Meanchefssteakaupoivre Recipes

MEAN CHEF'S STEAK AU POIVRE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 500°F.
• Sprinkle the steaks with salt on both sides, and then press the ground peppercorns into the steaks on both sides.
• Set a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat and add just enough olive oil to make a light film.
• When the oil is very hot, add the steaks, cooking until nicely browned on one side, about 3 minute.
• (If the pan is small, work in batches.) Flip the meat over and put the skillet in the oven.
• For medium-rare steaks, roast for 3 minutes for 6-ounce steaks; 4 minutes for 8-ounce steaks.
• Check for doneness with the tip of a knife or by pressing with your fingertips, keeping in mind that the steaks will cook a bit more as they sit.
• Transfer the steaks to a warm plate and tent with foil.
• With a spoon, remove any fat from the skillet.
• Put the skillet back on the burner and heat to medium high.
• Add the wine and cook until it's reduced to 1/4 cup, about 7 minutes, scraping up the browned bits with a wooden spoon. REMOVE PAN FROM THE HEAT.
• Whisk in the butter a slice at a time, whisking until completely melted.
• Taste and adjust the seasonings, drizzle the sauce over the steaks, and serve immediately with more sauce on the side.
• Variations: add shallots to the pan sauce, finish with chopped parsley.
• substitute 4 tbl cognac and 1/2 cup dark stock in place of the wine.
• substitute 1/4 cup cream and 1/4 cup cognac for the wine- reduce slightly to thicken.

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:

• 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 (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.