lightly. Place the dredged steak into the hot skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side, reducing the heat to medium if the pan gets too hot. Transfer to a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven.
Sauce
Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil in the pan over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic to the pan and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, using a metal spatula to scrape up any steak drippings, mixing them in with the onions. Add herbs like thyme, sage, and marjoram to the onions. You can also add sautéed peppers, onions, and tomatoes to make a quick, savory sauce. Finally, pour the sauce over the steaks and serve.
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What ingredients are needed to make a sauce for Swiss steak?
Swiss steak is a comforting classic that involves slow-cooking a tough cut of beef, such as round steak, to tenderise the meat. The dish is typically cooked in a tomato-based sauce, with vegetables like potatoes, carrots, and onions.
To make a sauce for Swiss steak, you will need the following ingredients:
- Tomatoes: Fresh tomatoes or canned tomato purée can be used.
- Seasonings: Salt, pepper, garlic, thyme, and other herbs like sage and marjoram are commonly used to flavour the sauce.
- Vegetables: Onions, bell peppers, and garlic are often added to the sauce. Some recipes also include carrots, green beans, or potatoes cooked in the tomato-based sauce.
- Worcestershire sauce: This is an optional ingredient that can add a savoury flavour to the sauce.
- Cornstarch: Cornstarch mixed with water can be used to thicken the tomato gravy if desired.
The exact ingredients and quantities may vary depending on personal preference and the specific recipe being followed.
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How long does it take to cook Swiss steak?
Swiss steak is a method of slow-cooking a relatively tough cut of beef, such as a round steak. The meat is browned, then braised in a tomato sauce. The "'Swiss" in Swiss Steak refers to the process of tenderizing a tough cut of meat. The traditional Swiss steak recipes depend on over an hour of low and slow cooking to tenderize the meat and create a flavorful sauce. However, there are quicker methods that can be used to cook Swiss steak in under 30 minutes.
If you are cooking Swiss steak on the stovetop, you will need to cook the steak for approximately 10 minutes on each side to brown the steak. After removing the steak from the pan, you can add onions and garlic to the pan and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes. Once done, return the steak to the pan, placing it on top of the onions. Add the puréed tomatoes to the pan. Cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid and cook for 1.5 hours. Thus, the total cooking time for this recipe is 2 hours and 20 minutes.
If you want to cook the steak in the oven, preheat your oven to 300°F. Rub flour into both sides of the steak and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place the steak in a roasting pan lined with foil and cook the steak in the oven for 2.5 to 3 hours.
If you are short on time, you can try a quicker version of the Swiss steak recipe that can be cooked in under 30 minutes. For this recipe, you need to preheat the oven to 200°F. Sprinkle steaks with salt and pepper. Place flour in a shallow dish and dredge the steaks in it. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and cook the steaks for 2 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer the steaks to a baking sheet and keep them warm in the oven.
Thus, depending on the recipe and the cooking method, the cooking time for Swiss steak can vary from 30 minutes to 3 hours.
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What sides go well with Swiss steak?
Swiss steak is a comforting classic that involves slow-cooking a tough cut of beef, such as round steak, and then braising it in a tomato sauce. It is often cooked with vegetables like potatoes and carrots, but there are many other sides that can be served with Swiss steak.
One option is to cook the steak with vegetables, either by braising them with the steak or cooking them separately and serving them as a side. For example, you can braise potatoes and carrots in the tomato-y braising liquid alongside the steak. To ensure that the vegetables cook through, you can par-cook them by steaming or boiling them until they are no longer raw but still crunchy, and then add them to the pan with the steak towards the end of cooking. Other vegetables that can be served as a side include green beans, Brussels sprouts, and roasted vegetables like hasselback potatoes and Brussels sprouts.
If you're looking for something other than vegetables, bread is a great option for dipping in the rich tomato gravy. You can also serve Swiss steak with roasted potatoes or mashed potatoes. For a fancier option, consider twice-baked baby potatoes with a mild flavor, such as Greek-style lemony potatoes.
Other side dishes that go well with Swiss steak include mac and cheese, fries, and grilled asparagus. You can also sauté onions, mushrooms, and summer squash as a side dish.
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Frequently asked questions
Swiss steak is a method of slow-cooking a relatively tough cut of beef, such as a round steak. The meat is browned, then braised in a tomato sauce.
To pan-fry Swiss steak, first dredge the steak in flour and season with salt and pepper. Then, heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat and cook the steaks for 2-4 minutes on each side until browned.
After browning the steak in a pan, braise the steak in the oven at 300°F for 1.5 hours. If you want to cook vegetables with the steak, add them after 1 hour and cook for another 30 minutes.
