You need to master the technique of making a pan sauce.
This is something every self-respecting cook should know.
Plus it's a perfect one-pan way to get a healthy, delicious steak sauce in the time it takes to rest your meat.
Here's how to make one.
This is something every self-respecting cook should know.
Plus it's a perfect one-pan way to get a healthy, delicious steak sauce in the time it takes to rest your meat.
Here's how to make one.
In addition to your steak you'll need:
- some good-quality bone broth
- wine (optional)
- heavy cream (optional)
- butter
- shallots and garlic
- lemon, parsley, peppercorns, and other flavorings
- some good-quality bone broth
- wine (optional)
- heavy cream (optional)
- butter
- shallots and garlic
- lemon, parsley, peppercorns, and other flavorings
Start by cooking your steak as you usually would in a heavy-bottomed pan, and then set it aside to rest.
See those brown bits on the pan? That's called the fond.
It's full of flavor, and it's what will form the base of our sauce.
See those brown bits on the pan? That's called the fond.
It's full of flavor, and it's what will form the base of our sauce.
Remove any excess oil from the pan, apart from a tbsp or so. If there's no oil left in the pan, add in a small amount. Put the pan over medium-high heat
Add in a diced shallot and cook until translucent. After a minute or two, add 2 minced cloves garlic and cook for another min.
Add in a diced shallot and cook until translucent. After a minute or two, add 2 minced cloves garlic and cook for another min.
Now, we deglaze the pan.
This is where you add a liquid to the hot pan, which helps remove that fond from the bottom and incorporate it into the sauce.
For this recipe I'm using broth, but you can deglaze with wine, reduce slightly, then add broth if you prefer.
This is where you add a liquid to the hot pan, which helps remove that fond from the bottom and incorporate it into the sauce.
For this recipe I'm using broth, but you can deglaze with wine, reduce slightly, then add broth if you prefer.
Add in a cup of bone broth. It will sizzle and steam upon contact.
Use a wooden spoon to scrape up all the fond and give everything a stir.
Use a wooden spoon to scrape up all the fond and give everything a stir.
Allow the sauce to reduce, stirring occasionally. You'll know it's properly reduced when you can drag a spoon across the sauce and it's thick enough to allow a streak to form across the bottom of the pan.
At this point, you can add in additional flavor components. For this step, turn the heat down to low.
Here I added a quarter cup of heavy cream, a few tbsp chopped parsley, and a big squeeze of lemon juice.
Here I added a quarter cup of heavy cream, a few tbsp chopped parsley, and a big squeeze of lemon juice.
Finally, we're going to add in a knob of cold, unsalted butter.
Turn off the heat under the pan, and add a tbsp of butter. Immediately begin stirring it to combine and emulsify. Sometimes i can be helpful to use a whisk for this step, but it's often not necessary.
Turn off the heat under the pan, and add a tbsp of butter. Immediately begin stirring it to combine and emulsify. Sometimes i can be helpful to use a whisk for this step, but it's often not necessary.
Now you're ready to plate it up and enjoy.
By now your steak will be perfectly rested. Slice it up, spoon the pan sauce over it, and enjoy.
By now your steak will be perfectly rested. Slice it up, spoon the pan sauce over it, and enjoy.
The basic formula here:
- cook a steak in a pan
- cook some aromatics in the same pan
- deglaze with a liquid, then reduce that liquid
- add in additional flavorings
- emulsify with butter
- voila
- cook a steak in a pan
- cook some aromatics in the same pan
- deglaze with a liquid, then reduce that liquid
- add in additional flavorings
- emulsify with butter
- voila
There are so many variations to play with flavor-wise.
- red wine mushroom pan sauce
- miso black pepper pan sauce
- creamy chipotle pan sauce
Try out different things and have fun.
- red wine mushroom pan sauce
- miso black pepper pan sauce
- creamy chipotle pan sauce
Try out different things and have fun.
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Step-by-step photo recipes, guides, how-tos, product recs, and a bunch more.
mtcookingclub.substack.com
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