In Russian national cuisine, there are several dishes with non-Russian names: these include the cakes "Napoleon" and "Prague," meat a la française (abroad it is called Orlov meat), and perhaps the most famous, Beef Stroganoff. This dish has made its way into cookbooks around the world and can be found even in the most remote corners of the planet. It is named after Count Alexander Grigorievich Stroganov. There are several versions of its origin.

The dish originated in Odessa. In the mid-19th century, the hospitable Count Stroganov often hosted receptions at his home. He organized an open table, similar to a buffet, and loved to surprise his guests. Therefore, he tasked his chef with creating something original. Thus, a recipe with sautéed pieces of beef, stewed in a special sauce, and a simple side of boiled potatoes was born. According to another version, the chef invented this dish due to the aging aristocrat's dental problems, so the meat was made soft and tender. Regardless of its origin, the dish quickly became popular and gained fame beyond Odessa. Initially, it had no name and was referred to as meat a la Stroganoff.

A new chapter in the history of this dish began in the 1920s. Russian émigrés spread the recipe around the world. People in different countries began to adapt it to their tastes. For example, white mushrooms and sour cream disappeared from the original recipe. The name also changed to the English style, Beef Stroganoff. The dish gained particular popularity in the USA after World War II when soldiers returning from Europe began to cook it at home. Thus, in international cuisine, meat a la Stroganoff became established as the Russian dish Beef Stroganoff. Do you cook it at home?