Strogonoff de Frango (Brazilian Chicken Stroganoff)
In short: Tender chicken strips and mushrooms in a creamy tomato and mustard sauce, served with rice and crunchy potato sticks. A Brazilian weeknight favorite. It takes about 50 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Resting
- 15 min
- Total
- 50 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 640 kcal
Strogonoff de frango is one of the most common family lunches in Brazil, made at home and ordered at self-service restaurants. It is a milder, sweeter cousin of the classic stroganoff: strips of chicken and mushrooms in a sauce of tomato ketchup, mustard and cream. It always arrives with white rice and a pile of crunchy potato sticks on top. The whole dish takes about an hour, including a short rest for the chicken.
Instructions
- Toss the chicken with the lime juice, salt and pepper. Rest for 15 minutes.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet over high heat. Brown the chicken in 2 batches, about 2 minutes per side. It will finish cooking in the sauce. Set aside.
- Lower the heat to medium and add the butter and remaining oil. Cook the onion for 4 minutes, then add the garlic for 1 minute.
- Add the mushrooms and cook for 6 minutes, until browned and their liquid has evaporated.
- Stir in the ketchup, mustard and Worcestershire sauce and cook for 1 minute. Return the chicken and its juices to the pan with 100 ml (1/3 cup) of water.
- Simmer for 5 minutes, until the chicken reaches 74°C (165°F) and the sauce has reduced slightly.
- Lower the heat and stir in the cream. Warm for 2 minutes without boiling hard. Taste, adjust the seasoning, and stir in the parsley. Serve with rice and potato sticks.
Tips
- Brazilian cooks use boxed table cream (creme de leite), which is lighter than heavy cream. If you use heavy cream, thin the sauce with a splash of milk.
- Boneless chicken thighs give juicier meat than breasts. Add 2 minutes to the simmering time.
Questions and answers
Why does Brazilian stroganoff use ketchup?
Ketchup and mustard give the sauce a sweet, tangy tomato base in place of sour cream and paprika. It is the flavor Brazilians expect from the dish.
Can I make it with beef?
Yes. Use thin strips of sirloin, brown them for 1 to 2 minutes and follow the same method. Beef takes less time than chicken.
What are the crunchy sticks on top?
They are batata palha, shoestring fried potatoes sold in bags in Brazilian and Latin stores. Crispy fried onions or fine potato chips can stand in.
How long does it take to make Strogonoff de Frango (Brazilian Chicken Stroganoff)?
About 50 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Strogonoff de Frango (Brazilian Chicken Stroganoff)?
About 640 kcal per serving, with 40 g of protein, 55 g of carbohydrates and 27 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 640 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 40 g |
| Carbohydrates | 55 g |
| Fat | 27 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 7 g |
| Sodium | 820 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
