Each year, new trendy dishes take over the food scene, showing up in every cool restaurant and making their way to copycat recipes on Pinterest. This year, it was hard to escape from foods and drinks like matcha, turmeric, boozy ice cream, poké, and, of course, anything that could be deemed worthy of an Instagram photo. So it's a bit surprising that the most Googled recipe of 2017 isn't like any of those. It isn't super trendy and hip, it isn't exactly pretty enough for an Instagram photo, and it's certainly not even commonly served at restaurants.
According to Google, the most Googled recipe in the U.S. this past year is classic comfort food at its best: beef stroganoff. Yep — you read that right. Beef stroganoff. It sounds kind of random, I know, but Google's 2017 Year In Search actually shows that Americans seemed really into warm, comforting dishes like beef stroganoff; the other most Googled recipes included hash brown casserole, apple crisp, corn casserole, and chicken parmesan. Considering 2017 wasn't the best year in a political sense, it makes sense that people would turn to comfort food in an attempt to relax and feel happy. Warm, rich food like these dishes make people feel, as the name suggests, comforted.
Additionally, beef stroganoff might not be a dish that was super trendy amongst millennials in cafés and restaurants, but that actually makes sense too if you think about it: Millennials don't always cook a ton, and even if they do, they're generally getting the trendy foods at the restaurants and cafes that serve them. But something like beef stroganoff, that you don't necessarily find at any restaurant? That's something you'd have to Google a recipe for and learn how to make yourself.
If you've never had the dish, now is as good a time as any to learn how to make it — it's freezing out there, and this is one recipe that will help keep you cozy. This is a Russian dish traditionally made up of sautéed beef in a sauce made of sour cream, and it's been around forever. Like any other old recipe, though, this one has lots of different variations, and there are tons of different ways to make it. In the United States, for instance, it's typically served over wide egg noodles or pasta — but most authentic versions are over red stews.
Feeling hungry? Uh, yeah, same. But if you're anything like me, you probably don't know where to get started when it comes to making beef stroganoff. Don't worry, though: Considering it's the most Googled of 2017, there are clearly tons of recipes for the dish around the web. Here are a few recipes to try to get in on this popular dish:
Easy Beef Stroganoff
Gimme Some Oven has a recipe for the classic American version of beef stroganoff, complete with egg noodles, mushrooms, and a creamy sauce. It only takes 30 minutes to whip up.
Authentic Russian Beef Stroganoff
This recipe from Natasha's Kitchen is closer to the original Russian recipe. It doesn't use egg noodles, and instead suggests serving it over mashed potatoes or white rice.
Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
Make things even easier by cooking up your beef stroganoff in a slow cooker so that it will be done by the time you're home from work. A Spicy Perspective has a great recipe for crockpot beef stroganoff.
Beef Stroganoff French Bread Toasts
Put a twist on the classic recipe by making these toasts from Cooking For Keeps. It's not exactly the same as an authentic version, but it works.
