Tender Beef and Sweet Potato Sauté

Name: Tender Beef and Sweet Potato Sauté
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 lb (450 g) boneless beef sirloin or other grilling steak; 1 tsp (5 mL) ground cumin; 1/4 tsp (1 mL) ground cinnamon; Salt and pepper to taste; 1 tbsp (15 mL) butter; 1 onion halved and thinly sliced; 2 cups (500 mL) peeled diced sweet potato (about 1); 3/4 cup (180 mL) reduced-sodium beef broth; 2 tbsp (30 mL) all-purpose flour; 1 1/2 cups (375 mL) Milk; 1 green bell pepper chopped; 2 tbsp (30 mL) tomato paste; 1/4 cup (60 mL) slivered almonds toasted (optional)

Our dietitians' favourite

This recipe is taken from the 2010 Milk Calendar. With a touch of Cuban flavour, this quick, one-dish meal will add a little Latin flair and spice to your dinner. It’s wonderful on its own or you can serve it over rice or couscous with a marinated cucumber and tomato salad on the side.

Prep: 15 min
Cooking: 20 min - 25 min

Yields 4 servings

Tender beef, mild sweet potatoes and crunchy green peppers blend harmoniously to create a recipe that will surprise you with its ease of execution. A comforting meal that is sure to spice up your family dinner. It’s the perfect way to chase away those dreary November days!

Ingredients

1 lb (450 g) boneless beef sirloin or other grilling steak
1 tsp (5 mL) ground cumin
1/4 tsp (1 mL) ground cinnamon
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp (15 mL) butter
1 onion halved and thinly sliced
2 cups (500 mL) peeled diced sweet potato (about 1)
3/4 cup (180 mL) reduced-sodium beef broth
2 tbsp (30 mL) all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups (375 mL) Milk
1 green bell pepper chopped
2 tbsp (30 mL) tomato paste
1/4 cup (60 mL) slivered almonds toasted (optional)

READY FOR REWARDS?

Preparation

Trim off fat from beef and cut across the grain into thin strips. In a bowl, sprinkle beef with cumin, cinnamon and 1/4 tsp (1 mL) each, salt and pepper. In a large skillet, melt half of the butter over medium-high heat. Brown beef strips in three batches, adding more of the butter as necessary; transfer to a clean bowl.

Reduce heat to medium. Melt remaining butter in skillet; add onion and sweet potato and sauté for about 3 min or until onion is softened. Add beef broth, increase heat to medium-high and bring to a boil, scraping up browned bits. Whisk flour into milk and gradually stir into skillet; bring to a boil, stirring. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring often, for about 5 min or until sweet potatoes are almost tender.

Stir in green bell pepper. Simmer, stirring often, for 3 min or until it is tender-crisp and sauce has thickened. Stir in beef with accumulated juices and tomato paste; simmer for 2 min or until beef is hot. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve sprinkled with almonds (if using).

Tips

Cooking the beef in small batches in a hot pan ensures good browning, flavour and tenderness.

Toasting the almonds makes them much more flavourful. Toast in a small dry skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly, for about 2 min or until golden and fragrant.

For the Adventurous: Add 1/4 to 1/2 tsp (1 to 2 mL) cayenne pepper with beef. Stir in 1/4 cup (60 mL) each, raisins and sliced green olives and 1 tbsp (15 mL) drained capers with green bell pepper.