Steak au Poivre

Total Time Prep: 15 min. Cook: 20 min.
Yield 4 servings
Test Kitchen Approved
Steak au poivre is a classic French dish for a reason—it's decadent, elegant and easy to prepare.

Ingredients

  • STEAK:
  • 3/4 teaspoon whole peppercorns
  • 1 New York strip or beef top loin steak (1 pound)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 2 fresh thyme sprigs
  • SAUCE:
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 shallot, finely chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1/4 cup Cognac
  • 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

  1. Use a mortar and pestle to crush peppercorns. Pat steak dry and season with crushed peppercorns and salt on all sides.
  2. Heat oil in a cast-iron skillet over high heat. Place steak in skillet and cook until a golden brown crust forms, 3-4 minutes each side. Add butter, garlic and thyme to pan. Use a spoon to baste steaks with butter the last 1-2 minutes of cooking. Continue cooking to desired degree of doneness (for medium-rare, a thermometer should read 135°; medium, 140°; medium-well, 145°). Discard garlic and thyme. Remove from pan and let stand.
  3. Reduce skillet heat to medium; add butter, shallots and garlic and cook until shallots and garlic are slightly soft, 2-3 minutes. Stir in Cognac and let simmer until most of the liquid has dissipated. Add cream and bring to a simmer, cooking 2-3 minutes or until sauce coats the back of a spoon. Stir in salt.
  4. Cut steak into thick 2-in. slices. Spoon sauce over steak.

Nutrition Facts

3 ounces cooked steak with 2 tablespoons sauce: 376 calories, 26g fat (13g saturated fat), 97mg cholesterol, 884mg sodium, 4g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 0 fiber), 25g protein.

Have an elegant restaurant experience right at home with this steak au poivre. Peppercorns season the steak to create a peppery, light crust. Then, butter, shallots, garlic, Cognac and heavy whipping cream combine to create a thick brown sauce that lathers the steak, creating a delightful bite. —Julie Andrews, Rockford, Michigan
Recipe Creator

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