Braised Steak Au Poivre In Red Wine Food

CLASSIC STEAK AU POIVRE

Steps:

• If you've got time, prepare your steak au poivre one or several hours ahead. Begin by crushing the peppercorns very coarsely with a pestle and mortar (if you don't have a pestle and mortar then use the back of a tablespoon and crush them on a flat surface). Now take a shallow dish, large enough to hold 2 steaks comfortably side by side, then pour 1 tablespoon of the olive oil mixed with half a clove of the crushed garlic into the dish. Then coat each steak evenly on both sides with the crushed peppercorns, pressing them in firmly. Lay the steaks in the dish and spoon the other tablespoon of oil and the rest of the garlic over them. Cover with clingfilm and leave them aside for several hours, turning them over once. When you're ready to cook the steaks, you need a thick-based frying pan. Place it over a very high heat and let it preheat until it's very hot indeed - the more daring you can be in getting the pan really hot, the better the finished steak will be! Now quickly drop each steak directly into the pan. Sear them quickly on both sides - give them about 1 minute on each side. Then lower the heat and cook them how you want them. Some people like them 'blue', which means seared only and very rare; for medium rare give them 3 more minutes, and for well done, 4 more minutes. Either way, 1 minute before the end of the cooking time, pour in the wine, then let it bubble and reduce down to a syrupy consistency about one-third of its original volume. This whole process will be very brief. Sprinkle with salt and serve the steaks as quickly as possible with the wine sauce poured over. If you want to be really French, serve with frites and a green salad.

BRAISED STEAK AU POIVRE

Steps:

• First heat the oil in the casserole and fry the onion in it for 5 minutes. While that's happening, prepare the meat: crush the peppercorns with a pestle and mortar (or with the back of a tablespoon on a flat surface) - they need to be coarsely crushed. Next, mix the crushed peppercorns with the flour on a flat plate and spread the mixture out evenly. Press the meat on to the mixture to get the underside well coated, then turn it over and do the same with the other side, pressing and patting the flour and pepper firmly into the meat. Now remove the onion to a small plate, turn the heat right up and when it's really hot, quickly brown the meat on both sides, scraping any flour-and-pepper from the plate into the casserole as well. Then turn the heat down, return the onion together with the garlic and some salt, pour in the wine, then put the lid on and let it simmer - as gently as possible - for 1¼ to 1½ hours, depending on the thickness of the steak. When it's ready, remove the lid, turn the heat right up and let the sauce bubble and reduce to a more syrupy consistency (about 1-2 minutes). Then stir in the cream till it's thoroughly blended - and that's it. Lovely with creamy mashed potatoes - see our Cookery School Video for Perfect Mashed Potatoes on this page.

STEAK AU POIVRE WITH RED WINE SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat skillet over high heat.
• Season steaks w salt and press 1 T peppercorns on each steak.
• Place steaks unpeppered side down in skillet.
• Turn heat to medium-high.
• Sear for 6 minutes, then turn and cook 3 minutes for rare, 4 minutes for medium-rare, 5 minutes for medium.
• Remove steaks, cover and allow to rest.
• Use same pan to make sauce. Turn heat to medium. Add shallots and garlic and cook until soft.
• Add wine and broth, simmer until reduced by half.
• Stir in butter and thyme, until thickened.
• Salt and pepper to taste. Spoon over sliced steaks.
• Serve with french fries!

BRAISED BEEF IN RED WINE

Steps:

• A day ahead, marinate the beef. Bring the wine to the boil in a large saucepan, then boil until reduced by a third to remove the alcohol (takes about 8-10 mins). Leave to cool for about 1 hr. Mix the beef steaks, carrots, celery, baby onions, garlic, crushed peppercorns and bouquet garni together in 1 or 2 large bowls, then pour the cooled red wine over them. Cover with cling film, put in the fridge and leave to marinate for 24 hrs.
• The next day, place a large colander over a large bowl and tip in the beef mixture to drain off the marinade. Leave for at least 1 hr to remove excess liquid.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Sprinkle the flour on a baking sheet and cook for 8-10 mins until it has turned pale brown. Set aside. Reduce oven to 150C/130C fan/gas 2.
• Separate the beef, vegetables and herbs and pat dry with kitchen paper. Reserve the marinade liquid. Season the beef with 4 pinches of salt. In a large, heavy-based casserole over a high heat, warm the clarified butter, then colour the beef steaks in it for 5-7 mins on each side - in batches if necessary. (To clarify butter, warm it gently in a small pan. The white milk solids will sink to the bottom, then you can carefully pour off the clear, clarified butter.) With a slotted spoon, transfer the beef to a plate and set aside. Add the drained vegetables to the casserole. Lower the heat to medium-high and cook for 5 mins until lightly coloured, stirring occasionally.
• Tip the toasted flour into the casserole and stir for a few secs. Pour in the marinade wine little by little, stirring constantly to incorporate it into the flour and until the sauce is smooth and slightly thickened. Add the beef and herbs, bring the sauce to the boil and skim if necessary. Cover with a lid and cook in the oven for 3 hrs.
• To finish the sauce, place a colander (big enough to hold the meat and veg) over a large saucepan and drain off the cooking liquor from the casserole. Put the saucepan on a high heat and boil until the sauce has reduced by about half to make a lightly coating sauce. Skim if necessary. Taste the sauce. Do not add any salt as you will be adding the smoked ham or lardons later. Return the beef and vegetables to the casserole, then pour over the sauce (discarding the herbs).
• For the garnish, heat the butter over a high heat in a large non-stick frying pan, then fry the mushrooms until lightly caramelised, adding a little more butter if necessary. Season to taste. Mix into the beef with the finely sliced ham or freshly fried lardons. Heat through, sprinkle with the parsley and serve piping hot.

STEAK AU POIVRE

Steps:

• Crack peppercorns in a mortar or pestle or with a rolling pin. Press cracked peppercorns into the steaks.
• Heat butter in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add steaks; cook, turning with tongs, until browned, about 2 minutes per side. Reduce heat to medium and cook steaks, turning often, until they begin to firm up and are hot and slightly pink in the center, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer steaks to a plate and cover to keep warm.
• Stir shallot into the skillet. Pour in cognac and red wine; simmer, stirring constantly, until reduced, about 2 minutes. Pour in beef broth and simmer, scraping browned bits off the bottom of the skillet, until sauce is smooth, about 2 minutes. Stir in cream; cook until heated through, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Pour cream sauce over steaks.

FILET MIGNON AU BORDELAISE - STEAK IN RED WINE WITH SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Put butter and oil in a heavy skillet over high heat. When the butter has foamed and begins to subside it is right for the steak.
• Fry steak on one side 4 to 5 minutes. Turn steak and brown on other side 4 to 5 minutes (for medium-rare), depending on desired degree of doneness. Test for doneness by cutting a small incision in the steak (just a very small incision, about the same size as a meat thermometer makes!).
• Remove steak to a hot platter and sprinkle lightly with coarse sea salt and freshly-ground black pepper. Keep warm (cover and place in a 250 degree F oven).
• Add dry red wine, cognac, demi glace or beef stock, mushrooms and shallots to skillet and cook over high heat. Scrape up brown bits from bottom of the pan and boil until liquid is reduced almost to a syrup. Remove from heat and stir in the softened butter until it has melted. Pour sauce over steak.
• Top with a dab of crumbled Roquefort cheese, sprinkle with snipped fresh parsley and garnish with a sprig of rosemary, if desired.
• Wonderful served with Alsatian baked potatoes or Gratin Dauphinois, steamed seasonal vegetables or a tossed green salad, and ripe fresh berries in chantilly cream for dessert.

BEEF BRAISED IN RED WINE

Steps:

• Place the meat in a bowl, add the wine and one-half cup of the onions. Cover and refrigerate overnight, but no more than 16 hours.
• The next day, remove the meat from the wine marinade, reserving the marinade. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pat the meat dry on paper towels.
• Heat the oil in a heavy three-quart casserole, add the beef and brown it on all sides. Remove the meat from the casserole and add the remaining onions and cook over medium-low heat until tender and lightly browned. Stir in the garlic.
• Add the stock and the reserved marinade. Bring to a simmer, scraping the bottom of the pan. Stir in salt and pepper to taste, the bay leaf and rosemary. Return the meat to the casserole.
• Cover the casserole and place in the oven. Bake for about two hours, until the meat is tender.
• To serve at once, remove the meat from the casserole and slice it. Arrange on a platter. Reheat the sauce and check seasonings. Spoon some of the hot sauce over the meat and pass the rest alongside.
• Alternatively, the meat can be refrigerated overnight in the cooking liquid, and the next day the meat can be sliced and the sauce reheated before serving. Doing this will improve both the flavor and texture of the meat and will also allow the layer of chilled fat on the surface of the liquid to be removed and discarded.