Recipe: Steak Diane (or Chicken/Pork/Turkey Diane)

Today's world food that you can prepare in your home kitchen is Steak Dianne. This widely popular dish seemingly comes from the annals of French culinary tradition. Perhaps even as far back as the middle ages. However, its lineage isn't clear or straightforward and much to the chagrin of many a French chef, the modern and popular version of Steak Diane (much like the Chinese dish of General Tso's Chicken) may have come straight out of New York City! Hey, let the food historians battle it out over details. I'm in this game for the eats!


This particular recipe comes my way via my friend, Dave "The Food Ninja" (photo to the right). You may remember Dave from the "Academica Steak Sandwich" recipe elsewhere on this blog. There I described how, through his powers of discreet and diligent observation he was able to get the recipe for those sandwiches for himself and good friends. On that occasion he plied his craft to quickly get a great recipe for a much-loved and simple, everyday food. I'll thank him now for that (thanks Dave!) For the recipe below however, Dave had to push his talents to the extreme. The Food Ninja gets what he wants, the Food Ninja will not be denied.

The whole affair started years ago at a favorite restaurant of ours in Providence, RI. We all had our favorite dishes there. My own being Oysters Rockerfeller and Beef Wellington, for the Food Ninja it was frog legs and Steak Diane. Supremely, it was the steak Dianne. He got it all the time, and each time, the moments between him ordering it and it arriving drove him a little mad. He would fidget in his seat and squirm in anticipation and then it would arrive and he would be in gourmet ecstasy. Time and time again, year after year, the ritual played itself off with nary the slightest variation. Finally, he decided he had to get the recipe and prepare it for himself. Not just any recipe, but THAT recipe. The Food Ninja went to work.

"How?" you may ask (if you care). I'll tell you how. He got a job washing dishes there that's how! Several nights a week after his regular 9 to 5 he'd schlep his way to Providence, don the white smock and apron and enter the steamy dishwasher's station and get covered in leftovers and slop until midnight. Week in, week out, he'd sacrificed his free time, his family and the small pleasures of leisure just to get closer to that recipe.

His ruse was perfect. He was so dedicated that his work at the dishwasher's station got him promoted to busboy. In kind his work there after a short while led to a choice of opportunities as either a waiter (much coveted) or as a line cook. He jumped at the opportunity to cook knowing it would bring him closer to his sacred recipe. A recipe from the chef's own book, a book the chef kept by his side, a book he protected from all prying eyes.

Weeks passed and while over time the general preparation of the recipe revealed itself, he still didn't know all the ingredients. He bided his time. Soon he celebrated his first anniversary working at the restaurant and while his experiences there taught him much (he was lauded for his Cherries Jubilee), and earned him some extra cash, what he desired most still eluded him. Then one day came the break he was waiting for.

A new line cook was preparing to flambe some coq au vin when the full bottle of cognac slipped from his hand and broke on the stove top. Flames shot high into the vent hood and that triggered the automatic fire extinguishing system. The chef was furious and in the resulting confusing and commotion of foam, flambe, mushrooms and chicken The Food Ninja struck. He quickly opened the book and scribbled what he needed to know. Afterward he finished his shift and quit that evening turning in his apron. Despite another promised promotion, he never returned to the restaurant. He didn't have to, he had gotten what he wanted and now you have it too.

Steak Diane (or Chicken/Pork/Turkey Diane)

1-2 lbs Beef Tenderloin, Pork, Chicken or Turkey pounded in 1/2 flat cutlets
Dijon mustard
2-3 shallots (chopped)
4-5 garlic cloves (chopped)
6-7 mushrooms (chopped)
1-2 Tbs olive oil
1 Tbs Worcestershire sauce
1-2 Tbs sweet butter
Tabasco sauce
1-1/2 cup of brown gravy
Brandy
1/4 cup light cream
Parsley (chopped)

Liberally spread some mustard on both sides of your selected meat. Use just enough to cover the meat.

Preheat a skillet large enough to to fit all the meat, when hot add the olive oil. When the olive oil begins to shimmer add the meat and cook it. If using beef cook just short of desired level of doneness. If using other meats cook almost entirely. When finished remove meat from the skillet and set aside.

To the skillet add: shallots, garlic, and mushrooms, season with a little salt and pepper to taste and sauté for a few minutes until the ingredients are cooked.

Now, (with a fire extinguisher close at hand) add the two shots of brandy and light with a grill lighter or tip the pan towards the stove flame. Let it burn until the flames subside. When flames are gone stir the pan, scraping up any bits from the pan.

To the sauté mixture add the gravy, Worcestershire sauce, several dashes of hot sauce and a heaping tablespoon of the Dijon mustard. Bring this all to a simmer then add the butter and the light cream and blend it well. Add the meat back to the gravy mixture and warm through.

Plate with the sauce and sprinkle with the chopped parsley.
Recipe: Steak Diane from Chop Onions, Boil Water by Henry Krauzyk http://www.choponionsboilwater.com

Recipe: Smoked Pork Tenderloin

I've got a big 'ol locomotive-sized smoker out back that I jokingly refer to as Hank's Smokehouse. It has become the basis for all of my barbeque and smoking recipes of which there are many and the list continues to grow.

When I fire up the smoker, I like to make the best of the time, charcoal and wood, so I'll load it up with whatever it can handle. Usually, there will be a few pork tenderloins, pork loins, a brisket, a couple of chickens or a turkey, some beans and even some fish. Yeah, I like smoked foods.

For the love of space and time, I can't go into a whole dissertation on the art of smoking so, I've just put the basics below. You should know, that it is not difficult. Once you understand your smoker and what you're going for, it's pretty easy and not a bad way to spend a day by the pool. I'd just suggest having some "smoking clothes" set aside just for that purpose.

This is an easy recipe (most smoking ones are), the bonus of this one is that unlike beef brisket which likes to be in the smoker for over 12 hours, pork tenderloins are fast smokers. If I remember right I've even got some done in less than an hour.

If you've always wanted to smoke food, go for it, you won't be disappointed!

Smoked Pork Tenderloin

1 Pork tenderloin
1/2 cup of paprika
3 TBS coarse black pepper
3 TBS sea salt
3 TBS brown or turbinado sugar
2 TBS chili powder
1 tsp dry chipotle pepper (ground fine)

Day one:

Mix the paprika, black pepper, salt, sugar, chili powder and chipotle pepper together. Set aside.

Rinse the tenderloin and pat it dry.

Place the tenderloin in a large plate and massage the dry rub mixture on to it. Be sure to coat it evenly and well.

Wrap the pork tenderloin up in plastic wrap and allow it to marinate in the refrigerator overnight or for at least 4 hours.

Day two:

Soak your smoking wood of preference (I use hickory for this) in water for about 30 minutes prior to using.

Fire up your smoker. When the charcoal is ready add a few pieces of the wood. Again, if you're thinking about smoking food I encourage you to do a little research, but generally:

You're looking to keep the temperature in the smoker between 200° and 225°F. You want to do this with an absence of flame. You want hot charcoal that keeps your wood smoking. This is all done by venting the amount of air going in the smoker and venting the amount of smoke out. You replace your smoking wood as need and with a little practice, this is easily accomplished using a minimum amount of that wood.

The tenderloin is finished when the internal temperature of the thickest part reaches 155°F. Remove it from the smoker, wrap it in aluminum foil and let it stand for about 10 to 15 minutes. Slice and serve. Wrap and freeze unused portions, they hold up well in the freezer.

Recipe: Smoked Pork Tenderloin from Chop Onions, Boil Water by Henry Krauzyk