STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

laken1 · Hermes

Filet Mignon - any recipes?

Starstuff · Kenneth Cole

I got some frozen filets as Christmas swag from a client at work.

To prepare them I just defrosted them in the fridge, and then fried them in a pan on the stove with some butter.

My advice would be to cook them until they're pink in the middle, and then take them off the fire and let them sit (either in the pan or on a plate) for at least 10 minutes. They'll finish cooking while off the fire. If you cook them until they're 'done' in the pan, they'll dry out on the plate.

HTH

Aurora · Marc Jacobs

I don't know much about beef so I'm not sure how thick they are but you can grill them on a george foreman grill if they aren't too thick. Its pretty quick and easy. The broiler is really easy too from what I remember seeing my mom do with them. Just season with salt and pepper and broil until done. They use to come out really well too.

beachgirl · Kenneth Cole

I just cooked filets last week using my broiler for the very first time.

We also have a foreman grill, but I asked the butcher what he recommended and he said to use the broiler. They came out so good. We marinated them, and then cooked them in the oven using the broiler. It was really easy and they came out so good! It took about 15 minutes for them to cook, we used a meat thermometer to figure out when they were done. I had never used a broiler before, but it's really easy. Put the broiler pan on the top rack in your oven, put the broiler on high and make sure to leave the over door cracked open. We also flipped them halfway through, which made the tops look really nice.

Very easy and they came out great.

hotcocoa · Kate Spade

my husband always used to marinate and grill them, but the last few times i've pan cooked them and made a red wine sauce to drizzle over the top. here's the quick directions:

salt and pepper both the top and bottom of the filets. heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. cook filets on one side, then then other until they are cooked as you like them. for the red wine sauce, heat 1 cup (for 2 filets) of red wine in a small saucepan until it boils and reduces to 1/4 cup. add 1-2 tbsp of cold butter. swirl pan to melt the butter. season with a pinch of sea salt. drizzle a bit over each filet.

they turn out so much more tender this way then on the grill. beachgirl's broiling idea sounds really good too.

bumblebee · Coach

i just made a recipe from one of nigella lawson's books a few weekends ago and it was so delicious. it's called "sake beef with rice." i used filet and it was so easy and so so so good. i'll get the recipe for you and post--i'll try to remember when i get home tonight. the most work of the whole thing is just making a marinade.

esquiress · Marc Jacobs

just broiled a filet mignon and it was delicious! and seriously, if i can do it, ANYONE can. here's all i did: got a cheap aluminum pan (for $1 at the grocery store), lined it w/ aluminum foil, put the meat on top, put in the oven (set to broil), cooked for four minutes on each side, flipped it a couple of times (i think the total time was 15 minutes) and then put a-1 all over it--yum! i'm sure that's not news to anyone though as i'm a verry unsophisticated cook but yay! if i can do it anyone can! i'm going to try hotcocoa's recipe w/ the other filet soon too.

question for next time: is there any way to check for done-ness besides cutting it in the middle to see if it's still red? also, if i get a meat thermometer, how do i use it and what temp. means the meat is done? tia!

beachgirl · Kenneth Cole

I used a meat thermometer and it worked out great. I got one that came with a quick chart of what temp different kinds of meat and seafood should be when it's done, so I just use that. You can also probably find that info in any cookbook, although I'm not sure about that. I was so proud of myself too when I did this, even though it really is so simple, I just had no idea and was impressed that I could now add filet mignon to my list of dinners!

Another awesome and really easy dinner I just discovered is frozen italian meatballs from tj's. Just put them in a microwave-safe glass container with a lid, pour over a can of spaghetti sauce (I used tj's organic sauce - SO GOOD!), and then microwave for about 4-6 minutes and sprinkle parmesian cheese on top. So easy. Cook some pasta on the side or eat them on their own and they are so good and I think pretty healthy. You could also use the meatless meatballs which are also really good.