Seared Filet Mignon Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500 degrees.
• Let steaks warm to room temperature and rub with water on each side. Apply kosher salt, garlic salt, meat tenderizer, and fresh ground pepper liberally. Sprinkle paprika and parsley on each side for color/garnish.
• Warm olive oil in a grill pan, frying pan, or skillet over medium high heat and add filets while pan is warming. As steaks begin to sizzle, adjust temperature to high heat, gently lift the steaks to prevent sticking and apply pressure to ensure steaks are browning. Repeat process and adjust heat as necessary until steaks are brown (roughly 2 to 3 minutes on each side).
• Upon browning both sides, place steak in an oven safe pan or skillet and roast using the following temperature guidelines (which vary depending upon the thickness of the meat) - rotate halfway through cooking:.
• Rare - 4 to 6 minutes (130 to 140 degrees internal temperature).
• Medium Rare - 6 to 8 minutes (140 to 150 degrees internal temperature).
• Medium - 8 to 10 minutes (150 to 160 degrees internal temperature).
• Use a foil tent as necessary to keep steaks warm until serving. Remember they will continue to cook as they are removed from the heat. I prefer to serve with mashed potatoes and stir fried green beans or sauteed mushrooms.
• The following guidelines help to determine steak temperature without cutting into the steak and ruining the presentation according to Big Oven: very rare feels soft and squishy, rare is soft to the touch, medium-rare yields gently to the touch, while medium yields only slightly to the touch and is beginning to firm up, and medium-well is firm to the touch.
• Safety note per Big Oven: "Doneness" is an issue of personal preference. However, it is recommended that beef be cooked to medium-rare doneness, the internal temperature should reach 145 degrees F to ensure that harmful bacteria have been destroyed. A thick cut of beef that has been cooked to an internal temperature of 140 degrees F, may be removed from the oven, loosely covered, and allowed to rest a few minutes. The temperature will continue to rise about 5 degrees F, reaching proper doneness.

Steps:

• Sprinkle fillets with salt and pepper on both sides. Rub seasoning into meat with your fingers.
• Melt butter with olive oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add filets and cook 5-7 minutes on each side.
• Remove from heat, cover filets with foil and allow to stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• Pat the steaks dry, then sprinkle with 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Firmly press the seasoning into the meat.
• Heat the oil in a medium stainless steel skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking, about 2 minutes. Add the steaks and cook until a golden crust forms, about 2 minutes. Flip with tongs and cook until golden on the second side, about 2 minutes (see Cook's Note). Flip again and cook for 2 minutes. Flip once more and add 4 tablespoons of the butter and the thyme and garlic. Let cook, undisturbed, until the butter stops foaming, 1 to 2 minutes. Tilt the pan slightly so the butter pools and spoon it over the steaks. Continue to cook the steaks, basting constantly, until they are medium rare and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center registers 118 degrees F, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Transfer the steaks to a plate to rest. Discard the garlic, thyme and fat from the skillet, but do not wipe out the browned bits.
• Place the same skillet over medium heat and add the shallots and 1 tablespoon butter. Cook, scraping up the browned bits with a wooden spoon, until softened, about 2 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat and add the brandy. Return the skillet to the heat and continue to cook over medium until the skillet is dry, being careful as it may ignite, about 2 minutes. Add the wine and cook until the liquid reduces by half, about 3 minutes. Add the beef stock and bring to a boil. Whisk in the remaining 3 tablespoons butter, 1 tablespoon at a time. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• To serve, slice the steak, spoon the sauce over the top and sprinkle with the chives.

Steps:

• Make garnish:
• In a medium saucepan of salted boiling water blanch onions 3 minutes, or until barely tender, and drain in a colander. Peel skin away from each onion, keeping it attached at root end, and pat onion dry. In a heavy saucepan heat 2 cups oil until a deep-fat thermometer registers 375°F. and fry onions in 2 batches until crisp and brown, about 1 minute. Transfer onions as fried with a slotted spoon to paper towels and drain. Season onions with salt and pepper and cool. Onions may be made 8 hours ahead and kept, covered, at room temperature.
• Preheat oven to 425°F. and oil 2 baking sheets.
• Cut potatoes lengthwise into 1/2-inch-thick slices and arrange in one layer on baking sheets. Lightly brush slices with some oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast potatoes in middle and lower thirds of oven until golden brown and tender, about 35 minutes, and keep warm.
• Pat filets mignons dry and season with salt and pepper. In a large heavy skillet heat 2 tablespoons oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and brown filets on both sides, without crowding, about 5 minutes total. Transfer filets to a shallow baking pan and roast in middle of oven about 10 minutes for medium-rare.
• On each of 6 plates fan 3 potato slices and top with a filet. Drizzle filets with some sauce and garnish with onions. Serve remaining sauce on the side.