Ukrainian Fillet of Beef with Sour Cream Sauce

[Olga Drozd]

Ukrainian Fillet of Beef with Sour Cream Sauce

3 pounds fillet of beef or eye round, rolled and tied securely at 1-inch intervals
1/2 pound onions, sliced
1 cup diced celery
2/3 cup diced carrots
1 cup diced parsnips
1/4 cup diced bacon
8 peppercorns
4 whole allspice
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon thyme
1 Tablespoon melted butter
2 cups beef or chicken stock, fresh or canned (plus 1/2 cup if needed)

SAUCE:

1 Tablespoon lemon juice
2 cups sour cream
2 Tablespoons flour

Place the beef in a 4 or 5 quart casserole or saucepan and add the onions, celery, carrots, parsnips, bacon, peppercorns, allspice, bay leaves. salt, a few grindings of pepper and the thyme.  Dribble the melted butter evenly over the meat and vegetables.  Marinate the meat in this mixture for at least 24 hours.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Bake the fillet, uncovered, in the middle of the oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the vegetables and meat are lightly browned, turning the meat once during this time.  Lower the temperature to 350 degrees F.  Pour 2 cups of stock, first brought to a boil in a saucepan, into the casserole and bake for 1 hour longer, turning the meat occasionally.  Add more stock only if the liquid seems to be cooking away too rapidly. Arrange the finished beef on a platter and keep it warm in a 200 degree F. oven while you make the sauce.

THE SAUCE:  Pour the contents of the casserole through a sieve, pressing hard on the vegetables with a wooden spoon  before discarding them, then return the stock to the casserole.  Bring the sauce to a simmer over medium heat. In a mixing bowl, add 2 Tablespoons of the sauce to the sour cream, then beat in the flour with a wire whisk.  Stir the mixture into the casserole.  Cook for 3 to 4 minutes without boiling.  Add the lemon juice.  Taste for seasoning.  Serve the beef sliced and the sauce separately.  Serves 6.