Steak Au Poivre Alton Brown Food

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.

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 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.
• Melt the butter and olive oil in a 10-inch carbon-steel pan over medium heat. 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, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the remaining teaspoon of Cognac and season to taste with salt. Add the steaks back to the pan, spoon the sauce over, and serve.

STEAK AU POIVRE

Steps:

• Rub salt and ground black pepper over both sides of the steak.
• Heat a dry saute pan over high heat. When pan becomes very hot add butter, let melt, then add steaks. Turn steaks only once, and cook to desired degree of doneness (approximately 3 minutes per side for medium-rare, depending on exact thickness.)
• Add the Cognac to the pan, let sit for 5 seconds, and then light a match to it. Flame should burn out after approximately 10 seconds. (If flame continues to burn, put it out by placing a lid on the pan).
• Remove steak from pan, leaving the drippings in the pan, and reserve on a warm plate and cover with aluminum foil.
• Reduce heat to low and slowly stir Dijon and half-and-half into the drippings. Add peppercorns. Stir and simmer for a couple of minutes until sauce becomes thick. Place steaks on warmed serving plates. Pour sauce over steak.

STEAK AU POIVRE - ALTON BROWN

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.

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.

STEAK AU POIVRE

Steps:

• Rub steaks all over with 1 Tbsp. oil and season generously with salt. Heat 2 Tbsp. oil and 1 Tbsp. butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low. Cook shallot, stirring often, until golden brown, 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat and carefully add 1/4 cup cognac. Bring mixture to a simmer over medium-low heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until cognac is reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Stir in cream and black pepper and bring to a simmer. Cook, swirling occasionally, until cream is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes; let cool slightly.
• Transfer mixture to a blender and blend until smooth (or use an immersion blender directly in the pot). Add green peppercorns and pulse just to break up (do not blend completely). Return pepper sauce to saucepan; season with salt. Cover and set aside.
• Heat remaining 2 Tbsp. oil in a large cast-iron skillet over high. Add steaks and cook, occasionally lifting steaks to allow hot oil to flow underneath, until a brown crust forms underneath, about 4 minutes. Turn steaks and cook until crust forms on the other side and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 125°F for medium-rare, about 4 minutes. Transfer steaks to a cutting board and let rest 10 minutes. Reserve skillet.
• Pour off all but 2 Tbsp. fat from skillet and return to medium-high heat. Place steaks, garlic, rosemary, and remaining 2 Tbsp. butter in skillet and cook, basting steaks with butter and turning halfway through, until butter is very fragrant and golden brown, about 1 minute. Increase heat to high. Lean safely away from pan, add remaining 2 Tbsp. cognac, and immediately tilt skillet toward flame to ignite cognac (if you have an electric stove or cognac doesn't ignite, it's okay). Cook, carefully shaking skillet, until flames die out, about 30 seconds. Transfer steaks back to cutting board and let rest 10 minutes.
• While the steaks are resting, reheat pepper sauce over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until warmed through.
• Slice steak and spoon pepper sauce over top. Garnish with more rosemary sprigs if desired.