Cracked Black Pepper Crusted Filet Medallions (With Cremini)

Sandi (From CA)'s Note:

This has been my favorite dish in ALL food categories for some time now. Thankfully, I don't have a weight or heart problem...yet. ;o) I recommend using filet mignon and Italian cremini mushrooms as they are an integral part of the resulting flavor. I love the way the pepper is tempered by the cream sauce. Just typing this out has prompted me to make this again tonight. Let me know what you think!

• Total Time: 30 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

FOR THE MEAT

• 4 (8 ounce) center cut beef tenderloin steaks (can use sirloin steaks, but of course, it's not the same)
• 4 tablespoons cracked black pepper
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon soft butter

FOR THE CREAM SAUCE

• 6 ounces cremini mushrooms (the Italian brown ones)
• 1 shallot, peeled and minced
• 1 garlic clove, peeled and minced
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon basil, chopped
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons soft butter, unsalted

Directions:

1. While heating the oil and 1 T of butter in a large sauté pan over medium high heat, season the tenderloins with cracked black pepper and salt.
2. Place the tenderloins in the hot pan and sauté for 4 minutes, then turn and sauté for 3 minutes.
3. Cover with foil and set aside.
4. Slice mushrooms and set aside.
5. Heat 2 T soft butter in a large saucepan over medium high heat.
6. When hot, add shallots and mushrooms and sauté for 2 minutes.
7. Add the minced garlic and sauté until it becomes soft.
8. Add the heavy cream and steak juice from set-aside plate and reduce by one-third.
9. Season with salt and pepper.
10. Finally, add the basil and keep warm.
11. Have little hope of keeping your arteries open while enjoying this awesome dish.

Reviews

[I_Fortuna]

Wow ! Yum. Next time I am going to try this recipe with Flax Milk. I will use olive oil as well for flavor. I will also try it covered in butter and blue cheese which go great with beef. I don't eat much meat but this is how I like it and rare! Thanks for this recipe.

[ImAGourmetChef]

In 2 words, Utterly fantastic!

[baking&biking]

Excellent. Subbed skim milk for cream so as was to be expected, my sauce was much thinner, but sooooo excellent! Loved it and so did hubby:)