Bavette (Flap) Steak With Beurre Rouge & Roasted Potatoes
This was, simply put, stunning. Steak in a shallot/wine/butter sauce with roasted potatoes. Alas, the best things in life are rarely free and this one's no exception. You'll pay... (oh, how you'll pay!) in dietary guilt, to say the least, but when you want to allow yourself a little indulgence, do consider this dish. For now, the cut of beef is pretty inexpensive. In researching "flap meat", aka "flap steak", I came across an article in the SF Chronicle which included this eye-buggingly delicious recipe. Flap meat is very similar to flank and skirt steaks and jam-packed with flavor. This method of cooking results in perfectly done meat that's not tough - be sure to cut against the grain! - and potatoes worth their weight in gold. The sauce is... well, I can't talk about it or.... well, YOU know. ;) Times are estimated.
DIRECTIONS
- Preheat oven to 425°. Place the potatoes on a heavy-duty baking sheet. Toss with olive oil and season with salt and pepper, then spread out cut-side down on the pan. Drape with the rosemary or thyme sprigs, then roast for 15 minutes without stirring, until crisp and brown. Pierce with a knife and if not yet tender, roast for about 10-15 minutes longer. Discard the herbs, or use as garnish.
- Meanwhile, combine the wine, broth, shallots and bay leaf in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium. Keep at a low boil until reduced to 1/2 cup. This could take 25-30 minutes. Discard the bay leaf and set aside.
- (If the steak is too large to fit in one pan, cut it in half to separate the thicker part and the thinner part. Use 2 skillets to cook the steak.)
- Season the steak well on both sides with salt and pepper. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, then add enough olive oil to coat the bottom of the pan. When the oil shimmers, add the steak and cook until browned, about 1 1/2-2 minutes per side. Transfer the meat to a baking sheet and roast in the oven until cooked to your liking, about 10-12 minutes for medium-rare on the thicker part.
- Remove from the oven, tent with foil and let rest 10 minutes.
- If the wine reduction has cooled, reheat gently. Remove from the heat, and add a little of the cold butter, whisking until it melts. Continue adding the butter a little at a time, reheating gently for a moment if necessary, until the sauce has thickened. Season with salt and pepper.
- Slice the steak thinly against the grain. Serve with the beurre rouge and the potatoes.