30 Minute Romantic Valentine's Day at Home {featuring Steak au Poivre}
In the event you forgot to get a dinner reservation for Valentine's Day - or if you're like me - you don't want to waste a perfectly good evening out on a prix fix menu and overly crowded restaurants. - let's eat in!
I have become a master of the "indoor steak" technique over the last few years for a number of reasons, but mostly because it is so freaking easy! SO EASY! It's how restaurants do their steaks - there aren't grills in most restaurants - so they skillet sear and broil them too. It keeps in the moisture (worst word ever) and creates the deliciously crispy crust on the outside.
The video will show you how easy it is to cook steak in the oven + a bonus cocktail and a side dish you can make in minutes. (Also, my cute husband is at the end)
Steak au Poivre
serves 4
4 NY Strip steaks
4 tbs crushed peppercorns
2 tbs butter
2 shallot, chopped
½ cup cognac
½ cup beef stock
3 large russet potatoes, sliced in rounds
2 tbs olive oil
2 tsp flake salt
STEP 1
Preheat the broiler to 500 degrees. Heat a cast iron skillet over high heat until the pan is smoking hot. Pat the steaks dry and push each one into the peppercorns.
STEP 2
Pop the steaks on the hot skillet. Sear 3 minutes each side until browned.
STEP 3
Toss potatoes in olive oil and salt. Spread out on a baking sheet and pop in the lowest rack in the oven for 5 minutes. Check and flip as needed to brown them but not burn them.
STEP 4
Top each steak with ½ tbs butter and pop the pan into the oven. Cook 5-8 minutes until meat thermometer reads 145 degrees. Remove from the oven and let rest covered on a plate with foil for 5 minutes.
STEP 5
Place pan on a high burner and pour in shallots – cook quickly. Add cognac & stock and whisk. Season with salt. Cook to reduce by 1/2. Plate steaks and top with sauce.
NOTES
- Traditionally this is cooked with heavy cream. That didn’t seem needed with this gorgeous steak but if you want to add ½ cup cream with the sherry, it’s delicious.
I don't think you need me to tell you how to make it romantic at home. But I will remind you that music helps. A lot. Have music.
