Despite its name, this meat casserole has nothing to do with French cuisine. The dish became known as “French Meat” because an early version was prepared in Paris for Russian Count Orlov, a favorite of Catherine the Great.
The original dish, known as “Orlovskiy Veal,” was made with layers of veal, potatoes, onions, and mushrooms baked in béchamel sauce and topped with cheese. Over the years, the recipe was simplified and adapted using beef, chicken, or pork, while the béchamel sauce was often replaced with cream, mayonnaise, or sour cream.
This dish is one of our family favorites, and I remember helping to make it since I was a child. It was always served for holidays and special occasions.
There are several variations of this dish, including versions with sliced potatoes or sautéed mushrooms. I personally prefer it without them, but feel free to add either if you like.
Use the structured ingredient and direction fields below for cooking. The recipe source is Delights of Culinaria.
- Step 1
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Step 2
Pound the beef slices on both sides to tenderize them.
- Step 3
Sprinkle some of the chopped onion over the bottom of an 8×11-inch glass baking dish.
- Step 4
Arrange a layer of tenderized beef over the onions.
- Step 5
Season the beef with salt and black pepper.
- Step 6
Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise over the meat.
- Step 7
Add another layer of chopped onion.
- Step 8
Cover generously with shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Step 9
Repeat the layering process for another 1–2 layers, making up to 3 layers total.
- Step 10
Spray one side of a sheet of aluminum foil with nonstick cooking spray. Cover the casserole with the sprayed side facing the cheese so the melted cheese does not stick.
- Step 11
Bake for approximately 2 hours, or until the meat is very tender.
- Step 12
Serve hot with your favorite side dish. The original author's favorites are mashed potatoes or buckwheat.
- Calories:564 kcal28%
- Protein:56 g112%
- Carbohydrates:7 g3%
- Sugar:3 g6%
- Salt:0.9 g15%
- Energy:2,360 kJ28%
- Fat:33 g47%
French Meat Casserole is a Delights of Culinaria recipe built around Beef Tri Tip, Onions, Mozzarella Cheese. This import keeps the source ingredient measurements and turns the preparation into clear Platea recipe steps. It is filed as main course and yields about 8 servings.
Use the structured ingredient and direction fields below for cooking. The recipe source is Delights of Culinaria.
