Put the best part of waking up to greater use with this coffee cured filet mignon! This is the perfect steak dinner for Valentine’s day. It’s a breeze to make, and only requires about 2 hours of preparation if you’re in a rush. The coffee brown sugar marinade helps give this a sealed crust of flavor that makes every bite a little taste of heaven. The beautiful part of this recipe is that it’s easily applicable to other steak cuts, you’ll just have to experiment a little bit with proportions and cook times to make it work for you.
Why cure a steak in coffee?
Oftentimes when we think of having steak we think to pair it with red wine. This is largely because the tannins in red wine and the protein in the steak interact in the perfect way. The tannins soften the fat in the meat which helps release more flavor. Meanwhile, the fat of the steak helps lessen the astringency of the wine making it taste less bitter and a little smoother while bringing out those more fruity notes.
As it turns out, coffee kinda does the same thing albeit differently. The acidity of the coffee replicates the tannins in the wine, which leads to that amplification of flavor and breaking down of the proteins. At the same time, it also works as a tenderizer. Making the meat softer while enhancing the natural moisture of the meat. When you cook it, it also helps create a sealed crust of flavor.
Ingredients
- 9 oz filet mignon
- 2 cups water
- 2 tbsp sea salt
- 4 tbsp coffee
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp Dan-O’s Spicy Seasoning
- Ice
Preparation Instructions
- In a pot add water, salt, coffee, brown sugar, and Dan-O’s and simmer for 1 minute.
- Immediately turn off heat and add ice.
- Once cooled, add marinade and filets to a freezer bag for two hours.
- Remove filets from bag and set aside to allow to reach room temperature.
- Once filets are room temp, add to a 275° F oven until 110° F internal temperature.
- Remove at 110° F and coat with Spicy Dan-O’s Seasoning.
- Preheat cast iron skillet to high heat and sear filets for 2 minutes on both sides.
- Remove from skillet and let rest for 10 minutes.
- Slice and enjoy!
This recipe is simple and fantastic!!! Made it a few time now, turns out perfect! Big points with the girlfriend. I actually tagged the recipe video posted on Facebook! Should add a link to the video here; just a suggestion. Really enjoy the videos. And I near leave comments, but really enjoy the recipes.