Filet Mignon Au Poivre Food

FILET OF BEEF AU POIVRE

Steps:

• Place the filets on a board and pat them dry with paper towels. Sprinkle the filets with salt and then press the black pepper evenly on both sides. Allow to rest at room temperature for 15 minutes.
• Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons of the butter and the oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat until the butter almost smokes. Place the steaks in the pan and lower the heat to medium. Saute the steaks for 4 minutes on 1 side and then for 3 minutes on the other side, for medium rare. Remove the steaks to a serving platter and cover tightly with aluminum foil.
• Meanwhile, pour all but 1 tablespoon of fat from the saute pan. Add the shallots and cook over medium heat for 2 minutes. Add the beef broth and cook over high heat for 4 to 6 minutes, until reduced by half, scraping the brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the Cognac and cook for 2 more minutes. Off the heat, swirl in the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Serve the steaks hot with the sauce poured on top.

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.

FILET OF BEEF AU POIVRE

Steps:

• Plce the filets on a board and pat them dry with paper towels; sprinkle with salt and then press the black pepper evenly on both sides.
• Allow to rest at room temperature for 15 minute.
• Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons of the butter or margarine and the oil in large saute pan over med-high heat until it almost smokes. Place the steaks in pan and lower the heat to medium.
• Saute steaks for 4 minutes on one side and then 3 minutes on other side, for medium rare. Remove to a serving platter and cover tightly with aluminum foil.
• Meanwhile, pour all but 1 tablespoon of fat from the saute pan; add the shallots and cook over med heat for 2 minutes. Add the beef broth and cook over high heat for 4-6 minutes, until reduced by half, scraping the brown bits from the bottom of the pan.
• Add the Cognac and cook for 2 more minutes. Off the heat, swirl in the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
• Serve the steaks hot with the sauce poured on top; sprinkle with parsley, if desired.
• These would be wonderful with a side of mushrooms, a baked potato, asparagus, freshly baked bread and a lovely wine!

FILET MIGNON AU POIVRE WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATO DEMI-GLACE AND SAUTEED BRUSSELS SPROUTS

Steps:

• To make the tomato demi-glace, heat grapeseed oil in a medium saucepot over medium-high heat. Add garlic and scallions and saute lightly for 1 minute. Stir in sun-dried tomatoes, vinegar, beef base and liquid. Let reduce by half.
• Blanch Brussels sprouts until just tender and drain well. Fry bacon until crisp in a large skillet with oven safe handles and drain on paper towels. Pour most of the bacon fat from the pan and melt butter over medium heat in the same pan. Sprinkle paprika over the cut side of blanched Brussels sprouts and saute cut side down in butter, leaving undisturbed for a few minutes to let the caramelization process begin. Transfer to a bowl, crumble bacon over, toss lightly and keep warm. Reserve pan for the steak.
• Strain tomato demi-glace through a chinois into a small bowl. Cover and keep warm by nesting bowl into another bowl of hot water
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Mash garlic and cracked pepper together with a mortar and pestle and set aside briefly. Season filet mignon with salt and pepper. Heat grapeseed oil over medium-high heat in the same oven-safe saute pan. Sear steak leaving undisturbed for the first 2 minutes or so to let the caramelization process begin. Flip steaks and cook the other side in the same way. Cook to an internal temperature of 115 degrees F as measured with an instant-read thermometer for medium-rare, or done to your liking. Remove from heat and press garlic/pepper paste onto surface of steaks. Finish in oven until the crust becomes golden brown, about 2 to 5 minutes. (Remember to use an oven mitt to remove pan from oven.)
• Reheat demi-glace over low heat, remove from burner and whisk in cubed butter to make sauce silky.
• Arrange Brussels sprouts and filet mignon on plate. Spoon tomato demi-glace over steak and serve.

FILET MIGNON AU POIVRE

Steps:

• Trim the filets if necessary, removing all but the central true filet part, as well as the tough "silverskin." Salt and pepper lightly.
• Heat a heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the butter and turn the pan to distribute and melt it quickly. Put the steaks into the skillet. Scatter the chopped shallots around the steaks.
• Cook the steaks for three to five minutes per side. The steaks are ready to be turned when they come unstuck from the pan. (That doesn't always happen, but if the steak is really stuck down there it's probably not ready to turn yet.) If the steaks are thick, cook them on their sides as well as on their faces. About six to eight minutes of total cooking time will make for medium rare. (For perfect results, check with a meat thermometer.) Remove the steaks and keep warm.
• Add the brandy to the pan and bring to a boil. (Be careful: it may catch fire, which is all right for flavor but potentially dangerous.) With a whisk, dissolve the browned bits of meat in the brandy as it boils.
• When the brandy is almost boiled away, add the cream and cracked peppercorns (and the demi-glace, if you have it). Bring to a light boil and cook, agitating the pan to mix the ingredients, for three to five minutes, or until reduced by about a third.
• Place the steaks on warm plates and spoon on the sauce.

TOURNEDOS AU POIVRE ET CHAMPIGNONS(FILET AU POIVRE W/MUSHROOMS)

Steps:

• Mash peppercorns with a mallet or the back of a heavy pan.
• Press each side of the fillets into the cracked peppercorns and let the beef stand about an hour to absorb the flavor.
• Heat the butter and add the beef and sear about 8 minutes per side for rare, 10 for medium, 12 for well done.
• Remove the steaks to a platter and allow to rest.
• Add cognac to the pan and heat for just a few seconds and then set ablaze.
• Option 1: Boil the liquid about a minute then stir in additional butter, salt and cream.
• Bring to a boil, reduce heat, add mushrooms and saute till mushrooms are soft.
• Pour over fillets and sprinkle with parsley.
• Option 2: Skip the cream (but it's better with).