Steak Au Poivre Peppered Steaks With Cognac Cream 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.

STEAK AU POIVRE (PEPPERED STEAKS WITH COGNAC CREAM SAUCE)

Steps:

• In a saucepan, heat the cream until it reduces by half (20-30 minutes).
• In a saute pan, heat the oil and butter.
• Spread crushed peppercorns on a work surface.
• Pat the steaks dry and coat both sides with an even layer of peppercorns, pressing in with heel of hand to make adhere; season to taste with garlic salt.
• Lay the steaks in the pan.
• Sear steaks over high heat to desired doneness (the steaks are medium-rare when they feel slightly resistant to touch and you can see a faint pearling of red juice on the surface).
• Add bouillon, lemon juice, wine, and salt to the sauce, and stir.
• When the steaks have cooked, remove them from the pan; pour in the brandy.
• Ignite the brandy and, once the flames die down, stir to deglaze the pan; then add the brandy to the cream sauce.
• Place each steak on a toasted slice of bread and top with sauce.

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.

STEAK AU POIVRE

Steps:

• If you have the time, prepare your steaks several hours ahead. Start by crushing the peppercorns very coarsely. Take a shallow dish, large enough to hold the two steaks, without them touching. Pour in one tablespoon olive oil, mixed with half of the crushed garlic. Coat each steak evenly on both sides with the peppercorns, and pressing them in firmly (use a heavy plate to do this). Lay the steaks in the dish and spoon over the other tablespoon of oil and the rest of the garlic. Cover and leave them in the fridge for several hours, turning once.
• When you're ready to cook the steaks, you will need a cast iron skillet (or heavy based frying pan). Place it over very high heat and let it preheat until it is very hot - the more daring you can be, the better the finished dish! Now, quickly drop each steak directly into the pan. Sear them quickly on each side - about 1 minute per side.
• (Do not be tempted to move the steaks other than to flip them as directed. Furthermore, flip your steaks with tongs rather than a fork, which will pierce them and allow juices to escape. ).
• Once seared, lower the heat and cook them. I like them "blue" which means they are seared and very rare. For medium rare give them 3 more minutes and for well done, 4 more minutes. You won't need to turn them.
• Either way 1 minute before the end of the cooking time, pour in the wine and let it bubble and reduce down to a syrupy consistency, about 1/3 of its original volume.
• This whole process is very brief, and I actually don't even bother setting a timer, I just count the minutes in my head. Once done, sprinkle with salt and serve as quickly as possible. This is best with a mixed green salad and a basic vinegaret dressing.

STEAK AU POIVRE (CLASSIC)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200º.
• Pat steaks dry and season both sides with kosher salt.
• Coarsely crush peppercorns in a sealed plastic bag with a meat pounder or bottom of a heavy skillet, then press pepper evenly onto both sides of steaks.
• Heat a 12-inch heavy skillet (preferably cast-iron) over medium high heat until hot, about 3 min, then add oil. Swirl skillet to lightly coat the entire skillet.
• Saute steaks in batches (2 at a time). DO NOT TOUCH - this lets them brown nicely and makes all the difference. Cook for 6 min and flip and cook for another 6 minute for medium rare steaks. Repeat with remaining 2 steaks.
• Transfer cooked steaks to a heatprook platter and keep warm in the oven.
• After all 4 steaks are cooked pour off fat from skillet if any, then add shallots and half of the butter. Cook over medium low heat, stirring and scraping up any brown bits from bottom of the pan until the shallots are well browned all over, 3-5 minute.
• Remove skillet from heat and add Cognac. (If you add while on the burner it may ignite.) Boil, stirring until liquid is reduced to a glaze, 2-3 minute.
• Add cream and any meat juices that have accumulated on the platter in the oven. Boil sauce, stirring occasionally, until reduced by half, 3-5 minute
• Add the other half of the butter and cook over low heat swirling the skillet to melt and incorporate the butter.
• Serve sauce with steaks.