Easy Steak with Pan Sauce

Step 1

Let1–1½ pounds steaksit at room temperature for as long as possible before cooking (even if it’s only for 10 minutes, that’s fine). Pat steak dry with paper towels.

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Step 2

Heat a medium dry skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium. Season steak while you wait for the skillet to get nice and hot. Sprinkle lots ofsaltandpepperon both sides of steak—A LOT. Use several generous pinches of salt and several cranks of pepper per side. Press salt and pepper into meat so it adheres.

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Step 3

Pour1 Tbsp. oilinto skillet and swirl to coat. Using tongs, gently lay steak in skillet and cook until underside is deeply browned and a crust has formed, about 5 minutes. Once or twice, lift up steak and reposition over hotter areas of the skillet to encourage even cooking.

Step 4

Turn steak and cook until reverse side is equally browned and steak is medium-rare (an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part will register 120°), another 5 minutes. If steak has a fat cap or is more than 1" thick, upend with tongs and sear sides until browned. Remove skillet from heat. Transfer steak to a cutting board to rest.

Step 5

Let skillet cool about 5 minutes. While skillet is cooling, peel and finely chop1 shallot. Smash2 garlic cloveswith the flat side of your knife and remove peel. Cut¼杯(½棒)黄油into 4 Tbsp.-size pieces. Set aside and have at the ready.

Step 6

Using paper towels, blot around skillet to soak up any blackened oil, but leave browned stuck-on bits behind.

Step 7

Place skillet back over medium-low heat and add shallot, garlic,2 sprigs thyme, and 2 Tbsp. butter. Swirl skillet to melt butter and cook, stirring often with a whisk, until shallot is golden brown, 2–3 minutes.

Step 8

一个dd½ cup waterto skillet and whisk to dissolve stuck-on bits. Whisk in2 Tbsp. mustardand2 tsp. Worcestershire sauceuntil smooth.

Step 9

Still working over medium-low heat, add remaining 2 Tbsp. butter and whisk constantly until butter is dissolved and sauce is smooth and thick, about 1 minute. Remove skillet from heat. Taste sauce and season with more salt (only if needed) and pepper.

Step 10

Cut steak against the grain into ½”-thick slices and arrange on a platter.

Step 11

Spoon pan sauce over steak and serve.