Taking Steak and Potatoes Up a Notch

Steak de Burgo was created in Des Moines, Iowa around 1939 and can take a steak and potatoes dinner up a notch.

Just another name for steak and potatoes, this rich dish is traditionally made with a good cut of beef tenderloin, covered in a creamy mushroom sauce.

Because it is so easy and quick to make, I thought it would be a perfect recipe for just two people, but ingredient portions could be increased to serve more.

As an accompaniment, my mashed potatoes were made using russets.

Yukon Gold would produce a more creamy, buttery textured dish; however, Russets was what I had on hand.

Regardless if you use Russets or Yukon Gold, the additional ingredients are the same.

Scallions, sour cream, butter, and Dijon mustard are staples in most family refrigerators, for this easy weeknight meal.

Before preparing your ingredients and steak, I suggest you go ahead and cut your potatoes into 1-inch chunks, throw them in a pot, cover with water and start to cook.

Once potatoes come to a boil, simmer until you are ready to use them.  I cooked two large Russet potatoes for two people.

If using Yukon Gold or red-skinned potatoes, you will need about 12-16 ounces, cubed.

I purchased the largest filet Mignon steak I could find at my local butcher.  It weighed just under one pound.

About 20-30 minutes before cooking, I removed the steak from the refrigerator.

It is important to let beef acclimate to room temperature for quick cooking methods.

Link to another article I wrote about this acclimating method

Acclimate For a Good Steak

Because you want the meat to cook quickly, I sliced the 2 1/2-inch thick steak, crosswise, to produce two individual steaks.

About half a pound each.

After slicing, I sprinkled salt and pepper on both sides of each steak and allowed them to acclimate.

Meanwhile, prepare your other ingredients…

Prepare the Steak de Burgo:

Unsalted butter – 1 Tablespoon

Olive oil – 1 Tablespoon

1 cup sliced button mushrooms

2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic

1/4 teaspoon dried basil

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup dry vermouth

chopped fresh parsley for garnish

FOR THE POTATOES…

1/2 cup sliced scallions

3 Tablespoons of sour cream

2 Tablespoons unsalted butter

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

salt and pepper to taste

If you want to speed things up a little bit, you can use already sliced mushrooms, but for the best freshness and flavor, I suggest using whole mushrooms and slicing them yourself.

DIRECTIONS:

Using a 10″ skillet, heat the butter and oil over medium-high heat until butter melts.

Add meat.  Saute until internal temperature reads 130º. This should only take no more than  3-minutes per side.

Make sure you under-cook the meat at this point.

DO NOT COOK IT TO SERVING TEMPERATURE.

Transfer meat to a plate and tent with foil.

Add mushrooms to skillet; saute until browned, 3-4 minutes.

Add garlic, basil and oregano; stir together and cook until garlic is fragrant, 40-60 seconds.

Combine the cream and vermouth in a cup.

Stir into skillet with mushrooms.

Turn down the heat to medium, and reduce mixture by half.

Add meat and accumulated juices to the pan.

Cook until meat reaches desired doneness.
Serve steaks with the sauce.

About Vermouth…

Vermouth is typically made with wine, herbs, spices, flowers, and seeds. There are two styles of vermouth, dry and sweet.

Sweet Vermouth is just slightly sweet and a reddish brown color, usually includes caramel. 

Dry vermouth is popular in martinis and is frequently referred to as French Vermouth.

***Research for this article revealed that dry vermouth should be refrigerated and used within 3 months of opening, due to evaporation of flavor

***HOWEVER, my dry vermouth used in this recipe has been open for six months and was very flavorful in this recipe. It has never been refrigerated.

FINISHING THE POTATOES:

After cooking potatoes till done – a fork enters the potatoes easily; drain in a colander.

Return drained potatoes to hot pot; cover and cook for 1-2 minutes, removing any remaining moisture.

Remove from heat.

Stir in scallions, sour cream, butter, and mustard.

Smash potatoes using a potato masher to reach desired consistency.

Season with salt and pepper.

Let me know if you decide to try this meal and send pictures of how it turned out.

Keeping cooking…

*Adaptation of recipe found in Cuisine For Two Magazine

Print Pin

Steak de Burgo

This really is a simple, filling meal and can be paired with a light red wine or rose for a perfect weeknight meal for two.

Course Beef

Cuisine American

Keyword beef, cooking for two, steak

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 35 minutes minutes

Servings 2 servings

Calories 744kcal

Author Cuisine For Two Magazine

Ingredients

• FOR THE MEAT...
• 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup sliced button mushrooms
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup dry vermouth
• chopped fresh parsley for garnish
• FOR THE POTATOES...
• 1/2 cup sliced scallions
• 3 Tablespoons of sour cream
• 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

• Using a 10" skillet, heat the butter and oil over medium-high heat until butter melts.
• Add steaks. Saute until internal temperature reads 130º. This should only take no more than 3-minutes per side.
• Make sure you under-cook the meat at this point.
• DO NOT COOK IT TO SERVING TEMPERATURE.
• Transfer meat to a plate and tent with foil.
• Add mushrooms to skillet; saute until browned, 3-4 minutes.
• Add garlic, basil and oregano; stir together and cook until garlic is fragrant, 40-60 seconds.
• Combine the cream and vermouth in a cup.
• Stir into skillet with mushrooms.
• Turn down the heat to medium, and reduce mixture by half.
• Add meat and accumulated juices to the pan.
• Cook until meat reaches desired doneness.
• Serve steaks with the sauce.
• FOR THE POTATOES:After cooking potatoes till done - a fork enters the potatoes easily; drain in colander.
• Return drained potatoes to hot pot; cover and cook for 1-2 minutes, removing any remaining moisture.
• Remove from heat.
• Stir in scallions, sour cream, butter and mustard.
• Smash potatoes using a potato masher to reach desired consistency.
• Season with salt and pepper.