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The California Table

California Cuisine with a Coastal Vibe

February 3, 2012

Dinner for Two – A Virtual Progressive Dinner

If the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, then these Steakhouse Steaks will win him a thousand times over. Every bit as juicy and decadent as the steakhouse version, this recipe couldn’t be easier to execute at home. The secret? Heat, and lots of it. Much like romance, really.

And like romance, this dish does require a certain amount of pre-planning. To begin, preheat the oven at 400° for at least an hour; this allows it to get nice and hot. Then enjoy a glass of wine with your Valentine – you have time, after all – before retrieving the steaks from the refrigerator to prep. You’ll need a cast iron skillet, large enough to hold both steaks; one that’s suitable for the oven as well. As you prep the steaks, keep an eye on the skillet – it, too, needs preheating.

Heat. Are you noticing a theme here?

The secret to the success of these steaks is getting a good sear on each side, including the ends. And because you can really attend to, at most, only two steaks at a time, this is the perfect dish for two: you and your Valentine.

As with love, you must be patient as you lovingly sear the steaks, ignoring the heat radiating from the stovetop. You must be precise, to some degree at least, and not allow your attention to wander. But most of all, you must be committed, because without the sear, the process is simply roasting, which is nothing like the steakhouse flavor that’s so easily within your grasp.

With dedication, commitment and an unwavering attention to detail, you can easily master this dish and impress your Valentine, or whomever you spend quality time with. Even if that someone is you. Table for one, or table for two, these steaks always satisfy.

 

5.0 from 1 reviews
Steakhouse Steak
 
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Add some sizzle to your night - these steaks rival those in a steakhouse for flavor and tenderness.
Serves: 2
Ingredients
  • 2 8-10 ounce filet mignon
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable or canola oil
  • 2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Instructions
  1. About an hour before dinner, preheat the oven to 400°.
  2. On the stove, preheat a cast iron skillet over high heat until water flicked onto the surface sizzles; about 8 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, prepare the steaks: blot each dry with a paper towel.
  4. Pour the oil into a shallow dish or plate, and lightly coat the steaks on all sides. Move steaks to a clean plate.
  5. Combine the salt and pepper and rub over the steaks, concentrating the rub on the top and bottom of each steak.
  6. Once the skillet is ready, sear the steaks, about 2 minutes per side, or until you can no longer stand the heat. Sear the edges, too.
  7. Dollap a tablespoon of butter atop each steak.
  8. Using a proven oven mit, carefully place the skillet into the oven and bake, starting at 8 minutes for rare, longer to your preference.
  9. When done, allow the steaks to rest for 10 minutes at room temperature on a plate covered in tin foil.
Notes
Adapted from a recipe by Ina Garten.
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Filed Under: Et cetera

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Carolyn West says

    February 3, 2012 at 8:33 AM

    My husband’s favorite thing to eat is steak and we’ve been talking forever about needed a cast iron skillet. Guess I’ll be running out and buying one. These sound amazing.

    Reply
    • The Gonzo Gourmet says

      February 3, 2012 at 6:19 PM

      Yes get one! You’ll use it for everything and love it forever.

      Reply
  2. Jeanne @JollyTomato says

    February 3, 2012 at 6:06 PM

    This sounds great – I am officially getting out the cast iron skillet for this weekend!

    Reply
    • The Gonzo Gourmet says

      February 3, 2012 at 6:19 PM

      I love my cast iron skillets – I mostly use Lodge, which I’ve seen at Target and Sur La Table.

      Reply
  3. Tonya Staab says

    February 7, 2012 at 5:36 PM

    Adding a cast iron skillet to me ‘must have’ list. I’ve never thought to put steaks in the oven. This is great though because I normally would use my George Foreman (which just died) or have to wait until my husband is town to use the grill.

    Reply
    • The Gonzo Gourmet says

      February 16, 2012 at 5:08 PM

      Tonya I love my cast iron skillets and use them for so many things. They definitely can take a beating. Lodge makes great ones, pre-seasoned too.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. BabyBabyLemon.com says:
    February 3, 2012 at 12:03 AM

    […] head over to The Gonzo Gourmet for Steakhouse Steaks for Two to continue on to the main course portion of the Southern California Lady Bloggers Romantic […]

    Reply
  2. A Romantic Dinner in SoCal « says:
    February 3, 2012 at 1:12 AM

    […] Gonzo Gourmet offers an intimate main with Steakhouse Steaks for Two. Or, offer a creamy family-style dish with Sarcastic, Funny and Brutally Honest’s Creamy […]

    Reply
  3. So Cal Lady Bloggers Romantic Progressive Dinner « says:
    February 3, 2012 at 8:17 AM

    […] yummy did those steaks look from the Gonzo Gourmet? So delish right? Thanks for following along on the So Cal Lady Blogger Progressive dinner. If you […]

    Reply
  4. Valentine’s Day Appetizer « Jolly Tomato says:
    February 6, 2012 at 11:40 AM

    […] Steakhouse Steaks for Two from The Gonzo Gourmet […]

    Reply
  5. Happy Valentine's Day! - The California Table says:
    June 1, 2022 at 4:22 PM

    […] start with the steakhouse steaks I featured a few weeks ago as part of the SoCal Lady Bloggers virtual dinner. And with San Diego wet with rain, an indoor dish sounds perfect (although I was at the beach […]

    Reply

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