Lunch / Dinner
Beef Filets with Poivre Butter
This unexpectedly good steak and potatoes meal might change the way you think about preparing steak from here on out. Also known as pepper steak, steak au poivre sounds fancy, but at its simplest is just steak crusted in coarsely ground peppercorns before cooking. It’s typically served with a pan sauce made with brandy, but for great tableside presentation, the sauce is sometimes flambéed.
This version is equally simple, but the steak is topped with a compound butter made with peppercorns, and all the flavorful components that would have made their way into a pan sauce. Plus the moment the butter hits the hot steak it begins to melt out, releasing amazing aromas and flavors.
Compound butter is a mixture of butter and flavorful ingredients, such as herbs, shallots, garlic, and wine. The butter is typically rolled into a log, chilled, sliced, and served over hot steaks, or other meats or fish, to melt, releasing tons of great flavor.
Ingredients
FOR THE BUTTER, COMBINE:
FOR THE FILETS, HEAT:
Test Kitchen Tip
The compound butter can be made ahead and kept in the freezer for several months. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before using.
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425°.
For the butter, combine butter, brandy, shallots, pepper, garlic, and salt. Transfer butter to a piece of plastic wrap and form into a log, tightly twisting ends, then chill until ready to use.
For the filets, heat a cast-iron or ovenproof skillet over medium-high until very hot. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat. Sear filets 4–5 minutes; flip filets, then transfer skillet to oven. Roast filets until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 135° for medium-rare, about 6 minutes. Let filets rest 5 minutes; serve with poivre butter.
Brandy is classic in steak au poivre. Add it to the butter so the flavor releases when it hits the steak.
Use plastic wrap to help you roll the butter into a log without getting the butter all over your hands.
Cast-iron skillets retain heat very well, so they’re ideal for getting a good sear on the filets.
Nutritional Facts
Nutritional Facts
Per serving
Calories: 356
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 25g 38%
Saturated Fat 10g 50%
Cholesterol 121mg 40%
Sodium 325mg 13%
Carbs 1g 0%
Protein 33g
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.