Tuscan Porterhouse Steak with Red Wine-Peppercorn Jus

Makes2 servings
  • Active time: 20 min
    Total time: 35 min
A porterhouse is the perfect steak for two to share because it contains good-sized portions of two of the most prized muscles in a steer, each located on either side of the center bone. The top loin, the larger of the two, is the same piece of gorgeous meat as that steakhouse staple, the New York strip. The tenderloin, attached to the other side of the bone, may be smaller, but it’s a much larger portion (technically, it has to be 1 1/4-inches in diameter) than you get in a T-bone steak. If you can find dry aged, try it. It’s a bit more expensive but yields more tender and flavorful meat. We pan-roast the steak with the Tuscan stalwarts of garlic, rosemary, and thyme, then serve it with a velvety red-wine reduction.
Published in Gourmet Live 02.09.11

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 (1 1/2-pound) porterhouse steak (1- to 1 1/4-inches thick)
  • 2 teaspoons black peppercorns, coarsely crushed (see Cooks’ Notes)
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt plus more for seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into tablespoon pieces, divided
  • 2 (4-inch) sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 5 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 3 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1/2 cup medium-bodied dry red wine (such as Chianti, Rioja, or Merlot)
  • 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth

EQUIPMENT:

  • An ovenproof 12-inch heavy skillet

INSTRUCTIONS:

  • Let steak sit at room temperature 15 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 450°F.
  • Pat steak dry and season both sides with peppercorns and 2 teaspoons kosher salt. Heat oil and 1 tablespoon butter in skillet over medium heat until butter melts. Add rosemary, thyme, and garlic and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until herbs and garlic are fragrant, about 1 minute.
  • Add steak and cook until nicely browned, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer skillet to oven and cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted into steak registers 110°F for medium-rare, about 5 minutes (or 120°F for medium, about 10 minutes).
  • Transfer steak with tongs to a small platter, setting aside skillet, and let steak rest 10 minutes.
  • While steak rests, pour off oil from skillet, leaving garlic and herbs in skillet. Add wine and boil over medium-high heat, scraping up browned bits, until reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Add chicken broth and any meat juices from platter and boil until reduced by half, 5 to 6 minutes. Whisk in remaining 2 tablespoons butter until incorporated, then season with salt and keep warm.
  • To carve: Transfer the steak to a cutting board and cut meat off both sides of the bone (you should have two solid pieces of steak). Thinly slice each piece, then rearrange the slices around the bone on a platter. Drizzle with the jus.

COOKS’ NOTES:

  • Coarsely crush the peppercorns with a mortar and pestle, or put the peppercorns in a resealable plastic bag and coarsely crush them with the bottom of a heavy skillet, meat pounder, or rolling pin.
  • When browning the steak, don’t move it around. Let it cook undisturbed (only flip it once), so that a nice crust forms.

Photo: Chris Gentile

Recipe by Kay Chun, with Food Styling by Paul Grimes

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