Szechuan Steak Au Poivre With Port Ginger Sauce Recipes

SICHUAN STEAK AU POIVRE WITH SCALLION MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Gather your ingredients.
• For the potatoes: Quarter the potatoes. Place potatoes and garlic, crushed away from skins, in a pot. Cover with cold water, cover and bring to a boil. When they boil, remove the lid, salt the water and cook to tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and rice into pot using a food mill or ricer.
• Meanwhile, warm half-n-half or milk and butter in a small pot over medium-low heat. Finely chop the scallions, whites and greens.
• For the steaks: Coarsely grind the peppercorns in mortar with pestle. Pat steaks dry, season with kosher salt and rub with peppercorn mixture. Let stand 10 minutes.
• Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat.
• Peel and finely chop the shallots. Peel ginger with tip of a teaspoon and have a fine grater on hand. Crush the garlic and discard skins and root.
• To skillet add EVOO, 1 turn of the pan, and melt in 1 tablespoon butter. Add steaks and cook 2 to 3 minutes to brown. Flip and cook 2 minutes more. Remove to platter. Add 2 tablespoons butter and when it foams add the shallots, garlic and grate in the ginger. Stir a minute or 2, then add sherry or cognac or brandy, stir, and add bone broth. Reduce by half, 2 to 3 minutes. Finish with creme fraiche to taste. Add beef back to pan and turn to warm in the sauce.
• Add hot milk and scallions to potatoes and season with salt and white pepper to taste.
• Place steaks on plates, top with sauce and cress and scallion potatoes alongside.

SZECHUAN STEAK AU POIVRE WITH PORT-GINGER SAUCE

Steps:

• Finely chop all peppercorns in processor. Rub pepper mixture over both sides of each steak. (Can be prepared 4 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Heat oil in heavy medium skillet over high heat. Season steaks with salt. Add to skillet and cook to desired doneness, about 2 minutes per side for medium-rare. Transfer steaks to plate; tent with foil. Add Port, shallots and ginger to same skillet; boil until liquid is reduced to thin syrup, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. Strain sauce into bowl, pressing on solids and spoon. Return sauce to same skillet; boil until thick syrup forms, about 2 minutes. Whisk in butter; season with salt. Spoon sauce around steaks.