Steak Diane for Two

Steak Diane for Two

By Mark Bittman

 

Steak Diane for Two

  • Yield 2 servings
  • Time 20 minutes
  • Though you can follow this procedure with almost any tender cut of beef (and with chicken breasts, if that direction appeals to you), it's a perfect treatment for tenderloin medallions (filet mignon).

Ingredients

  • 2 (6-ounce) beef fillets, cut from the tenderloin (filet mignon), preferably not too lean
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tablespoon minced shallot or onion
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, or to taste
  • ½ cup heavy cream or half-and-half
  • Lemon juice, to taste (optional)
  • Chopped fresh chives or parsley leaves, for garnish

 

Preparation

  1. Flatten fillets a bit with the palm of your hand, the back of a skillet or a small mallet; they should be about 1-inch thick. Sprinkle with salt and a lot of pepper. In small skillet, preferably one just large enough to hold fillets, combine oil and tablespoon of butter over medium-high heat. When butter foam melts, sear steaks on both sides, just until browned, no more than 2 minutes a side. Remove to platter.
  2. Wipe pan clean with towel; add remaining butter over medium heat, with shallot or onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 2 minutes. Stir in mustard, Worcestershire and cream. Add some salt and a fair amount of pepper. Stir once or twice, then taste and adjust seasoning.
  3. Keeping mixture at a steady simmer, return meat and accumulated juices to pan. Cook, turning two or three times, until meat is done to your liking (125 degrees internal temperature for medium-rare). Remove to a plate, and add lemon juice, if using, salt and pepper to the sauce as needed. Spoon sauce over meat, garnish with chives or parsley, and serve.