Mary Berrys Fillet Steak With Peppercorn Sauce Food

MARY BERRY'S FILLET STEAK WITH PEPPERCORN SAUCE

Steps:

• 1. Place the steaks between two pieces of cling film and flatten with your hand to about 5mm (½in) thick. Spread the butter over the steaks on both sides and season well with salt and pepper. 2. Heat a large non-stick frying pan or griddle pan until hot, add the steaks and fry over a high heat for 2 minutes on each side (see tip). Lift out to rest and keep warm, loosely covered in foil. 3. Pour the stock into the pan (no need to clean it first) and boil to reduce by half, then add the garlic, brandy, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, cream and crushed black peppercorns. Stir together as you bring to the boil over a high heat. Season with salt and allow the sauce to bubble away for a couple of minutes to reduce slightly - the consistency should be the thickness of pouring cream. Stir in the parsley and remove from the heat. 4. Spoon the sauce over the steaks, sprinkle with a little more parsley and serve with sauté potatoes and a green vegetable. PREPARE AHEAD: The steaks can be fried ahead and, once cooled, kept covered in the fridge for up to 12 hours. Top with a knob of butter and reheat on a baking sheet in a hot oven for 6 minutes. Serve at once. The sauce can be made up to a day ahead and reheated. MARY'S EVERYDAY TIPS: Rib-eye steak would also work well for this recipe. Keep your peppercorns chunky if you like some texture to the sauce. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side (depending on thickness) for steaks that are more well done.

FILLET WITH PEPPERCORN SAUCE

Steps:

• For the steaks: Sprinkle both sides of the steak with lemon pepper, seasoned salt and plenty of freshly ground black pepper. Grill for 2 to 3 minutes per side over high heat, and then a further 3 to 5 minutes over lower heat. Brush with melted butter as they cook.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce: Start by crushing the peppercorns with a rolling pin in a zip-top bag and set them aside.
• Next, heat a heavy ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat and melt the butter. Crumble in the beef bouillon cube. Whisk to combine. Then add the Dijon mustard to the skillet and whisk it around a bit. Pour in the brandy. Whisk the Dijon and brandy together until combined, and then let it bubble for about 45 seconds or so. Then pour in the heavy cream and the crushed peppercorns. Whisk it all together, allowing it to bubble for a few minutes to thicken. Spoon it over the grilled steaks.

FILLET OF BEEF WITH MIXED PEPPERCORN SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat a frying pan over a medium-to-high heat, then pour in the oil and the clarified butter. Season the steaks with salt and plenty of freshly ground black pepper and cook to your liking (2 mins each side for medium-rare, 3 mins each side for medium, depending on the thickness of your steaks). Be sure to seal the rounded edges, too. Transfer to a plate.
• Add the knob of butter to the pan, then fry the shallots, mushrooms and peppercorns over a medium heat for 5 mins, until the shallots have softened and the mushrooms browned. Return the steaks to the pan. Heat the brandy in a metal ladle, light with a match then carefully pour into the hot pan, standing as far back as you can. Once the pan has stopped flaming, remove the steaks again.
• Pour the wine into the pan, turn up the heat and boil rapidly until reduced by half. This will take about 5 mins. Add the stock and reduce again, this time by two-thirds. Stir the cream in to the sauce and allow it to thicken slightly. Check the sauce for seasoning, then return the fillets to the pan to warm through, spooning the sauce over. Serve straight away.