“Whenever my husband desires this dish, I gladly prepare it, calling it ‘Hubby’s Bliss.’”
This classic comfort dish uses budget-friendly round steak that’s tenderized, lightly floured, and slowly baked in a savory tomato gravy until it becomes meltingly tender.
Old-Fashioned Swiss Steak
Ingredients:
- 1½ pounds round steak, about ½ inch thick
- Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (14½-ounce) can diced tomatoes with their juices
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ cup beef broth or water
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- Chopped fresh parsley (optional), for serving
Instructions:
Step 1: Heat Oven & Prep the Meat
Set your oven to 325°F (165°C). Trim excess fat from the steak and slice it into portion-sized pieces. Season both sides generously with salt and pepper.
Step 2: Flour the Steak
Place the flour in a shallow plate or bowl. Lightly coat each piece of steak in the flour, shaking away any extra.
Step 3: Brown the Meat
Warm the oil in a large Dutch oven or oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the steak on both sides until nicely golden, roughly 3 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.
Step 4: Sauté the Aromatics
Using the same pan, cook the sliced onion until it softens, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for one additional minute without letting it burn.
Step 5: Build the Sauce
Place the browned steak pieces back into the pan, arranging them over the onions. Add the tomatoes and their juices. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, broth, oregano, and thyme.
Step 6: Slow-Bake
Let the mixture come to a light simmer. Cover tightly with a lid or foil, transfer to the oven, and bake for 1½ to 2 hours, or until the steak is so tender it can be pierced easily with a fork.
Step 7: Enjoy
Carefully remove the pan from the oven. Serve the Swiss steak warm, sprinkled with parsley if you like.
