Steak Frites With Shallot Pan Reduction Recipes

STEAK FRITES WITH SHALLOT PAN REDUCTION

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F.
• Arrange potatoes on a baking sheet (or two if necessary) in a single layer. Coat with cooking spray and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt.
• Bake at 450F for 40 minutes or until golden brown, stirring potatoes halfway through.
• Remove from oven when done, and toss with 1 teaspoon of thyme.
• Heat a heavy skillet over medium high heat.
• Coat with cooking spray.
• Sprinkle steak with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Add steak to the hot pan, saute 3 minutes on each side, or until desired degree of doneness.
• Remove from pan and keep warm.
• Add shallots to the pan, and saute for 2 minutes.
• Add the brandy, and bring to a boil, loosening any brown bits on the bottom of the pan.
• Add the broth, mustard, and remaining thyme.
• Bring to a boil, then cook until reduced to 2/3 cup.
• Add remaining salt and pepper, then whisk in the butter.
• Slice the steak across the grain. Place on a serving plate, and top with the pan sauce.

BISTRO STEAK FRITES

Steps:

• Trim a thin slice from each side of the long axis of each potato. Once each potato is "squared," slice it into 1/4-inch planks and then cut each plank into 1/4-inch fries. Rinse cut potatoes in large bowl under cold running water until water turns clear. Cover with cold water and refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to 12 hours.
• Pour off water, spread potatoes onto kitchen towels, and thoroughly dry. Transfer potatoes to large bowl and toss with cornstarch until evenly coated. Transfer potatoes to wire rack set in rimmed baking sheet and let rest until fine white coating forms, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in heavy-bottomed 7 qt Dutch oven fitted with clip-on-the-pot candy thermometer, heat peanut oil over medium heat to 325 degrees F.
• Add half of potatoes, a handful at a time, to hot oil and increase heat to high. Fry, stirring, until potatoes start to turn from white to blond, 4 to 5 minutes. (Oil temperature will drop about 75 degrees during this frying.)
• Transfer fries to thick paper bag or paper towels. Return oil to 325 degrees F and repeat with remaining potatoes. Reduce heat to medium and let fries cool while cooking steaks, at least 10 minutes.
• Combine all herb butter ingredients in medium bowl. Set aside. Heat vegetable oil in 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until smoking.
• Meanwhile, cut your steaks in half. If your steaks are 1 1/4 to 1 3/4 inches thick, cut them in half vertically into small, thick steaks. If your steaks are thicker than 1 3/4 inches, cut them in half horizontally into two thinner steaks.
• Next, season steaks with salt and pepper. Lay steaks in pan, leaving 1/4 inch between them. Cook, not moving steaks, until well browned, about 4 minutes.
• Using tongs, flip steaks and continue to cook until instant-read thermometer inserted in center registers 120 degrees F for rare to medium-rare, 3 to 7 minutes. Transfer steaks to large plate, top with butter, and tent loosely with foil; let rest while finishing fries.
• Increase heat under Dutch oven to high and heat oil to 375 degrees. Add half of fries, a handful at a time, and fry until golden brown and puffed, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a thick unopened paper bag or paper towels. Return oil to 375 degrees F and repeat with remaining fries. Season fries with salt and serve immediately with steaks.

STEAK FRITES

Steps:

• For the Steak:.
• Season steaks with salt and pepper on both sides. If you have time, let the salted steaks sit for 35 minutes in the fridge - they'll be a bit more juicy this way. If not, just season and cook.
• Heat the oil in a cast iron skillet over medium high heat until almost smoking.
• sear the steaks about 4 minutes per side, or until rare to medium rare.
• Remove, set aside and keep warm.
• At this point, you can simply deglaze the pan with your choice of water, wine, or even a combination of pepper, cream, brandy, and mustard and reduce to make a sauce for the steaks, but I prefer just a dab of butter.
• For the Frites:.
• Peel and cut the potatoes into about 1/4' matchsticks.
• Soak in cold water for at least 2 hours - overnight is fine.
• Drain the potatoes and transfer to large bowl. Toss with the cornstarch. Transfer to wire rack on rimmed baking sheet. If that's too much work, I sometimes just dry them on paper towels --
• Heat the peanut oil to 330 degrees F.
• Fry in a few batches for about 3 minutes - until it's partially cooked, but not yet browned.
• Remove each batch to drain on paper towel.
• Raise the temperature of the oil to about 375 degrees F.
• Fry potatoes again in batches for 1 or 2 minutes, or until golden and crispy - this will ensure that you have fries that will stay crispy, even if the butter gets to them.
• Serve immediately, go to confession*.
• *optional.