Szechuan Steak Au Poivre With Port Ginger Sauce Recipes

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.

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.

SICHUAN STEAK AU POIVRE WITH SCALLION MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Gather your ingredients.
• For the potatoes: Quarter the potatoes. Place potatoes and garlic, crushed away from skins, in a pot. Cover with cold water, cover and bring to a boil. When they boil, remove the lid, salt the water and cook to tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and rice into pot using a food mill or ricer.
• Meanwhile, warm half-n-half or milk and butter in a small pot over medium-low heat. Finely chop the scallions, whites and greens.
• For the steaks: Coarsely grind the peppercorns in mortar with pestle. Pat steaks dry, season with kosher salt and rub with peppercorn mixture. Let stand 10 minutes.
• Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat.
• Peel and finely chop the shallots. Peel ginger with tip of a teaspoon and have a fine grater on hand. Crush the garlic and discard skins and root.
• To skillet add EVOO, 1 turn of the pan, and melt in 1 tablespoon butter. Add steaks and cook 2 to 3 minutes to brown. Flip and cook 2 minutes more. Remove to platter. Add 2 tablespoons butter and when it foams add the shallots, garlic and grate in the ginger. Stir a minute or 2, then add sherry or cognac or brandy, stir, and add bone broth. Reduce by half, 2 to 3 minutes. Finish with creme fraiche to taste. Add beef back to pan and turn to warm in the sauce.
• Add hot milk and scallions to potatoes and season with salt and white pepper to taste.
• Place steaks on plates, top with sauce and cress and scallion potatoes alongside.

AU POIVRE SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat a large nonstick sauté pan over medium heat. When the pan is hot, add the butter. When the butter has melted, add the shallots and sauté, stirring occasionally, until they are nearly translucent, about 2 minutes.
• Raise the heat to high, and add the pepper and brandy to the pan. Simmer the brandy for one minute. Add the broth and bring to a boil. Cook until the mixture has reduced to about 1/3 cup, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk the evaporated milk into the cornstarch.
• Whisk the cornstarch mixture into the sauce. Cook, whisking constantly, until the sauce has thickened, about 2 minutes. Season with salt to taste, and serve.
• healthy tips
• Got (evaporated) milk? Try replacing heavy cream with evaporated skim milk in cooked foods like sauces, custards, pies, and cakes. At 25 calories per 2-tablespoon serving, compared to 40 calories for cream (and none of those coming from fat), you can have your custard and eat it, too.
• nutrition information
• Fat: 14g (before), 0.6g (after)
• Calories: 152 (before), 23 (after)
• Protein: 1g
• Carbohydrates: 2g
• Cholesterol: 2mg
• Fiber: 0g
• Sodium: 51mg

SZECHUAN STEAK AU POIVRE WITH PORT-GINGER SAUCE

Steps:

• Finely chop all peppercorns in processor. Rub pepper mixture over both sides of each steak. (Can be prepared 4 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Heat oil in heavy medium skillet over high heat. Season steaks with salt. Add to skillet and cook to desired doneness, about 2 minutes per side for medium-rare. Transfer steaks to plate; tent with foil. Add Port, shallots and ginger to same skillet; boil until liquid is reduced to thin syrup, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. Strain sauce into bowl, pressing on solids and spoon. Return sauce to same skillet; boil until thick syrup forms, about 2 minutes. Whisk in butter; season with salt. Spoon sauce around steaks.