CHATEAUBRIAND FOR TWO

Chateaubriand for Two image

While searching for French Canadian recipes to post for Culinary Quest 2015, I found this recipe: Chateaubriand for Two with Lobster Tails, Chateau Potatoes, and Bearnaise Sauce on cooking.com website. I left off the lobster tails, but one could still add 2 lobster tails. Serve this with salad and bread for a wonderful...

Provided by Lynn Dine

Time 1h10m

Number Of Ingredients 21

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Ingredients

FOR THE POTATOES
1 pound russet potatoes, peeled
2 tablespoons butter
salt and pepper, to taste
2 teaspoons minced parsley
FOR THE BEARNAISE SAUCE
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon dry white wine
1 tablespoon minced shallots
1 tablespoon fresh minced tarragon (tarragon vinegar can be substituted for the fresh tarragon in the bearnaise sauce)
3 black peppercorns, cracked
2 egg yolks
1/2 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup melted butter
salt and pepper, to taste
1/2 teaspoon minced chervil
FOR THE CHATEAUBRIAND
1 pound center-cut beef tenderloin, prime or choice grade, side muscle removed
salt and pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, mashed to a paste

Steps:

1. TO PREPARE THE CHATEAU POTATOES: Cut the potatoes about 3/4 inch wide by 3/4 inch deep and 1 inch long. Carve each piece into the shape of an olive (relatively uniform pieces will cook evenly). Melt the butter over medium-low heat in a large nonstick saute pan. Add the potatoes and saute for about 15 minutes, or until light golden brown and cooked through. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and toss with the parsley. Keep warm.
2. TO PREPARE THE BEARNAISE SAUCE: Combine the vinegar, wine, shallots, 2 teaspoons of the tarragon and peppercorns in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer and reduce the liquid by half. Let cool until lukewarm. Transfer to the top of a double boiler set over briskly simmering water, and add the egg yolks and lemon juice, whisking constantly until the mixture thickens to the consistency of heavy cream. Add the butter and whisk until the sauce thickens again. Season with salt and pepper and strain the sauce into a clean saucepan; thin with a little water if necessary. Keep warm, and just before serving, stir in the remaining tarragon and the chervil.
3. TO PREPARE THE CHATEAUBRIAND: Preheat the broiler. Season the steak with salt and pepper, and place in a shallow bowl. Combine 1 tablespoon of the olive oil with the garlic and spread over the entire steak. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the steak on all sides for about 4 minutes, or until browned. Transfer to the lowest rack of the broiler and broil for about 10 minutes longer for medium-rare or 12 minutes longer for medium. Remove from the broiler and let rest about 5 minutes before cutting
4. TO SERVE: Spoon about 2 tablespoons of bearnaise sauce onto the center of warm dinner plates and spread out to make a 3-inch circle. Cut the Chateaubriand in half and place it cut side down onto the bearnaise sauce. Place the lobster beside the Chateaubriand so that it curls around the steak. Arrange the potatoes on the other side of the steak. Spoon more bearnaise sauce over the steak and along the length of the lobster. Drizzle extra bearnaise around the edge of the plate, if desired.