Alton Brown New York Steak Food

STEAK AU POIVRE

Steps:

• Remove the steaks from the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour prior to cooking. Sprinkle all sides with salt.
• Coarsely crush the peppercorns with a mortar and pestle, the bottom of a cast iron skillet, or using a mallet and pie pan. Spread the peppercorns evenly onto a plate. Press the fillets, on both sides, into the pepper until it coats the surface. Set aside.
• In a medium skillet over medium heat, melt the butter and olive oil. As soon as the butter and oil begin to turn golden and smoke, gently place the steaks in the pan. For medium-rare, cook for 4 minutes on each side. Once done, remove the steaks to a plate, tent with foil and set aside. Pour off the excess fat but do not wipe or scrape the pan clean.
• Off of the heat, add 1/3 cup Cognac to the pan and carefully ignite the alcohol with a long match or firestick. Gently shake pan until the flames die. Return the pan to medium heat and add the cream. Bring the mixture to a boil and whisk until the sauce coats the back of a spoon, approximately 5 to 6 minutes. Add the teaspoon of Cognac and season, to taste, with salt. Add the steaks back to the pan, spoon the sauce over, and serve.

PAN SEARED STEAK (FROM ALTON BROWN)

Steps:

• Remove steak(s) from fridge and start bringing them to room temperature.
• After 30 to 45 minutes, place a 10 to 12-inch cast iron skillet in oven and heat oven to 500 degrees F.
• When oven reaches temperature, remove the pan and place it on a burner over high heat.
• Coat steak(s) lightly with oil and season both sides with a generous pinch of salt. Grind on black pepper to taste.
• Immediately place steak(s) in the middle of the hot, dry pan. Cook 30 to 60 seconds without moving. Turn the steak(s) with tongs and cook another 30 to 60 seconds, then put the pan straight into the oven for 3 to 5 minutes. Flip steak(s) and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes. (The time in the oven depends on how rare you like your steaks. The time given is for medium, but depends on number of steaks, etc. as well.)
• Remove the steak(s) from the pan, cover loosely with foil, and rest for 2 minutes.
• Serve whole or slice thin and fan onto plate.

ELECTION NIGHT SIRLOIN STEAK

Steps:

• Coat the steak with 1 tablespoon of the salt and set on a rack inside a rimmed pan and leave at room temperature for 30 minutes. The steak should come up to somewhere between 45 and 50°F. Tear off an 18-inch long piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil and have it standing by near the cooktop
• When about 5 minutes of the salting time remains, place a 12-inch cast iron skillet over the highest heat you've got for a full 5 minutes. You will want to crank up your ventilation hood to high and open a window; there's gonna be smoke.
• Evenly sprinkle the remaining tablespoon of salt across the bottom of the hot skillet. Lightly coat both sides of the steak with the oil. Place right in the middle of the pan and don't touch it for 2 minutes. Flip and rotate 90 degrees so that the steak hits fresh pan (and fresh salt) and cook another 2 minutes, uninterrupted.
• Turn the steak up on one long edge and cook for 30 seconds, then turn and cook along the opposite edge for another 30. If you're checking, its internal temperature should be between 70° and 72°F. Transfer to the foil and wrap tightly for 3 minutes. During this time leave the skillet on the heat. (Did I mention there would be smoke?)
• After 3 minutes, unwrap the steak and place it back in the pan for 3 minutes, then flip and cook for another 3. Flip and cook another 2, then flip and cook a final 2 minutes. At this point, the internal temperature should be 120°F. (If you prefer your steak more on the rare side, decrease the final cook times to 2 minutes, 2 minutes, then 1 and 1. Its internal temperature should be between 105 and 110°F.)
• Return the steak to the foil and wrap tightly to rest for 5 minutes. Then unwrap and slice thin on the bias. Serve with any accumulated juices.

SIRLOIN STEAK

Steps:

• Preheat oven on broiler setting. Make foil 'snake' out of aluminum foil to use to keep oven door slightly ajar so that broiler won't turn off if it gets too hot. Brush steak with oil and salt and pepper, to taste. Place a piece of foil on the bottom rack as a drip pan. Place another rack in the position above this and put the steak directly on this rack. Cook steak in this position for 5 minutes. Flip steak and cook for another 5 minutes. Move rack with steak to top position in oven, moving rack with foil and drippings just underneath, and cook for 3 minutes. Flip 1 last time and cook for another 3 minutes. Transfer steak to wire rack and rest for 3 to 5 minutes. The above times are for medium doneness. Adjust cooking times up or down as desired.

STRIP STEAK WITH PEPPER CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees F.
• Sprinkle steaks with kosher salt and crushed black pepper. Heat butter in a 12-inch, heavy bottomed saute pan over medium heat. Once butter is hot, add steaks and cook until browned on both sides, about 2 minutes per side for medium-rare and 3 minutes per side for medium. Remove steaks from pan and place on a rack set on a sheet pan; place in oven to keep warm.
• Add the stock to the saute pan and whisk until the crispy bits release from bottom of pan. Allow the liquid to reduce for 3 to 4 minutes over medium-high heat. Add cognac, heavy cream, and green peppercorns to the pan. Increase heat to high and cook, whisking continually, until sauce thickens slightly, just enough to coat the back of a spoon; this will take 5 to 7 minutes.
• Season the sauce, to taste, with kosher salt. Place steaks on plates, top with sauce, and serve immediately.

SKIRT STEAK

Steps:

• Heat charcoal, preferably natural chunk, until grey ash appears. In a blender, put in oil, soy sauce, scallions, garlic, lime juice, red pepper, cumin, and sugar and puree. In a large heavy duty, zip top bag, put pieces of skirt steak and pour in marinade. Seal bag, removing as much air as possible. Allow steak to marinate for 1 hour in refrigerator.
• Remove steak from bag and pat dry with paper towels. Using a blow dryer, blow charcoal clean of ash. Once clean of ash lay steaks directly onto hot coals for 1 minute per side. When finished cooking, place meat in double thickness of aluminum foil, wrap, and allow to sit for 15 minutes.
• Remove meat from foil, reserving foil and juices. Slice thinly across the grain of the meat. Return to foil pouch and toss with juice. Serve with grilled peppers and onions, if desired.