Peppered Filets With Cherry Port Sauce For 2 Recipes

BEEF TENDERLOIN STEAK W/ CHERRY-PORT SAUCE

Steps:

• Set oven to broil.
• Combine cherries, 1/4 cup port, and juice in a small bowl. Let stand for 30 minutes for the cherries to absorb most of the liquid.
• Coat beef with cooking spray; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Broil 6 inches from heat for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 375 and bake for 30 minutes or until meat thermometer reads 145 degrees. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing.
• Heat oil in pan over medium-high heat. Add shallot and garlic; saute 1 1/2 minutes. Stir in cherry mixture, 3/4 cup port, broth, and thyme. Bring to a boil; cook 10 minutes or until reduced to 1/2 cup. Pour over steaks. Serve immediately.
• Serving size is 1 steak with 2 tbsp sauce.

FILET MIGNON WITH CHERRY-BALSAMIC REDUCTION

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a small heavy metal or ceramic saucepan. Add shallots and cook until they are soft and wilted, not browned (about 3 minutes). Add garlic and stir for 30 seconds. Add the wine, preserves, vinegar and cherries. Increase the heat to bring the sauce to a light boil, stirring occasionally. Let the sauce reduce to half the original amount (about 10-12 minutes). It should get thick and syrupy.
• When the sauce is almost done, preheat broiler. Pat steaks dry and sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides of the steaks. Broil to the desired level of doneness.
• For rare steaks: cook 2 1/2 minutes per side; for medium rare, cook 3 minutes per side; for medium, cook 3 1/2 minutes per side; for medium well, 4 minutes per side.
• To serve, serve steaks on a serving platter and sauce on the side. Or you can spoon sauce over each steak served on individual plates.

PEPPER CRUSTED FILET MIGNON

Steps:

• Heat peppercorns and 5 tablespoons oil in small saucepan over low heat until faint bubbles appear. Continue to cook at bare simmer, swirling pan occasionally, until pepper is fragrant, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. When mixture is room temperature, add salt and stir to combine. Rub steaks with oil and pepper mixture, thoroughly coating top and bottom of each steak with peppercorns. Cover steaks with plastic wrap and press gently to make sure peppercorns adhere; let stand at room temperature for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, adjust oven rack to middle position, place rimmed baking sheet on oven rack, and heat oven to 450 degrees. Heat remaining 2 teaspoons oil in 12-inch heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat until faint smoke appears. Place steaks in skillet and cook, without moving steaks, until dark brown crust has formed, 3 to 4 minutes. Using tongs, turn steaks and cook until well browned on second side, about 3 minutes. Remove pan from heat and transfer steaks to hot baking sheet. Roast 3 to 5 minutes for rare, 5 to 7 minutes for medium-rare to medium. Transfer steaks to wire cooling rack and let rest, loosely tented with foil, for 5 minutes before serving.
• To crack peppercorns:.
• Spread half of the peppercorns on a cutting board. Place a skillet on top. Pressing down firmly with both hands, use a rocking motion to crush the peppercorns beneath the "heel" of the skillet. Move the skillet back and forth, redistributing the peppercorns as needed. Repeat with the remaining peppercorns.