Steak au Poivre Recipe (2024)

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posted by Amy Johnsonon March 23, 2018 (updated Sep 14, 2021) 13 comments »

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Made with fresh crushed black pepper and a creamy Cognac sauce, Steak au Poivre is not to be missed. It’s absolutely perfect for a special occasion meal.

Steak au Poivre is a dish that we’ve enjoyed for many, many years on special occasions. Randy began preparing it for our special Valentine’s Day dinner each year back when our children were young and not so interested in steak. Now they enjoy it just as much as we do. And no wonder—it’s delicious! If you’re a fan of beef, this is an indulgent way to enjoy it, for sure. Made with fresh crushed black pepper and a cream sauce, with a bit of Cognac, Steak au Poivre is not to be missed.

We originally learned of Steak au Poivre through Alton Brown’s Good Eats years ago. The first time we prepared this dish, the aroma was so enticing, before the steak finished cooking we were already planning the next time we were going to make it. Since then Randy has mastered the preparations, and boy, do I feel spoiled. Originally Steak au Poivre was a something we enjoyed couple of times a year on special occasions, but since our children have flown the coop, it often makes a regular Friday night appearance.

Steak au Poivre is excellent served with a simple side salad and Garlic Lemon Green Beans, or Roasted Asparagus.The peppery cream sauce over asparagus is out of this world! Or roasted potatoes? Oh my!

As I said, Randy has mastered the Steak au Poivre (yay me!) and with a few simple tips, you’ll be mastering Steak au Poivre in no time too.

Tips for cooking Steak au Poivre:

  • Filet mignon/beef tenderloin is the very best steak to use for Steak au Poivre, as well as thickNY Strips (as shown in the photos in this post). Be sure to trim any excess fat or gristle before cooking.
  • An iron skillet is the perfect pan for cooking the steak and sauce. It creates a fabulous sear, cooks evenly and transfers well from the grill to stove, as needed.
  • We use a mortar and pestle to crush the peppercorns. A heavy flat bottomed glass works well. Of course, if needed a pepper mill set on a large grind would work okay too.
  • Most recipes may recommend a non-alcoholic substitute for the Cognac, but it is not something I recommend for this recipe. Cognac adds so much flavor to round out the pepper and cream. The alcohol cooks out during the cooking process. The sauce is divine!
  • I prefer to cook this dish mostly outside for safety reasons. A side burner on a gas grill works great.
  • As always, when cooking meat, especially steaks a meat thermometer is helpful. The recipe below instructs to cook for 4 minutes, each side for medium rare, based on a 1 1/2-inch thick steak. For preferred doneness, adjust cook times accordingly.
  • When you begin to coat steaks in the crushed pepper, it seems like a lot of pepper. I thought the same thing but the cream balances the pepperiness and both those flavors combined with a good steak and the earthiness of the Cognac, oh my goodness.So don’t skimp on that pepper!

Steak au Poivre Recipe

Steak au Poivre Recipe (4)

Steak au Poivre Recipe

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Beef steaks prepared in a skillet and made with fresh crushed black pepper and a creamy Cognac sauce.

Ingredients

  • 4 thick-cut beef tenderloins or NY Strip steaks, 6-8 ounces each, about 1 1/2-inches thick
  • coarse salt
  • 2 tablespoons whole black peppercorns, crushed
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1/3 cup Cognac
  • 1 cup heavy cream

Instructions

  1. At least 30 minutes, up to an hour before cooking, remove steaks from the refrigerator. Sprinkle all sides of steaks with salt. Just before cooking, pat steaks with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. Generously coat all sides of the steaks with the freshly ground black pepper, pressing it into the steaks.
  2. Heat a large heavy skillet over medium high heat. Add butter and olive oil. Just as butter begins to smoke, place steaks in pan. For medium rare, cook for approximately 4 minutes on each side. Adjust cook time according to desired doneness, using a meat thermometer to check for doneness. Transfer steaks to plate; cover loosely with foil.
  3. Turn burner off. Carefully pour Cognac into hot frying pan. Carefully light the alcohol with a long lighter or match; shake and swirl pan around until the flame burns out. Turn heat back on to medium. Whisk in the cream. Continue whisking and bring to a simmer; continue cooking, stirring/whisking until sauce lightly thickens, about 6-8 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste.
  4. Turn off the heat; add steaks back to the pan. Flip to coat all sides with sauce. Serve immediately.

Did you make this recipe?

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Originally published October 25, 2015.

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originally published on March 23, 2018 (last updated Sep 14, 2021)

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Steak au Poivre Recipe (8)

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13 comments on “Steak au Poivre Recipe”

  1. ToriReply

    This looks incredible! I know this is something my whole fam would love!

  2. MedejaReply

    Just looking at it makes me hungry 🙂 must try..

  3. Jamie H.Reply

    I made this for dinner tonight and it was DIVINE!! My family absolutely loved it!!

  4. CarleeReply

    That looks sooooo good! This would be a good Father’s Day dinner idea!

  5. Alison PentlandReply

    So many people are afraid to use cast iron. It took me a long time to get over that they didn’t need to be scoured to death. Looks like a great recipe for this weekend!

  6. Jasmine RodriguezReply

    What Cognac would be a good recommendation, anyone?

    • david

      courvisore spellig may br off

    • Roy

      Actually Korbel works well and it does cost more than the steaks!

  7. ChuckReply

    What is the garnishment depicted in the photograph please?

    • Amy Johnson

      Fresh chopped parsley.

    • david

      and butter

  8. Jabbour RestaurantReply

    Its so yummy I really want to taste it but i cant from here if ever i visited i will try it for sure. Like i visited last year to Dubai and i tried a lot of food in Dubai like Lebanese, American, Thai, Indian, Egyptian etc all foods were fantastics every food has its own taste but lebanese food was awesome that i ate in one of the Lebanese restaurant in Dubai. I ate at 3 4 places but this Lebanese restaurant was amazing if you are visiting must try its lebanese food i hope you will like it as well. Anyway this STAKE is looking very yummy and juicy.

  9. BarbaraReply

    This was easily in my top ten best steaks I’ve ever had. I’m usually not confident in my steak skills but this recipe was crazy easy to follow and the results were perfection.

Leave a comment »

Steak au Poivre Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is au poivre sauce made of? ›

This rich French sauce made of pepper, Cognac, and cream is traditionally served on steak, but it's equally good on pork or salmon. Instead of cream, this version is given body and richness with cornstarch-thickened evaporated milk.

What to eat with steak au poivre? ›

Steak au poivre is traditionally served with French fries and a small mound of watercress. Alternative veggies could be potatoes of any sort, for example roasted rosemary potatoes, or a purée of carrots or celeriac, French style green beans or — given the season — a spring vegetable medley.

What is the difference between steak au poivre and steak diane? ›

What's the difference Between Steak Diane and Steak au Poivre? “Au poivre” is French for pepper and indicates a pan sauce for steak that uses shallots, liquor (Cognac or dry sherry), cream, and copious amounts of coarsely cracked pepper in the sauce. Steak Diane often contains mushrooms and lots less pepper.

What wine pairs best with steak au poivre? ›

If your barbecue sauce has a bit of sweetness, it can pair with a fruity wine, but a traditionally cooked steak au poivre (with its beautiful peppery notes) will work better with the flavor compounds of richly structured, tannic wine like a Cote du Rhône.

What is steak au poivre made of? ›

Master the art of cooking classic French steak au poivre—a pan-seared filet mignon coated in crunchy peppercorns and napped in a rich Cognac sauce. It's très délicieux and a total showstopper!

What is a substitute for cognac in steak au poivre? ›

Substitutions: You can swap sherry, white wine, or whiskey for the Cognac or brandy. Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

What does steak au poivre mean in French? ›

-(ˌ)ōˈpwävr(ᵊ), -v(rə) : a steak that has had coarsely ground black pepper pressed into it before cooking, is served with a seasoned sauce, and is often flambéed with cognac.

Is steak au poivre the same as filet mignon? ›

Steak au poivre (French pronunciation: [stɛk‿o pwavʁ], Quebec French pronunciation: [stei̯k‿o pwɑːvʁ]) or pepper steak is a French dish that consists of a steak, traditionally a filet mignon, coated with coarsely cracked peppercorns.

What steak is the king of steaks? ›

Often referred to as “the king of steaks”, the Porterhouse is actually two steaks in one. One side of the bone yields a succulent and tender tenderloin, while the other side yields a flavourful striploin. Porterhouse steaks are famous for their size.

Which steak is most tender in pepper steak? ›

Flank steak is our cut of choice for pepper steak—it's marbled with fat, full of beefy flavor, and easy to cut into thin, tender slices. That being said, flank isn't your only option. Skirt steak will give you a very similar result, or if you're looking for a cheaper choice, sirloin is another great option.

What is the hardest steak to cook? ›

Skirt, Flank, & Hanger Steak

"Both flank and skirt steaks, while flavorful, are also cuts of beef that are known to be tougher in texture, making them potentially difficult to cook at home–unless you have a grill that can get really hot or you're willing to trip the smoke alarm," says Nunez.

What alcohol pairs with steak? ›

Red wine and red meat pair well naturally together but not everyone enjoys red wine. Thankfully, there are other great beverages, both with alcohol and without, that go just as well with your favorite steak. These include beer, whisky, martinis, white wine, and nonalcoholic beverages like club soda.

Where did steak au poivre originate? ›

Food historians think that the dish originated in the Normandy region of France in the 19th century. Lore has it that it was a favorite late night meal in bistros and bordellos due to the reported aphrodisiac qualities of pepper.

Is au poivre the same as peppercorn sauce? ›

Black Peppercorn Sauce, Sauce au Poivre is a classic peppery creamy sauce, used mainly with pan fried steak. Very quick, easy homemade recipe, made from scratch. What is this? Black Peppercorn Sauce or Sauce au Poivre you'd like to use the fancy name is absolutely wonderful.

What does "au poivre" mean in cooking? ›

: prepared or served with a generous amount of usually coarsely ground black pepper. steak au poivre.

What is the sauce called that is made from chiles and chocolate? ›

Mole sauce is a rich and savoury traditional Mexican sauce made of hot chiles and rich chocolate. It's cooked slowly and flavoured with fresh herbs and spices.

What is the meaning of au poivre sauce? ›

Translated literally, it means peppercorn sauce. An example of au poivre would be steak rubbed with freshly cracked black peppercorns and then added to a cast iron skillet to sear, which is called steak au poivre.

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