Minute Steak With Quickie Cognac Sauce Recipes

Steps:

• Generously sprinkle salt and pepper all over steaks, then let steaks rest uncovered for 15 minutes at room temperature. Meanwhile, mince the shallots.
• Melt 1/2 tablespoon butter and the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until almost smoking. Add steaks and cook until done to taste, about 3 to 4 minutes per side for rare and a little longer for medium-rare or medium. (Bone-in steaks take a few minutes longer to cook through than boneless.) If the pan begins to smoke or burn, lower the heat. Transfer steaks to a plate to rest while you prepare the sauce.
• Add shallots to the skillet and cook over medium heat until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Add brandy to the skillet and use a long-handled match or igniter to set the brandy on fire. (Stand back when you do this.) Let flames die out, then add red wine and cook until reduced and syrupy, 2 to 4 minutes. Add stock and boil until reduced and thickened, 3 to 4 minutes longer.
• Remove pan from heat and whisk in remaining 2 tablespoons butter and the chives. Serve steaks and sauce immediately with watercress.

Steps:

• Put some oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium heat.
• Place the steak on a plastic board and cover with plastic wrap. Pound the steak with the flat side of a meat mallet until it is about 1/4-inch thick. Remove the plastic wrap.
• Sprinkle the steak on both sides with salt and pepper. When the oil begins to visibly smoke, add the steak to the skillet. Cook on the first side, 2 to 3 minutes. (Resist the temptation to flip or move the steak as it cooks.) Turn the steak on the second side and cook until browned and an instant-read thermometer registers between 125 and 130 degrees F for rare, between 130 and 135 degrees F for medium-rare, or between 135 and 140 degrees F for medium, 2 to 3 minutes more.
• Meanwhile, peel and mince the shallots.
• Remove the steak from the skillet to a clean plastic cutting board while you make the sauce. Pour off the excess grease from the skillet. Add the shallots to the skillet along with the butter and cook until the shallots are translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Pull the skillet off the heat and add the cognac. Gently tilt the skillet towards the flame to ignite the alcohol. Cook until the flame subsides and the liquid reduces almost completely. (See below for an alternative method for igniting alcohol.) Add the beef stock, mustard and vinegar and stir to combine. Reduce until thick, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, thinly slice the chives. Add the steak and any accumulated juices back to the skillet. Spoon the shallots and juices over the steak, then transfer back to the cutting board. Slice the steak, then arrange on a serving platter. Spoon over any additional sauce and sprinkle the sliced chives over the top.