Steak Au Poivre Recipe

For your date night, we’re taking you straight to the City of Love! Transport your taste buds to Paris with our own take on the classic French favorite, Steak au Poivre. Indulge in a juicy peppercorn-crusted filet mignon that’s seared to perfection and slathered with a liquor-infused cream sauce.  

This dish is perfect for a cozy candle-lit dinner for two. We promise that nothing will impress your date better than a perfectly seasoned prime cut of steak. Our easy Steak au Poivre recipe boasts an effortless marriage of flavors. 

You can whip up this show-stopping entrée in a few simple steps. But first, you’ve got to make sure you only get the best ingredients.

Choosing The Best Ingredients For Steak Au Poivre

It’s always a good rule of thumb to use the best ingredients for the main components of your dish if you want to level up your food. Steak au Poivre is French for “pepper steak,” so it’s best not to skimp on both the pepper and the steak cut.

Tender Steak Cuts Like Filet Mignon Work Best

Steak is the star of this entrée. The cut of meat used for traditional Steak au Poivre is filet mignon. Found on one small end of the beef tenderloin, filet mignon has little connective tissues which makes it more tender than the rest of the beef. This makes filet mignon one of the most sought-after cuts of steak. It makes up only about 8% of the whole cow, too. These two factors make filet mignon a bit more expensive than your ordinary steak. But hey, it doesn’t hurt to splurge and treat yourself a little, especially during special occasions like Valentine’s Day! 

Compared to other cuts of steak, filet mignon has less marbling. Marbling is the ratio between fat and muscle content in the meat. The amount of marbling on the steak usually corresponds to how tender it will be. Despite this apparent lack of fat, filet mignon has the ability to stay incredibly tender if cooked the right way. Moreover, this unique structure of filet mignon allows it to hold heavy sauces and seasonings. 

Filet mignon also tastes milder than other cuts, making it the perfect canvas for the black peppercorn rub that Steak au Poivre calls for. A good amount of seasoning from the salt and pepper should transform this delicate steak into one that’s bursting with meaty flavor and pairs well with our rich au Poivre sauce.

If you can’t get your hands on filet mignon, then beef tenderloin is your second best bet. This is also the best option if you’re looking for a slightly cheaper alternative. Tenderloin has the same disc-like shape as filet mignon as they come from the same location. The beef tenderloin should also be somewhat similar in terms of taste and texture to filet mignon.

Selecting The Best Peppercorn Variety Is Crucial

The second most crucial component of any pepper steak recipe is peppercorn for the steak’s crust. Some people like to make Steak au Poivre with either green or black peppercorn, or a mix of both. For our Steak au Poivre recipe, we recommend using black peppercorn as it has a greater amount of spice and aroma compared to its other variants. 

To maximize the black peppercorn’s bite, it’s best to purchase whole peppercorns instead of ground and/or pre-crushed ones. Cracking the peppercorns just before using them to coat the steak ensures that your Steak au Poivre gets the full nutty and spicy black peppercorn flavor. It’s also important to have the maximum taste from the peppercorns so as to impart flavor to the basting butter and oil. Moreover, you’ll also be adding some of them later to the cream sauce to further enhance its flavor. 

Add Cognac To Cream Sauce For Greater Flavor

Besides the two main ingredients, we also can’t forget about the sauce. For the au Poivre sauce, it’s traditional to infuse the cream sauce with cognac. This French liquor is used for a lot of rich dishes, and it’s a staple to the cream sauce of this French recipe. The fruity and spicy notes of cognac should give the Steak au Poivre sauce an extra depth of flavor.

Cognac is also a worthy pairing to your succulent filet mignon as they are both luxurious ingredients, perfect for making just anybody feel like a hundred bucks. If you’re on a limited budget, brandy is also a good alternative.

Our Steak au Poivre recipe also calls for a bit of Dijon mustard for the cream sauce. Although this isn’t traditional, rich Dijon mustard will marry well with the au Poivre sauce by adding the necessary amount of tanginess to the dish.  

The Basics Of Making Steak Au Poivre 

After you’ve gathered all the ingredients for Steak au Poivre, the next step is to prep them before cooking. Preparing the ingredients is a vital step for this pepper steak recipe because you have to be quick when cooking an ingredient as delicate as steak. With your ingredients prepped and ready, you wouldn’t risk burning your steak while fumbling for them.

Preparing Your Steak before Cooking

As mentioned earlier, steak is a delicate ingredient, in particular, the prized filet mignon. Because filet mignon has a lower fat content, it can be pretty easy to overcook. This will make the meat tough. You wouldn’t want to waste a high-quality ingredient with this mistake.

The first step of making sure that this doesn’t happen is by preparing your steak ahead of time. It’s usually best to allow your filet mignon or tenderloin to rest on your countertop for at least 30 minutes before cooking. Cooking room temperature steak will give you the beautiful brown crust and juicy insides you’re looking for. 

Tip: Always let your steak reach room temperature before cooking it so it can cook more evenly.

To season your steak, you should generously salt both sides of your steak making sure that both sides of the steak are completely coated. It may look like a lot, but as filet mignon tastes less pronounced than other steak cuts, it would be just the right amount of seasoning. 

Tip: Crush your peppercorns for maximum flavor and texture!

Afterward, you have to crack your black peppercorns into coarse pieces. You don’t have to pulverize the peppers. Coarsely crushed peppercorns make for a crunchier crust on the pepper steak. As with the salt, you also have to liberally coat your steak with the peppercorns for that maximum kick of spice. 

How To Cook The Best Steak Au Poivre and Cream Sauce

Make sure to follow the tips below for the best Steak au Poivre!

Cook Steak au Poivre in a single skillet. While a frying pan should also be able to do the job, we recommend using a cast-iron skillet for this recipe. A cast-iron skillet gets hotter and cooks more evenly. This makes for a browner, more satisfying sear on the steak. 

Ensure the perfect level of doneness by using the right thickness. A cut that’s either too thick or too thin might leave you with an undercooked or overcooked steak. We don’t want that to happen, so we recommend getting a 1.5-inch thick filet mignon. For a filet mignon this thick, when cooked at 3½ minutes on both sides, you will get the perfect medium-rare doneness. 

Cook down the alcohol in the cream sauce. When making the dijon cream sauce, you’ll need to reduce your cognac or brandy by half by cooking it down. This step lessens the alcohol content of the liquor while keeping and enhancing its unique flavors. If you’re feeling quite confident, you can put on a show by doing a flambé instead. Flambé is French for “flamed,” a trick where you have to set the liquor on fire to burn the alcohol. If you want to know more, check out the recipe notes below. Just remember to always practice caution.

What Sides To Serve With Steak Au Poivre

Don’t waste your pepper steak’s potential by serving it with bland food. Your juicy, melt-in-your-mouth filet mignon deserves to be served alongside dishes that are equally as delectable. 

Steak au Poivre is traditionally served with a side of vegetables. For special occasions, you’d want to serve something a bit more elevated that complements the pepper steak. Instead of the usual french fries or potato gratins, serve your pepper steak with a side of tasty roasted marble potatoes with rosemary. These potatoes should have just the perfect amount of crispiness to compliment the creaminess of the au Poivre sauce. 

You can also add a pop of color to your dish with some healthy greens like roasted asparagus. A side of asparagus should give a refreshing break from all the richness of the Steak au Poivre. The best part is, it’s easy to make. So you don’t have to stress over messing up your side dishes.

For dessert, continue to impress your guest with an easy but classy dessert. Serve an indulgent chocolate ricotta mousse in some dainty glasses for some extra flair. Who would say no to a chocolatey fluff? This is the best way to end the meal.