Filet Mignon With Cabernet Peppercorn Demi Glace Recipes

FILET MIGNON WITH RICH BALSAMIC GLAZE

Steps:

• Sprinkle freshly ground pepper over both sides of each steak, and sprinkle with salt to taste.
• Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Place steaks in hot pan, and cook for 1 minute on each side, or until browned. Reduce heat to medium-low, and add balsamic vinegar and red wine. Cover, and cook for 4 minutes on each side, basting with sauce when you turn the meat over.
• Remove steaks to two warmed plates, spoon one tablespoon of glaze over each, and serve immediately.

FILET MIGNON WITH MUSHROOM-CABERNET GRAVY

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the filets with salt and pepper, gently place them into the hot skillet, and sear until well-browned on each side, about 2 minutes per side. Remove the steaks to a platter, tent with aluminum foil, and keep warm.
• Turn the heat down to medium, and melt the butter. Cook and stir the shallot and mushrooms in the butter until the mushrooms begin to give off their liquid and the shallots are translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the wine, beef broth, and thyme, and simmer the sauce until it begins to reduce, 6 to 10 minutes. Return the steaks to the sauce, and simmer briefly until they start to become firm and are reddish-pink and juicy in the center, about 2 to 4 minutes per side (for medium-rare.) An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 130 degrees F (54 degrees C). Remove the steaks to serving dishes.
• In a small bowl, stir the cornstarch and water until it forms a smooth paste. Stir the cornstarch mixture into the pan sauce, and cook and stir until thickened, about 30 seconds. Top each serving with mushroom-wine sauce to serve.

CABERNET PEPPERCORN DEMI-GLACE FOR FILET MIGNON

Steps:

• Season steaks with salt and pepper.
• In a saucepan over medium heat, saute mushrooms, shallots, and peppercorns in oil.
• When shallots are tender, deglaze with red wine.
• Reduce by two-thirds.
• Whisk together the reduction and demi-glace until smooth.
• Whisk in the cream and beef base.
• Combine a few teaspoons of cornstarch (or more as needed) with a little cold water to make a slurry.
• Add slurry to the sauce to thicken; cook for 1 minute and then remove from the heat.

FILET MIGNON WITH CABERNET SHALLOT GLAZE

Steps:

• Preheat a large pan, on medium - high heat. When drops of water sizzle, the pan is hot enough.
• Add the olive oil.
• Wait a few seconds until the olive oil is heated, but not longer or else the oil will burn.
• Place the filets in the pan and allow to sizzle in the olive oil. (This high heat is important to sear the sides and lock in juices and flavors.).
• Sprinkle half of the coarse salt and half of the pepper (adjust according to your preference) on the first side.
• After a couple of minutes, you should notice the bottom of the steaks to be nicely seared.
• Flip over the steaks, and sprinkle the rest of the coarse salt and pepper.
• Wait a couple of minutes so that side is seared also.
• Turn heat slightly below medium.
• While occasionally turning steaks, cook to desired doneness. (I personally recommend medium rare. Cut a small slit in the thinnest steak to check for doneness).
• As each steak cooks, remove it from the pan and set aside on a large plate.
• When all steaks are removed from pan, turn the heat back up to medium high.
• Deglaze the pan with the Cabernet wine. It should sizzle and meld with the beef drippings.
• Add the chopped shallots. If using mushrooms, add them here.
• Rub the sprigs of thyme together so that the small leaves fall off into the pan.
• Add the regular salt, and additional freshly ground pepper if desired.
• Simmer for a minute or two until ingredients are mixed together nicely and shallots are slightly translucent (they are best when still a bit crunchy).
• On your plate of steaks should be drippings that have collected since removing it from the heat. Press a spatula against the steaks to squeeze a bit more juice, and pour all of the liquid into the pan.
• Simmer a minute more, and pour all of the glaze into a serving dish such as a gravy boat or small pitcher.
• Serve steaks and pour a bit of glaze over each one.
• The leftover glaze is best enjoyed with good crusty bread to sop it up. Enjoy!