Description
Succulent filet mignon with peppercorn sauce brings French culinary elegance to your dinner table. Tender beef medallions bathed in rich, creamy sauce create a luxurious dining experience you’ll savor with pure gastronomic delight.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 2 filet mignon steaks (6–8 ounces/170–226 grams each)
Seasonings and Herbs:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns, crushed
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme (or rosemary)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (optional)
Cooking Liquids and Fats:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 cloves garlic, smashed
- ½ cup beef broth
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup cognac or brandy (or sub with extra broth)
- Salt, to taste
Instructions
- Tenderly clean the filet mignon surfaces with paper towels, then generously season with kosher salt and cracked black pepper to enhance natural flavors.
- Ignite a cast-iron skillet over robust medium-high temperature, drizzle with robust olive oil to create an ideal searing environment.
- Carefully place seasoned filets into the sizzling pan, allowing each side to develop a rich caramelized exterior for approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Transition heat to medium-low, introduce fragrant butter, minced garlic, and fresh thyme sprigs to gently baste the protein and infuse additional depth.
- Extract steaks from pan, allowing them to relax and redistribute internal juices while preparing the accompanying sauce.
- Preserve a thin layer of pan drippings, then introduce crushed multicolored peppercorns to release their aromatic essence.
- Deglaze the skillet with smooth cognac, watching the liquid dance and reduce slightly to concentrate its complex flavors.
- Stream rich beef broth into the pan, creating a foundational sauce that captures the skillet’s accumulated flavors.
- Incorporate velvety heavy cream and tangy Dijon mustard, whisking until the sauce transforms into a luxurious, silky consistency.
- Taste and calibrate seasoning with additional salt if necessary.
- Cascade the peppercorn sauce dramatically over rested filet mignon, ensuring complete coverage.
- Present alongside creamy mashed potatoes or roasted seasonal vegetables, complemented by a robust red wine for an elegant dining experience.
Notes
- Enhance meat tenderness by removing steaks from refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking, allowing them to reach room temperature.
- Select high-quality, well-marbled filet mignon cuts for maximum flavor and juiciness.
- Use freshly cracked black peppercorns for a more robust and aromatic sauce.
- Experiment with different spirits like whiskey or brandy to create unique sauce variations.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Searing
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 645
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 634 mg
- Fat: 47 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 27 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 48 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg