Fruit Leather Filet Mignon Recipes

GRAPE FRUIT LEATHER

Steps:

• Puree the grapes in a blender or food processor, in batches if necessary, until very smooth. Pour the puree into a fine sieve and press hard with a spatula to extract as much juice as possible. Puree the grapes again and put them back into the sieve. Press again and reserve the juice for another recipe. There should be about 2 cups of grape puree.
• Pour the puree into a small saucepan with the sugar and lemon juice and bring to a boil. Simmer, stirring often and scraping the sides, until the puree turns glossy and darkens slightly, about 30 to 45 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 200°F using convection mode if available. Line a large-rimmed baking sheet with a silicon baking sheet. Pour the puree onto the mat and spread into an 1/8-inch thickness using an offset spatula, leaving a 1-inch border of space around the edge. Bake 1½ to 3 hours, rotating the tray halfway through, until the puree is tacky and not quite dried in the center. Let stand at room temperature until fruit leather peels easily from the tray, 24 hours to 48 hours.
• Place a piece of parchment paper over the fruit leather and invert. Peel off the silicon baking sheet and starting at the long end, roll up the fruit leather and parchment. Using scissors or a sharp knife, cut the fruit leather roll into 1-inch segments. Store in a resealable plastic bag for up to 1 week at room temperature or 2 to 3 months in the freezer.

THE PERFECT FILET MIGNON

Steps:

• Pat the steaks dry, then sprinkle with 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Firmly press the seasoning into the meat.
• Heat the oil in a medium stainless steel skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking, about 2 minutes. Add the steaks and cook until a golden crust forms, about 2 minutes. Flip with tongs and cook until golden on the second side, about 2 minutes (see Cook's Note). Flip again and cook for 2 minutes. Flip once more and add 4 tablespoons of the butter and the thyme and garlic. Let cook, undisturbed, until the butter stops foaming, 1 to 2 minutes. Tilt the pan slightly so the butter pools and spoon it over the steaks. Continue to cook the steaks, basting constantly, until they are medium rare and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center registers 118 degrees F, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Transfer the steaks to a plate to rest. Discard the garlic, thyme and fat from the skillet, but do not wipe out the browned bits.
• Place the same skillet over medium heat and add the shallots and 1 tablespoon butter. Cook, scraping up the browned bits with a wooden spoon, until softened, about 2 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat and add the brandy. Return the skillet to the heat and continue to cook over medium until the skillet is dry, being careful as it may ignite, about 2 minutes. Add the wine and cook until the liquid reduces by half, about 3 minutes. Add the beef stock and bring to a boil. Whisk in the remaining 3 tablespoons butter, 1 tablespoon at a time. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• To serve, slice the steak, spoon the sauce over the top and sprinkle with the chives.

CHARBROILED FILET MIGNON MEDALLIONS WITH ROASTED PEAR AND GARLIC SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Rinse the filet medallions and pat completely dry. Add the medallions to a medium mixing bowl, and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with sea salt, a few pinches of seasoned salt, and black pepper. With your hands, rub both sides of the medallions until they are covered with the oil and spices. Set aside in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, cover the bottom of a glass baking dish with aluminum foil. Cut off a small slice from the bottom of each pear they can stand up straight and arrange them, upright, in the baking pan. Add garlic and drizzle the pears and garlic with olive oil. Cover with aluminum foil. Roast in the oven for 30 minutes.
• Allow the pears to cool for 30 minutes and then peel off the skin and remove the core.
• Add the garlic, pears and chicken stock to a blender and blend until smooth. Pour the mixture into saucepan over low heat and season with a couple of pinches of sea salt and pepper and let simmer for a couple of minutes.
• Heat the broiler. Cover a baking sheet with foil and arrange the filet mignon medallions on the pan. Charbroil on high on the top rack, about 6 inches below the broiler. Broil for 5 to 7 minutes for medium-rare. Do not flip.
• Ladle a bed of the roasted pear and garlic sauce on each of 6 plates. Use tongs to top each with a filet and serve.

FILET MIGNON WITH MUSHROOMS AND SAUCE PINOT NOIR

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Season both sides of the filet mignon generously with salt and pepper. Wrap a piece of bacon around the sides of each steak and secure with butcher's twine. In a large heavy, ovenproof skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat until almost smoking. Place the steaks in the hot pan and cook until well seared on 1 side, about 3 minutes. Turn the steaks over, there should be a nice crust on top. Add the mushrooms, garlic, and rosemary; give everything a good stir. Transfer the pan to the oven. Roast for 10 to 12 minutes or until the steaks are cooked medium-rare.
• Remove the steaks, mushrooms, and rosemary to a platter; cover to keep warm. Return the pan to the stove over medium-high heat. Deglaze with the wine, scraping up all the yummy bits in the bottom of the pan. Mix in the demi-glace, stirring to combine. Put the steaks and mushrooms back in the pan and coat in the pan sauce. Finish with a couple of tablespoons of butter to make it rich. Put the steak and mushrooms on 2 serving plates and cut off the butcher's twine from the filets. Pour the wine sauce on top and garnish each plate with a roasted rosemary sprig.

FILET MIGNON WITH RICH BALSAMIC GLAZE

Steps:

• Sprinkle freshly ground pepper over both sides of each steak, and sprinkle with salt to taste.
• Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Place steaks in hot pan, and cook for 1 minute on each side, or until browned. Reduce heat to medium-low, and add balsamic vinegar and red wine. Cover, and cook for 4 minutes on each side, basting with sauce when you turn the meat over.
• Remove steaks to two warmed plates, spoon one tablespoon of glaze over each, and serve immediately.

FRUIT LEATHER

Steps:

• Tip the strawberries and apple into a saucepan. Put the pan over a low heat, you don't need to add any water. If you've used frozen fruit, juice will run out as they thaw. Heat gently, keeping an eye on the pan until the strawberries start to break down, you can put a lid on the pan if you like, this keeps the steam in and helps the fruit break down. Cook until the strawberries have softened and given up their juice and the apple is soft.
• Take the pan off the heat. Purée the contents with a stick blender or in a food processor. Squeeze the purée through a sieve into a clean pan, pushing as much pulp through as possible.
• Put the pan back on a low heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the purée thickens enough to leave a clear patch on the base of the pan when you pull a spoon through it. The more moisture you drive off now, the shorter your drying time will be.
• Heat the oven to as low as it will go. Pour the purée onto a lined baking sheet (we use a reusable silicone tray liner) and spread it out to a thin layer, the purée should be thick enough to look opaque.
• Put the tray in the oven and dry until the surface is no longer tacky when you touch it, but the leather is still flexible - don't overcook it or it will turn brittle. This will take several hours depending on the oven temperature. If it is very hot and sunny you can air-dry the leather, or use a dehydrator.
• Leave the leather to cool to warm and then peel it carefully off the tray. Trim off the raggedy edges. Roll the leather up, then cut the roll into sections, using scissors is easiest. Each of these will unroll to make a strip. Keep the strips individually wrapped and airtight. The offcuts can be chopped up and used in baking, or snacked on.