steak au poivre on plate with cognac sauce and Brussels sprouts

Steak au Poivre

Master the art of cooking classic French steak au poivre—a pan-seared filet mignon coated in crunchy peppercorns and napped in a rich Cognac sauce. It’s très délicieux and a total showstopper!

Servings: 4
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 15 Minutes
Total Time: 25 Minutes

Ingredients

  • Four 6- to 8-ounce filet mignons
  • 1 heaping teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon whole peppercorns
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • ⅓ cup finely chopped shallots, from 1 medium shallot
  • ½ cup Cognac or other brandy
  • ¾ cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Instructions

  1. Pat the steaks dry and, if they are thick, gently press them down so that they are about 1½ inches thick. Season the steaks all over with the salt.
  2. Seal the peppercorns inside a small plastic bag and place on a cutting board. Using a meat mallet or the bottom of a frying pan, pound the peppercorns until they are coarsely crushed. Press the crushed pepper evenly onto both sides of the steaks.
  3. In a large stainless steel or cast iron skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot and shimmering, add the steaks and cook about 4 minutes on each side, turning only once, for medium-rare (or about 5 minutes per side for medium). Transfer the steaks to a plate and tent with foil.
  4. Pour off the excess fat from the pan but do not wipe clean. Lower the heat to medium-low and add the butter and shallots. Cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon and scraping up the brown bits, until the shallots are golden brown and softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Carefully add the Cognac (it may ignite) and boil, again stirring to scrape up the brown bits, until the liquid is reduced to a glaze and mostly absorbed by the shallots, a few minutes. Add the cream and mustard and gently boil until thickened, about 3 minutes. Stir in any meat juices that accumulated on the plate. Transfer the steaks to plates and spoon the sauce over top.

Pair with

Nutrition Information

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  • Serving size: 1 6-oz filet
  • Calories: 721
  • Fat: 55 g
  • Saturated fat: 26 g
  • Carbohydrates: 5 g
  • Sugar: 2 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 34 g
  • Sodium: 587 mg
  • Cholesterol: 217 mg

Gluten-Free Adaptable Note

To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.