Go French for a fast and flavorful steak dinner

• Published January 09, 2013

  • 0 comments

A perfect quick dinner is steak au poivre, French for steak with pepper sauce. I used a small piece of beef tenderloin, but any other quick-cooking steak – strip, rib-eye, skirt or flank – can be used.

The accompanying pepper and mushroom sauce uses shallots, a mild-flavored member of the onion family. Shallots break down as they cook, making a smoother sauce than their onion cousins. Red or white onions could be substituted.

The potatoes only take a few minutes in a microwave.

HELPFUL HINTS

Nutrition: This meal contains 557 calories per serving with 29 percent of calories from fat.

Wine suggestion: Merlot, which can be nicely rich and peppery itself, would make a fine match.

Quick prep: The quickest way to wash watercress is to place it head first into a bowl of water. Leave for a minute, then lift out and shake dry.

To buy: 1 pound red potatoes, 1 bottle crushed rosemary, 1 bunch watercress, 3/4 pound beef tenderloin (or strip steak, rib eye, flank steak, skirt steak), 2 medium-size shallots, 1 jar cracked pepper, 1/4 pound sliced button mushrooms, 1 small carton light cream and 1 can olive oil spray.

Staples: Brandy, minced garlic, salt and peppercorns.

Linda Gassenheimer is the author of 14 cookbooks including “The Flavors of the Florida Keys.” Go to dinnerinminutes.com.

Similar stories:

  • Spicy sauce flavors steak

  • Asian take on fried chicken

  • Shrimp dish is fast, easy, won’t make a mess

  • Add rich, luxurious flavor with brown butter

  • Asian-flavored turkey

COMMENTS Community Publishing Guidelines

Join the Reader Network

Do you want The Olympian to keep you in mind when we canvass the community for opinions?

Click here and sign up with our Reader Network to offer your view.