Steak Au Poivre Food

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.

STEAK AU POIVRE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200°F.
• Pat steaks dry and season both sides with kosher salt.
• Coarsely crush peppercorns in a sealed plastic bag with a meat pounder or bottom of a heavy skillet, then press pepper evenly onto both sides of steaks.
• Heat a 12-inch heavy skillet (preferably cast-iron) over moderately high heat until hot, about 3 minutes, then add oil, swirling skillet, and sauté steaks in 2 batches, turning over once, about 6 minutes per batch for medium-rare.
• Transfer steaks as cooked to a heatproof platter and keep warm in oven while making sauce.
• Pour off fat from skillet, then add shallots and half of butter (2 tablespoons) to skillet and cook over moderately low heat, stirring and scraping up brown bits, until shallots are well-browned all over, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add Cognac (use caution; it may ignite) and boil, stirring, until liquid is reduced to a glaze, 2 to 3 minutes. Add cream and any meat juices accumulated on platter and boil sauce, stirring occasionally, until reduced by half, 3 to 5 minutes. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter and cook over low heat, swirling skillet, until butter is incorporated. Serve sauce with steaks.

STEAK AU POIVRE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Using the bottom of a small skillet smash peppercorns. Press crushed peppercorns into steak until completely covered. Let sit for 30 minutes. Melt butter in a cast iron pan over medium heat. Season steak with salt and place in pan. Cook until dark brown on one side, flip, and cook on other side, approximately 3 minutes per side. Place steak in baking dish and finish in oven to desired degree of doneness, about 3 minutes. Melt butter in skillet and add shallots. Add a splash of cognac, cream and 1 teaspoon crushed peppercorns. Bring to boil and reduce sauce. Serve steak topped with sauce.

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.

STEAK AU POIVRE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Season both sides of steak with salt. Brush with Dijon mustard, reserving extra for sauce. In a pie tin place peppercorns and press steaks in to coat each side with about a 1/4 cup; if you have time, set aside. In a saute pan heat 1 tablespoon oil to smoking. Cook steaks for 3 minutes on first side, turn and cook 3 more minutes. Transfer steaks to pie tin and roast in oven 4 minutes for rare, 8 for medium-rare, and so on. Meanwhile, wipe excess fat and loose pepper from saute pan. Reheat pan with 1 teaspoon oil, add shallots, toss and cook for 1 minute. Carefully add brandy to pan. Note: IT WILL IGNITE. Allow brandy to burn off and add garlic, remaining mustard and veal stock. Bring to a boil and simmer until reduced by half. Stir in heavy cream and continue to reduce for 2 minutes. Stir in butter and adjust seasonings.
• Remove steaks to serving plates, spoon sauce over and garnish with parsley. We like to serve this with crispy fried shoestring potatoes.

STEAK AU POIVRE

Steps:

• Put peppercorns in a small resalable plastic bag and hit with a rolling pin until coarsely crushed. Pat the steaks dry with paper towels and season well salt. Dip 1 side of each steak into the peppercorns and press to help adhere.
• Heat the butter and oil in a 10-inch heavy-bottomed frying pan over medium-heat until just smoking.
• Add the steaks, peppercorn side up to the hot pan and cook, undisturbed, about 3 to 4 minutes. Flip and cook, pressing the steaks down in the pan so that the peppercorns adhere, about 4 to 5 minutes for medium-rare. Remove to a cutting board, tent with foil, and let rest at least 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile discard all but 1 tablespoon of the drippings, return the pan to the stove over medium heat, add the shallots and cook until softened, about 1 minute. Stir in the beef broth and brandy. Scrape the bottom of the pan to incorporate any browned bits and cook until slightly thickened, about 4 to 5 minutes.
• Add the cream and any accumulated meat juices and simmer until the sauce coats the back of a spoon, about 2 minutes. Stir in vinegar and season, to taste, with salt. Transfer the steaks to serving plates and drizzle with the sauce.

STEAK AU POIVRE POTATOES

Steps:

• The night before serving, slice the potatoes 1/4-inch thick and transfer to a bowl of cold water. Refrigerate up to 24 hours, changing the water a few times. (This makes the potatoes extra crispy when fried.)
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the red onion, white onion, shallots, thyme, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring, until the onions are soft, 30 minutes. Stir in the brown sugar, brandy and Worcestershire sauce and cook until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the vinegar; transfer to a bowl and set aside.
• Combine 3 teaspoons crushed peppercorns with 1 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Add the steak and toss to coat, pressing the peppercorns into the meat. Melt the remaining 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook until it just starts browning. Add the steak; cook, turning, until browned on all sides, about 6 minutes. Remove to a cutting board and let rest 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, drain the potatoes and pat dry. Transfer to a large pot; cover with 2 inches of vegetable oil. Cook over medium-high heat, gently stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to a rack set on a baking sheet; season with salt. (The potatoes can be fried up to 2 hours ahead; reheat in a 300 degrees F oven for 5 minutes before assembling.)
• Thinly slice the steak. Spread some of the onion mixture on each potato; top with a slice of steak and a dollop of sour cream. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 teaspoon crushed peppercorns.

STEAK AU POIVRE

Steps:

• 1. Remove the steaks from the refrigerator 20 minutes in advance. Prepare a cooling rack (or small overturned plate - over a large plate).
• 2. Cover the steaks on both sides with crushed pepper. Pat it on firmly so that it sticks into the flesh. Salt the steaks on both sides. (Be sure to pepper and then salt, or the pepper will not stick to the steaks.)
• 3. Heat the oil in a sauté pan over high heat. Add 1 teaspoon butter. Rotate the pan as the butter melts, and when it begins to foam, lower the heat to medium. Lay the steaks in the pan and cook for 4 minutes, rotating them in the pan and spooning the cooking juices over them. Flip them with tongs or a spatula and cook 4 minutes on the other side, rotating and basting as before. Stand the steaks on their sides, using tongs to help, and cook them 2 minutes on their edges. Remove the steaks to the cooling rack and tent them loosely with aluminum foil.
• 4. Put a serving dish and a sauceboat to warm in the oven, turned to 150°F/80°C.
• 5. Pour the wine into the sauté pan and bring to a boil, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spatula until the wine is syrupy.
• 6. Dice the rest of the butter, which should be well chilled. Add the veal stock to the pan and boil for 2 minutes. If you are using the crème fraîche, stir it in. Then stir in the diced butter bit by bit. Put this sauce through a fine strainer into the warmed sauceboat. If you are using the mustard, stir it in now. Taste for salt and pepper.
• 7. Put the steaks on the warmed serving platter, coat them with sauce, and serve the rest of the sauce on the side.

STEAK TIPS AU POIVRE

Steps:

• Pat steak tips dry with paper towels. Rub all over with pepper and season with salt. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Cook steak tips until browned all over and cooked to desired doneness, 6 to 10 minutes. Transfer to platter and tent with foil.
• Add 1 tablespoon butter and shallots to empty skillet and cook until softened, about 1 minute. Add wine, broth, and thyme to skillet. Simmer, scraping up any browned bits, until slightly thickened, 5 to 7 minutes. Off heat, whisk in any accumulated steak juices and remaining butter and season with salt. Spoon sauce over steaks. Serve.

STEAK AU POIVRE

Steps:

• If you have the time, prepare your steaks several hours ahead. Start by crushing the peppercorns very coarsely. Take a shallow dish, large enough to hold the two steaks, without them touching. Pour in one tablespoon olive oil, mixed with half of the crushed garlic. Coat each steak evenly on both sides with the peppercorns, and pressing them in firmly (use a heavy plate to do this). Lay the steaks in the dish and spoon over the other tablespoon of oil and the rest of the garlic. Cover and leave them in the fridge for several hours, turning once.
• When you're ready to cook the steaks, you will need a cast iron skillet (or heavy based frying pan). Place it over very high heat and let it preheat until it is very hot - the more daring you can be, the better the finished dish! Now, quickly drop each steak directly into the pan. Sear them quickly on each side - about 1 minute per side.
• (Do not be tempted to move the steaks other than to flip them as directed. Furthermore, flip your steaks with tongs rather than a fork, which will pierce them and allow juices to escape. ).
• Once seared, lower the heat and cook them. I like them "blue" which means they are seared and very rare. For medium rare give them 3 more minutes and for well done, 4 more minutes. You won't need to turn them.
• Either way 1 minute before the end of the cooking time, pour in the wine and let it bubble and reduce down to a syrupy consistency, about 1/3 of its original volume.
• This whole process is very brief, and I actually don't even bother setting a timer, I just count the minutes in my head. Once done, sprinkle with salt and serve as quickly as possible. This is best with a mixed green salad and a basic vinegaret dressing.

STEAK AU POIVRE VERT

Steps:

• For the steak.
• Place the green peppercorns in a mortar and pestle and lightly crush them.
• Place steaks on a plate and pat dry with paper towels. Press the crushed green peppercorns into the meat with your fingers. Generously grind black pepper over steaks. Cover with cling wrap and let stand in the refrigerator for half an hour or longer so that the pepper flavour will penetrate into the meat.
• Heat a sauté pan on high flame, then place steaks into hot pan. Lower heat to medium-high.
• Sear the steaks on one side for 3-4 minutes, constantly checking the heat, then turn the steaks over and sear for another 3-4 minutes for medium-rare. Or cook to desired doneness.
• Remove steaks from sauté pan onto a warm platter and cover with foil to keep warm while making the sauce.
• For the sauce.
• Add butter and olive oil to the sauté pan and once the foam has subsided, add shallots and cook on medium high heat for one minute.
• Pour in beef stock and boil down rapidly over high heat until it is reduced by half.
• Pull pan off the heat. Pour brandy or cognac into the pan, ignite it with a lit match tilting the pan away from you and averting your face. Expect a flame burst once you light it. Shake the sauté pan for a few seconds until the alcohol cooks off and the flames have subsided. Or simply simmer to burn off the alcohol if you don't want to flambé.
• Once alcohol cooks off, add the cream and bring to a full. rolling boil. The cream will puff up as it boils and then it will reduce down and thicken. Lower heat to a simmer as the sauce reduces by half. This should take at least 10 minutes.
• Pour the sauce over the steaks and serve.

STEAK AU POIVRE (CLASSIC)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200º.
• Pat steaks dry and season both sides with kosher salt.
• Coarsely crush peppercorns in a sealed plastic bag with a meat pounder or bottom of a heavy skillet, then press pepper evenly onto both sides of steaks.
• Heat a 12-inch heavy skillet (preferably cast-iron) over medium high heat until hot, about 3 min, then add oil. Swirl skillet to lightly coat the entire skillet.
• Saute steaks in batches (2 at a time). DO NOT TOUCH - this lets them brown nicely and makes all the difference. Cook for 6 min and flip and cook for another 6 minute for medium rare steaks. Repeat with remaining 2 steaks.
• Transfer cooked steaks to a heatprook platter and keep warm in the oven.
• After all 4 steaks are cooked pour off fat from skillet if any, then add shallots and half of the butter. Cook over medium low heat, stirring and scraping up any brown bits from bottom of the pan until the shallots are well browned all over, 3-5 minute.
• Remove skillet from heat and add Cognac. (If you add while on the burner it may ignite.) Boil, stirring until liquid is reduced to a glaze, 2-3 minute.
• Add cream and any meat juices that have accumulated on the platter in the oven. Boil sauce, stirring occasionally, until reduced by half, 3-5 minute
• Add the other half of the butter and cook over low heat swirling the skillet to melt and incorporate the butter.
• Serve sauce with steaks.

SIMPLE STEAK AU POIVRE

Steps:

• Put steaks in a shallow dish and season well on both sides with salt. Sprinkle black pepper and Sichuan pepper evenly over steaks. Press pepper into both sides with hands and leave for 10 minutes.
• Put a large cast iron skillet over high heat. When surface is nearly smoking, swirl 1 tablespoon butter in the pan and add steaks. Adjust heat as necessary to keep steaks sizzling briskly.
• Cook for 2 minutes on first side; seared side should be nicely browned. Flip and cook for 2 minutes more. Transfer steaks to a warm platter.
• Make the sauce: Add 1 tablespoon butter to the pan. Add shallots and sauté for a minute or so, stirring, until they begin to brown. Add broth and bring to a brisk simmer. Add Cognac and continue to simmer until reduced by half, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in crème fraîche and cook until sauce is lightly thickened.
• Return steaks to pan to warm, spooning sauce over them and turning once. Arrange steaks on platter or individual plates and top with more sauce. Garnish with bouquets of watercress and serve immediately.

STEAK AU POIVRE

Steps:

• Season both sides of each steak with the salt and pepper.
• Heat the oil in a large heavy skillet over high heat, and then sauté the steaks, 2 at a time, for 3-4 minutes on each side.
• Transfer the steaks to a heatproof dish and keep them warm in a 175-degree oven.
• Pour any leftover liquid from the skillet and lower the heat to medium.
• Add the shallots and 1 piece of butter; sauté for 5 minutes, until cooked.
• Carefully add Cognac (it may flame) and bring to a boil for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens.
• Stir in cream and other piece of butter; heat through, stirring constantly.
• Serve over steaks immediately.