Steak Au Poivre

Remove the two steaks from refrigeration, pat dry with paper towels and set on a rack over a plate.

Pat the teaspoon of kosher salt over all tops and sides of each steak then let them sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.

While the steaks are resting, place the two types of peppercorns in a mortar and crush with a pestle to a coarse consistency, do not use a grinder. Alternatively, you could place the peppercorns in a kitchen towel and crack with a mallet or the bottom of a heavy pan. Some uncracked pieces are fine.

Cut the shallots and prepare and measure out all other ingredients before you start.

Place the steaks on a plate and pat on cracked peppercorns to top. Flip steaks and repeat for the opposite side. Press any peppercorns from the plate back onto the steaks so all of the peppercorns get used.

Turn oven to a warm setting (the lowest temp for your oven – 250 degrees F or less) and place two dinner plates in to warm. Try not to get them too hot.

When ready to cook, turn your stove fan to high and heat a cast iron pan on high heat and once smoking hot, add two tablespoons of the butter. Be ready for close-by smoke detectors to start singing.

The butter will melt then start to froth and brown. As soon as the butter starts to brown add both steaks and do not touch them for four minutes.

Flip and cook between three and six minutes on the second side depending on the thickness of the steak and your level of doneness. I always use the poke test where I tuck my thumb into my palm and make a loose fist. If I press on the pad above my thumb, that is how a medium rare steak will feel. If I squeeze tighter and press, that is how a medium steak will feel. If I open my hand and press the pad, that is how a rare steak will feel when poked. This method works extremely well for me. A steak that is 1 ½-inches thick should take about 8-9 minutes total. A 2-inch steak will take closer to 10 minutes, possibly longer, depending on how you like it cooked of course. Also don’t forget that the steak will need to rest and cook a little more off-heat. For steaks 2-inches and greater, you may need to sear the sides as well as the top and bottom so try to keep them under 2-inches thick. An 8-ounce steak should be right at 1 ½-inches thick. (See this tutorial on the Easiest Way to Tell when Steak is Done).

Remove the cooked steaks to the warm plates and cover each loosely with foil.

Turn heat under pan to medium and add the last tablespoon of butter. Once melted, add the shallots and stir and cook one minute.

Please take caution with this next step as you will be igniting the cognac.

Shut off heat and pour in the quarter cup of cognac then turn the heat to high. With a long match, light cognac. It will flare up for a second or two then go out as the alcohol gets burned off. Cook until most of the cognac has cooked off, about a minute or two.

Add the beef stock and boil to reduce to a third, about five minutes.

Add cream and once it starts to boil, reduce to a medium simmer and cook until the back of a spoon gets coated when dipped in the sauce. As it reduces, it thickens.

Remove from heat and stir in the teaspoon of cognac then taste. Add more kosher salt as needed. I added ½ teaspoon.

Place the steaks back into the sauce and coat. Then remove back to the serving dishes and serve with the sauce on the side or poured over each portion.