Alton Brown Steak Recipes

REVERSE-SEAR RIBEYE STEAK

Steps:

• Season steak on both sides with the salt and place on a rack set inside a rimmed sheet pan. Refrigerate for at least 6 hours, or up to 24.
• Heat oven to 200ºF. Insert a probe thermometer horizontally through the side of the steak and roast, still on the rack and sheet pan, until it reaches an internal temperature of 120ºF, about 1 hour. Remove steak from the oven and rest, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place a 12-inch cast iron skillet over high heat until it reaches at least 600ºF, at least 10 minutes. (If you don't have an infrared thermometer, you'll know you're close when 1/2 teaspoon water dropped in the middle of the pan has completely evaporated in 5 seconds.
• Brush a very light coat of peanut oil onto both sides of the steak. Transfer to the hot skillet and sear on each side until deeply browned, 45 seconds per side. Use a stopwatch!
• Transfer to a clean rack and let rest for 5 minutes. Slice diagonally against the grain to serve.

PAN-SEARED RIB-EYE

Steps:

• Place a 10-to-12-inch cast-iron skillet in the oven and heat the oven to 500 degrees F. Bring the steak to room temperature.
• When the oven reaches temperature, remove the skillet and place on the range over high heat for 5 minutes. Coat the steak lightly with oil and sprinkle both sides with a generous pinch of salt. Grind on black pepper.
• Immediately place the steak in the middle of the hot, dry skillet. Cook 30 seconds without moving. Turn with tongs and cook another 30 seconds, then put the pan straight into the oven for 2 minutes. Flip the steak and cook for another 2 minutes. (This time is for medium-rare steak. If you prefer medium, add a minute to both of the oven turns.)
• Remove the steak from the skillet, cover loosely with foil and rest for 2 minutes. Serve whole or slice thin and fan onto plate.

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 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.
• Melt the butter and olive oil in a 10-inch carbon-steel pan over medium heat. 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, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the remaining teaspoon of Cognac and season to taste with salt. Add the steaks back to the pan, spoon the sauce over, and serve.

SIRLOIN STEAK

Steps:

• Preheat oven on broiler setting. Make foil 'snake' out of aluminum foil to use to keep oven door slightly ajar so that broiler won't turn off if it gets too hot. Brush steak with oil and salt and pepper, to taste. Place a piece of foil on the bottom rack as a drip pan. Place another rack in the position above this and put the steak directly on this rack. Cook steak in this position for 5 minutes. Flip steak and cook for another 5 minutes. Move rack with steak to top position in oven, moving rack with foil and drippings just underneath, and cook for 3 minutes. Flip 1 last time and cook for another 3 minutes. Transfer steak to wire rack and rest for 3 to 5 minutes. The above times are for medium doneness. Adjust cooking times up or down as desired.

ELECTION NIGHT SIRLOIN STEAK

Steps:

• Coat the steak with 1 tablespoon of the salt and set on a rack inside a rimmed pan and leave at room temperature for 30 minutes. The steak should come up to somewhere between 45 and 50°F. Tear off an 18-inch long piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil and have it standing by near the cooktop
• When about 5 minutes of the salting time remains, place a 12-inch cast iron skillet over the highest heat you've got for a full 5 minutes. You will want to crank up your ventilation hood to high and open a window; there's gonna be smoke.
• Evenly sprinkle the remaining tablespoon of salt across the bottom of the hot skillet. Lightly coat both sides of the steak with the oil. Place right in the middle of the pan and don't touch it for 2 minutes. Flip and rotate 90 degrees so that the steak hits fresh pan (and fresh salt) and cook another 2 minutes, uninterrupted.
• Turn the steak up on one long edge and cook for 30 seconds, then turn and cook along the opposite edge for another 30. If you're checking, its internal temperature should be between 70° and 72°F. Transfer to the foil and wrap tightly for 3 minutes. During this time leave the skillet on the heat. (Did I mention there would be smoke?)
• After 3 minutes, unwrap the steak and place it back in the pan for 3 minutes, then flip and cook for another 3. Flip and cook another 2, then flip and cook a final 2 minutes. At this point, the internal temperature should be 120°F. (If you prefer your steak more on the rare side, decrease the final cook times to 2 minutes, 2 minutes, then 1 and 1. Its internal temperature should be between 105 and 110°F.)
• Return the steak to the foil and wrap tightly to rest for 5 minutes. Then unwrap and slice thin on the bias. Serve with any accumulated juices.

STEAK TARTARE

Steps:

• Cut the steak into 1-inch cubes and park in the freezer for 10 minutes.
• Whisk the vinegar, dry mustard and egg yolks together in a small bowl. Whisk continuously while streaming in the oil until emulsified, then whisk in the shallots, capers, salt, and roughly 2/3 of the celery leaves and parsley.
• Hand chop the meat to your desired texture. (Alternately, divide the meat into 4 batches and pulse each batch separately 3 to 4 times in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the standard S-blade.)
• With clean hands, quickly fold the meat and dressing together. Plate using a 3 3/4-inch pastry ring and garnish with the reserved herbs and lemon zest.

SKIRT STEAK

Steps:

• Heat charcoal, preferably natural chunk, until grey ash appears. In a blender, put in oil, soy sauce, scallions, garlic, lime juice, red pepper, cumin, and sugar and puree. In a large heavy duty, zip top bag, put pieces of skirt steak and pour in marinade. Seal bag, removing as much air as possible. Allow steak to marinate for 1 hour in refrigerator.
• Remove steak from bag and pat dry with paper towels. Using a blow dryer, blow charcoal clean of ash. Once clean of ash lay steaks directly onto hot coals for 1 minute per side. When finished cooking, place meat in double thickness of aluminum foil, wrap, and allow to sit for 15 minutes.
• Remove meat from foil, reserving foil and juices. Slice thinly across the grain of the meat. Return to foil pouch and toss with juice. Serve with grilled peppers and onions, if desired.

COUNTRY STYLE STEAK

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• Cut the meat with the grain into 1/2-inch thick slices and season on both sides with salt and pepper. Place the flour into a pie pan. Dredge the pieces of meat on both sides in the flour. Tenderize the meat, using a needling device, until each slice is 1/4-inch thick. Dredge in the flour again and set aside.
• Add enough of the vegetable oil or bacon fat to just cover the bottom of a 4 to 5-quart Dutch oven set over medium-high heat. Once the oil begins to shimmer, add the steaks to the pan, being careful not to overcrowd. Cook until golden brown on both sides, approximately 2 minutes per side. Remove the steaks to a plate and repeat until all of the steaks have been browned.
• Remove the last steaks from the pot and add the chicken broth and thyme and whisk until the liquid just comes to a boil. Return the steaks to the pot and make sure they are all submerged in the liquid. Cover the pot and place it in the oven on the middle rack. Cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until the meat is tender and falling apart.

PAN SEARED STEAK (FROM ALTON BROWN)

Steps:

• Remove steak(s) from fridge and start bringing them to room temperature.
• After 30 to 45 minutes, place a 10 to 12-inch cast iron skillet in oven and heat oven to 500 degrees F.
• When oven reaches temperature, remove the pan and place it on a burner over high heat.
• Coat steak(s) lightly with oil and season both sides with a generous pinch of salt. Grind on black pepper to taste.
• Immediately place steak(s) in the middle of the hot, dry pan. Cook 30 to 60 seconds without moving. Turn the steak(s) with tongs and cook another 30 to 60 seconds, then put the pan straight into the oven for 3 to 5 minutes. Flip steak(s) and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes. (The time in the oven depends on how rare you like your steaks. The time given is for medium, but depends on number of steaks, etc. as well.)
• Remove the steak(s) from the pan, cover loosely with foil, and rest for 2 minutes.
• Serve whole or slice thin and fan onto plate.