Ask Chef Dennis

  • Recipe Index
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • About
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • About
×
Home » Recipes » Beef Recipes

Steak Au Poivre {Restaurant Classic}

Published: Nov 29, 2019 · Modified: Jun 29, 2021 by Chef Dennis Littley

349
SHARES
Facebook349PinterestFlipboard
Jump to Recipe

I don’t eat steak that often but one of my favorite steaks will always be Steak au Poivre. I love the taste of cracked black pepper and steak!

steak au poivre sliced showing medium rare steak served with wilted spinach and cherry tomatoes


 

Have you ever wished you could create delicious restaurant-style dishes in your own home during the holidays to impress your guests?

The truth is, that most are not that difficult to make. It’s just a matter of having the right ingredients and knowing how to put them together. And in the case of Steak a Poivre there really isn’t a lot to know. Make this delicious dish for your meal at home with guests and you won’t be disappointed.

ingredients to make steak au poivre

Let’s start by gathering our ingredients to make Steak au Poivre. In chef speak we call this the Mise en Place or everything in its place. The only ingredient you might not be familiar with on this list is the shallot.

Table of Contents:
  • What is a shallot?
  • Can I use onions instead of shallots?
  • How do you make a  Steak au Poivre?
  • How do I make cracked black pepper?
  • How do I know when a steak is done to the right temperature?
  • What type of alcohol should I use in Steak au Poivre sauce?
  • What type of steak should I use in Steak au Poivre?
  • More Recipes You’ll Love!
  • Recipe: Steak Au Poivre

What is a shallot?

A shallot is a type of onion and like garlic, shallots are formed in clusters with a head composed of multiple cloves. The skin color of shallots can vary from golden brown. gray or rose red. And their off-white flesh is usually tinged with green or magenta.

 Shallots are delicate enough to eat raw and easy to roast or caramelize, making them a flexible and supportive ingredient in many dishes.

Can I use onions instead of shallots?

Yes, you can. The flavor of shallots is milder and more delicate than that of a regular onion, and they can often be used in place of common onions (like white onions or yellow onions). Which means you can also substitute mild onions for shallots in a recipe.

steaks coated with mustard on a white cutting board

How do you make a  Steak au Poivre?

The first step in making a Steak au Poivre is coating one side of the steak with your favorite dijon mustard.

You can use other types of mustard if you like, although traditionally dijon is the mustard of choice. That being said stone-ground mustard or your favorite brown deli mustard would also work.

steaks coated with cracked black peppercorns on a white cutting board

Once you’ve coated the steak in mustard the next step is to crust the steak with cracked black peppercorns.

How do I make cracked black pepper?

If you can’t find cracked black pepper you can easily make your own, using a spice mill or by placing whole peppercorns between two sheets of waxed paper, or in a thick zip-top bag (leaving is slightly open for air to leave). Then using a rolling pin or heavy pan, apply firm steady pressure to crack the peppercorns.

Steak au Poivre cooking on pan with smoke coming up

Once your steak is coated and ready to go the last step is searing the steak. This can be done in a saute pan, cast iron or a carbon steel pan like the one I’m using.

You need minimal oil for the searing and be careful the oil that you do use can get very very hot quickly. Depending on the temperature you want your steak cooked to this can be completed in the pan. Or if you’re like my wife and want your steak completely well done, move it to a 400-degree oven to finish the cooking process.

**You don’t want to cook a steak in a pan until it’s well done.

How do I know when a steak is done to the right temperature?

Using a meat thermometer is the easiest way to make sure your steak is cooked just how you like it. An experienced cook can tell simply by touch, but when you spend that much money on a good cut of beef, don’t leave things to chance.

I absolutely love my Meater Plus | Smart Meat Thermometer It takes all the guesswork out of cooking meats in the oven, on the grill, or in a smoker.

steak temperature chart

**Keep in mind that a steak will continue to cook once its off the heat and the internal temperature will increase by about 5 degrees.

While the steak is cooking its time to make the au Poivre sauce and saute some spinach. If you’re not a fan of spinach, leave it out. It’s not a deal-breaker.

What type of alcohol should I use in Steak au Poivre sauce?

Julia Child used cognac in her sauce and some chefs use sherry. I use brandy in my sauce because I rarely have cognac or sherry in the house.

Bourbon is also a good substitute. (Just don’t tell the French)

What type of steak should I use in Steak au Poivre?

Julia Child used a tenderloin but I’ve always used New York Strip Steaks. Depending upon your favorite cut of steak, you could use other cuts. A ribeye, porterhouse or t-bone would also work. 

steak au poivre sliced showing medium rare steak served with wilted spinach and cherry tomatoes

More Recipes You’ll Love!

  • cut of rare prime rib next to roast on white platter
    Prime Rib Roast Recipe
  • grilled ribeye with crosshatch marks on a white plate with mushrooms
    How to Grill Ribeye Steak
  • rack of pork with end cut off
    Oven Roasted Rack of Pork {Pork Rib Roast}
  • A white plate with filet slices topped with Steak Diane Sauce
    Steak Diane Recipe

[full social]

steak au poivre sliced showing medium rare steak served with wilted spinach and cherry tomatoes

Steak Au Poivre

Chef Dennis Littley
Steak au Poivre is a classic restaurant dish that is easy to make and only takes a few ingredients. Make this for your next date-night dinner or to turn any night into a special occasion.
5 from 64 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 25 minutes mins
Course Entree
Cuisine French
Servings 2
Calories 964 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 2 10 ounce New York Strip Steaks
  • 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoon cracked black pepper
  • sea salt to taste

au Poivre sauce

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoon shallot minced
  • 1 cup mushrooms sliced
  • ¼ cup brandy
  • ¼ cup heavy cream *may substitute light cream, half and half or sour cream
  • ½ cup chicken stock *may substitute beef or vegetable stock
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon flour
  • 2 cups spinach

Instructions
 

  • Remove steaks from the refrigerator and allow to come to room temperature (30-45 minutes).
  • Sprinkle salt to taste on the top and bottom of the steaks.
  • Spread dijon mustard to one side of steak
  • Press the mustard side of the steak into the cracked peppercorns, encrusting the steaks lightly or heavily, as you prefer.
  • Let the steak sit for 10-15 minutes to let the pepper flavor get into the steak.
  • Heat the oil in a saute pan over high heat. When the pan is quite hot, add the steaks, pepper side down. Saute the steaks for about 1 ½ to 2 minutes, until well seared. Turn the steak and cook the other side for 1 to 2 minutes.
    Depending upon how you want your steak cooked it could be done at this point. If you want a well done or medium well steak transfer the steak to a 400 degree preheated oven until it reached the desired temperature.
    *Make sure to have the kitchen fan on! The pepper can be hard to breathe in as the steaks cook.

au Poivre Sauce

  • In a pan over medium heat add the olive oil and mushrooms. Saute until mushrooms are cooked then add the shallots. Stir to mix.
  • Remove the pan from the heat and carefully add the brandy. Place pan back on the stove and keep an arms distance away in case the brandy flames. If it flames it would stay on for long, just until the alcohol burns out.
  • Add the stock and heavy cream, bringing the liquid back to a boil, slightly reducing the sauce.
  • Push butter into the flour until well coated and place in the pan stirring to mix in completely. This is a beurre manie and will thicken your sauce.
  • In another pan, while the sauce is cooking, saute the spinach in a little olive oil.

Assembly

  • Place sauteed spinach on a plate, add steak and top with au Poivre sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 964kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 64gFat: 65gSaturated Fat: 30gCholesterol: 231mgSodium: 408mgPotassium: 1331mgFiber: 4gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 3523IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 113mgIron: 7mg
Tried this recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askchefdennis or tag #askchefdennis!

Comments

    5 from 64 votes (40 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Leslie says

    May 19, 2020 at 4:27 pm

    5 stars
    I wish I had the ability to make my steaks as perfect as this! I might need to keep practicing bc this looks amazing!

    Reply
  2. Lathiya says

    May 19, 2020 at 1:10 pm

    5 stars
    The steak look perfect. Thank you for giving suggestions for ingredients we can substitute.

    Reply
  3. Sabine says

    May 19, 2020 at 3:50 am

    5 stars
    I absolutely love steak au poivre. I have tried to make it various times, but the pepper never sticks to the beef, now I know what I can use. Good Dijon mustard! Together with the sauce this is so tasty.

    Reply
« Older Comments


My name is Chef Dennis Littley, creator and owner of Ask Chef Dennis Productions. As a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen, I share my time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen.

More about me →

Fan Favorites

  • overhead view of barbecued half racks of baby back ribs on a white platter
    Oven Baked Baby Back Ribs
  • sliced meatloaf with the rest of meatloaf on a white platter
    Classic Meatloaf Recipe with Zesty Glaze
  • shredded cabbage mixed with coleslaw dressing in a glass bowl.
    Easy Homemade Coleslaw Recipe
  • Banana bread sliced on a cutting board.
    Banana Bread Recipe
  • chicken parm with pasta on a white plate
    Chicken Parmesan Recipe
  • seasoned crispy chicken legs on a foil wrapped tray
    Baked Chicken Legs

Featured In

Collage showing where Ask Chef Dennis has been featured.

Footer

↑ back to top

INFO

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Accessibility Policy

SUBSCRIBE

Sign Up Today and start getting my easy-to-make restaurant-quality recipes!

CONTACT

  • About
  • Contact

© 2009-2025 · Ask Chef Dennis · 30 N. Gould Street, STE 7204, Sheridan, Wyoming, 82801

Proud Member of:
Mediavine Publisher Network

Let's Get Social

Pinterest Facebook Flipboard Instagram YouTube LinkedIn

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.