Seared Filet Mignon Food

THE PERFECT FILET MIGNON

Steps:

• Pat the steaks dry, then sprinkle with 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Firmly press the seasoning into the meat.
• Heat the oil in a medium stainless steel skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking, about 2 minutes. Add the steaks and cook until a golden crust forms, about 2 minutes. Flip with tongs and cook until golden on the second side, about 2 minutes (see Cook's Note). Flip again and cook for 2 minutes. Flip once more and add 4 tablespoons of the butter and the thyme and garlic. Let cook, undisturbed, until the butter stops foaming, 1 to 2 minutes. Tilt the pan slightly so the butter pools and spoon it over the steaks. Continue to cook the steaks, basting constantly, until they are medium rare and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center registers 118 degrees F, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Transfer the steaks to a plate to rest. Discard the garlic, thyme and fat from the skillet, but do not wipe out the browned bits.
• Place the same skillet over medium heat and add the shallots and 1 tablespoon butter. Cook, scraping up the browned bits with a wooden spoon, until softened, about 2 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat and add the brandy. Return the skillet to the heat and continue to cook over medium until the skillet is dry, being careful as it may ignite, about 2 minutes. Add the wine and cook until the liquid reduces by half, about 3 minutes. Add the beef stock and bring to a boil. Whisk in the remaining 3 tablespoons butter, 1 tablespoon at a time. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• To serve, slice the steak, spoon the sauce over the top and sprinkle with the chives.

PAN-SEARED & ROASTED FILET MIGNON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500 degrees.
• Let steaks warm to room temperature and rub with water on each side. Apply kosher salt, garlic salt, meat tenderizer, and fresh ground pepper liberally. Sprinkle paprika and parsley on each side for color/garnish.
• Warm olive oil in a grill pan, frying pan, or skillet over medium high heat and add filets while pan is warming. As steaks begin to sizzle, adjust temperature to high heat, gently lift the steaks to prevent sticking and apply pressure to ensure steaks are browning. Repeat process and adjust heat as necessary until steaks are brown (roughly 2 to 3 minutes on each side).
• Upon browning both sides, place steak in an oven safe pan or skillet and roast using the following temperature guidelines (which vary depending upon the thickness of the meat) - rotate halfway through cooking:.
• Rare - 4 to 6 minutes (130 to 140 degrees internal temperature).
• Medium Rare - 6 to 8 minutes (140 to 150 degrees internal temperature).
• Medium - 8 to 10 minutes (150 to 160 degrees internal temperature).
• Use a foil tent as necessary to keep steaks warm until serving. Remember they will continue to cook as they are removed from the heat. I prefer to serve with mashed potatoes and stir fried green beans or sauteed mushrooms.
• The following guidelines help to determine steak temperature without cutting into the steak and ruining the presentation according to Big Oven: very rare feels soft and squishy, rare is soft to the touch, medium-rare yields gently to the touch, while medium yields only slightly to the touch and is beginning to firm up, and medium-well is firm to the touch.
• Safety note per Big Oven: "Doneness" is an issue of personal preference. However, it is recommended that beef be cooked to medium-rare doneness, the internal temperature should reach 145 degrees F to ensure that harmful bacteria have been destroyed. A thick cut of beef that has been cooked to an internal temperature of 140 degrees F, may be removed from the oven, loosely covered, and allowed to rest a few minutes. The temperature will continue to rise about 5 degrees F, reaching proper doneness.

SEARED FILET MIGNON

Steps:

• Season the Filet Mignons with salt and pepper. Combine the butter and oil in a large saute pan over high heat. When the pan is hot and foam has subsided, add the beef. Sear for three minutes per side for rare. Transfer to a warm platter.

REVERSE-SEAR FILET MIGNON (OR RIBEYE FILET)

Steps:

• Season the steak on both sides with the salt and place on a rack set inside a sheet pan for 10 minutes at room temperature while you preheat your oven.
• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
• Insert a probe thermometer horizontally through the side of the steak and roast the steak until it reaches an internal temperature of 120 degrees F, about 30 minutes (see Cook's Note). Remove the steak from the oven and rest uncovered for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place a 12-inch cast-iron pan over high heat until it reaches at least 600 degrees F, about 10 minutes. (You'll know you're close when a half teaspoon water dropped into the middle of the pan is completely evaporated in 5 seconds).
• Brush a very light coat of peanut oil onto both sides of the steak. Sear steak on each side for 1 minute.
• Rest the steak on a rack 5 minutes, and then slice diagonally against the grain to serve.

PAN-SEARED FILET MIGNON WITH BRANDY OR COGNAC SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat skillet in medium high setting.
• Add olive oil and heat for about 30 seconds.
• Sprinkle steaks with salt and pepper on both sides.
• Add the steaks and the garlic to the skillet and pan sear each side for about 3-4 minutes.
• Steaks will be medium rare (internal temperature of 140-145 degrees F.) when small drops of juice begin to ooze on the surface of the steaks.
• Transfer meat to a warm plate.
• Add the brandy or cognac to the pan and heat until the liquid is reduced by half.
• Discard the garlic and add the butter and stir until melted.
• Pour over filets and garnish with parsley.

PEPPERED FILET MIGNON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Heat a large, well-seasoned cast iron skillet over high heat until very hot, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Meanwhile, pat the steaks dry with a paper towel and brush them lightly with vegetable oil. Combine the salt and cracked pepper in a shallow bowl and roll the steaks in the mixture, pressing lightly to evenly coat all sides.
• When the skillet is ready, add the steaks and sear them evenly on all sides for about.
• 1 - to -1 1/2 minutes per side.
• Top each steak with a tablespoon of butter and place the skillet in the oven. Cook the steaks until they reach 120 degrees F for rare or 125 degrees F for medium-rare on an instant-read thermometer. (To test the steaks, insert the thermometer sideways to be sure you're actually testing the middle of the steak.).
• Remove the steaks to a serving platter, cover tightly with aluminum foil and allow to rest at room temperature for 10 minutes.
• Brush the caps of each mushroom with a clean sponge or damp paper towel. Remove and discard the stems. Slice the small mushrooms thickly and cut the large ones in a large dice.
• Heat the olive oil in a large (11 - inch) Dutch oven or saucepan. Add the leeks and cook over low heat for 5 minutes, or until the leeks are translucent. Add the butter, mushrooms, salt, and pepper and cook over medium heat for 8 minutes, until they are tender and begin to release their juices, stirring often. Stir in the garlic and cook for 2 more minutes. Toss in the parsley, sprinkle with salt, and serve warm.

CAST IRON SKILLET FILLET MIGNON

Steps:

• Generously salt, pepper filets, add garlic powder. Refrigerate until 30 minutes before cooking. Allow filets to come to room temperature, about 30 minutes, before cooking. This is an important step!
• Place enough EVOO in cast iron skillet to sear 2 steaks. Heat oil to HIGH.
• Place steaks in oil and sear on both sides on HIGH for 2 minutes each side.
• Once seared, add 2T butter, minced garlic and thyme to pan.
• Transfer skillet to oven preheated to 450 degrees. Cook, without turning for 3 minutes, or until rare/ med-rare (130 - 140 degrees).
• Remove skillet from oven, return to stove top on medium heat. Add more butter, thyme, garlic and some red wine. Just enough time to baste.
• Place on plate and allow to rest 5 minutes.

PAN-SEARED FILET MIGNON WITH CAPER SAUCE

Steps:

• Sprinkle salt and pepper over steaks.Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add steaks to skillet and cook 4 minutes on each side or until desired doneness. Remove from skillet: keep warm.
• Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in skillet over medium-high heat and add shallots and garlic. Sauté 2 minutes or until lightly browned. Add wine, mustard and capers; simmer until slightly thickened,about 5 minutes. Spoon sauce over steaks. Garnish with chopped tomato,if desired.
• NOTE: If preferred, substitute beef broth for the red wine called for in this recipe.