Mushroom Topped Pepper Steak for Two
Does your Valentine love beef? Then this simple, elegant recipe for Mushroom Topped Pepper Steak for Two is the perfect entree for your Valentine’s Day celebration.
Steak and chocolate are always a sure bet for date night or any celebration, and this Filet Mignon for Two is a winner!
Why You Must Make:
- This recipe for two is perfect for date night or Valentine’s Day.
- Dorie Greenspan’s stovetop method is perfect when the grill isn’t an option.
- The results are restaurant-worthy. Or phenomenal as my husband commented.
Recipe Tips:
Two steaks coated with coarsely ground peppercorns, sauteed in a cast-iron skillet, then topped with mushrooms and a creamy Cognac sauce made for a fabulous celebratory entree.
- Dry brine the steaks by sprinkling them with kosher salt then parking them in the refrigerator, uncovered, overnight.
- This process helps infuse some salt into the meat for deeper seasoning, tenderized and helped dry the surface for better browning. It’s definitely worth the couple minutes it takes to do this extra step.
- Add some sauteed mushrooms to the mix. Mushrooms and beef provide the savory taste, umami due to the glutamates in each ingredient. Meaty mushrooms, tender steak and a luscious cream sauce make for one unforgettable dinner!
- PRO-Tip: Use a meat thermometer to cook your steaks to the perfect temperature for your taste buds. Nothing worse than an overcooked, expensive piece of top notch beef!
Cooking Tips for Beef:
Different cuts and thicknesses of beef and different cooking methods need different cooking times. Some seasoned chefs can tell by using a finger to press down on the beef if it’s rare, medium, etc. I like to rely on an instant read thermometer.
- Insert your thermometer into the center of the steak, away from any bone.
- PRO-Tip: Pull your steak off the heat when it’s 5 degrees below your desired temperature as it will continue to have some carryover cooking time.
- PRO-Tip: Cover the meat with foil as it rests for about 10 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to reincorporate and the beef temperature to rise another 5 degrees.
- Rare beef should be cooked to 125 degrees (pull off at 120º) for a cool red center, medium rare cooked to 135º for a warm red center, medium to 145º for a warm pink center, medium well to 150º for a slightly pink center and well to 160º with little to no pink center.*
Frequently Asked Questions
Filet mignon comes from the end portion of the tenderloin which is the most tender section. It does, though, have less fat and is less flavorful than cuts like a ribeye or New York strip.
It is the time when the meat is removed from direct heat but the internal temperature continues to rise due to its retained heat. For this reason, it is wise to pull your meat from the heat source before it reaches the desired temperature. Carryover cooking time will vary depending on the kind of meat you’re cooking, the size of the cut, and the temperature of your oven, grill, etc.
This will vary depending on your personal preference. Grilling provides smoky undertones along with nice grill marks, but inclement weather may make it difficult to grill all year long. The cooktop allows you to cook in butter, offering a tasty crust.
You May Also Like:
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to start planning a romantic dinner for two. An intimate dinner at home is much more appealing than a crowded, overpriced restaurant. If beef is what your man loves, this Filet Mignon for Two is perfect.
- Chicken Marsala for Two is an elegant alternative to beef.
- So is this tasty Balsamic Glazed Salmon.
- Consider serving this Kahlua Tiramisu for Two for dessert or this Classic Creme Brulee.
*Cooking temperatures courtesy of Certified Angus Beef
Mushroom Topped Pepper Steak for Two
Perfectly made pepper steak cooked on the stove top and served with sauteed mushrooms and a Cognac cream sauce!
Ingredients
- 2 filet mignon steaks (beef tenderloin), 2 inches thick*
- Kosher salt
Mushrooms:
- 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced or cut in half
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ⅛ teaspoon finely ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- 2 tablespoons white wine
To make steaks:
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- ½ tablespoon butter
- ¼ cup Cognac
- ½ cup cream
- Kosher salt, to taste (I used a pinch)
- 1 ½ teaspoons coarsely ground black pepper
Instructions
- The night before, season the filets with kosher salt and leave them uncovered in the refrigerator.
- An hour before cooking, remove the meat from the refrigerator and allow it to come to room temperature.
- To make the mushrooms, melt the butter in a skillet, add mushrooms, then season with salt, pepper, and thyme. Cook until soft, then add white wine and cook until the wine evaporates. Remove from pan and set aside.
- To make steaks, add oil and butter to the saucepan (I use a cast iron pan). Heat pan to medium-high.
- Sprinkle steaks with coarse pepper and gently press into the meat.
- Add steaks to the pan and cook for 3 minutes or more per side until internal temperature reaches the desired doneness (I remove at 120º for very rare).
- Remove from pan and cover loosely with foil.
- To make the sauce, pour off excess oil, add Cognac to the pan, and allow it to reduce over medium heat.
- Add cream and cook for a couple of minutes. Taste the sauce and add a pinch of salt if desired.
- To serve, place a steak on each plate, mound with mushrooms and drizzle with the Cognac cream sauce.
Notes
There is enough sauce to serve 4 if you'd like to serve more guests.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 715Total Fat: 58gSaturated Fat: 29gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 23gCholesterol: 188mgSodium: 1025mgCarbohydrates: 9gFiber: 3gSugar: 5gProtein: 27g
28 Comments on “Mushroom Topped Pepper Steak for Two”
This was absolutely amazing..we loved every bite!! Making again soon.
This steak is perfect for a small holiday! It is a great way to make the holiday feel just as special, and it’s delicious!
This is so perfect! Everyone at my house enjoyed this! I will definitely make it again!
Dear hubby loves his steak cooked this way and I would certainly earn brownie points for this one!
Fantastic idea Liz! The Cognac cream sounds fantastic! Now we get why you didn’t use the mushrooms for Madeira;) Exceptional dish, bravo!
You certainly know how to cook a beautiful steak! Love the mushrooms as a complementary topping.
Great minds! Our recipes this week are similar, yet different! I always feel you can never go wrong with a good steak with some sort of boozy sauce for a special dinner!
Deelicious!! Mushrooms make it even better. Looks good, Liz.
Your steaks are absolute perfection, Liz! But you really got me with the Cognac cream sauce. Swooning over here!
Oh yum! Do you mind making a room for 1 more person? I promise to bring wine 🙂 And mushrooms? You really read your mind.
This is just faboulous Liz! I think my love will love this recipe.
This is the perfect Valentine’s meal, Liz! Love that mushroom topping!
Looks beautiful and sure that sauce is wonderful.
Mmmm … that looks so good! A perfect dinner for 2 for Valentine’s Day, or any other day.
LOL. You and Bill are very special people indeed….I’m on the same page as your husband when it comes to sweets…But just short of mooing…Mmm, a little different. Anyway, looks like you’ve got the perfect present for your beloved…P.s. Read your reply on Pies and Plots and am so inspired by your good heart <3 (And always your gourmet made easy recipes!)
This looks picture perfect and ideal for our Sunday night dinner!
Your steak is perfectly cooked. I started salivating the moment I saw the photo.
You cooked that filet to perfection! I never grill, even in nice weather. I have two stainless steel all clad skillets that do all the heavy lifting – steak, fritattas, fish – everything.
I have a similar recipe that we used to make all the time that we loved! Will have to revisit it perhaps for V-day!
Oooh, perfectly cooked filets! My husband just passed behind me and saw your photo. I think this will be his next dinner request 🙂
This is gorgeous! Steve loves steak and will be so happy when I make him this dish!!!!
This would be much loved in our house!
Sounds like a delicious sauce, and I always like mushrooms for a steak topping!
A perfect steak dinner, Liz! better than you would get in many restaurants!
Yum! What time is dinner! This looks wonderful and perfectly cooked!
what a fabulous meal!
I was planning our traditional pot of Chili for the Super Bowl today… Now you have me thinking about the steak in the freezer:@)
That’s a dream meal for any beef lover!