Oven-Roasted Filet Mignon

By Andrew Hunter

Have you noticed that restaurant chefs just seem to know when a steak is done the way you’ve asked for it? It’s not just a question of experience. We test the doneness of meat by feel and touch. With a little practice, you can do this, too. Here’s the simple touch test we use.

Rare: Relax your hand and let your fingers hang loosely. With the forefinger of the other hand, touch the meaty area between your thumb and forefinger. This is what a rare piece of meat feels like.

Medium: Now curl your fingers under. Touch the same place again. This is what a medium piece of meat feels like.

Well done: Now clench your fist and touch the same place again. This is what a well-done piece of meat should feel like.

Check the meat with a thermometer, too, until you feel confident. Recommended temperatures are available in most good cookbooks. Most importantly, don’t keep piercing that meat with a fork, which causes all of the juices to run right out of the meat. You want all of the flavor to stay in the steak, not the grill.

Oven Roasted Filet Mignon

By most accounts, filet mignon is the most tender and choicest cut of beef. In our house, grilling is the method and filet mignon is the cut of choice but when Marilyn’s cooking she opts for the oven method. It’s fast, easy and there’s less clean up.

4 center cut filet mignon (about 8 ounces each)
Olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400°F. Rub the filets with a little olive oil, salt and pepper. Heat a cast iron sauté pan over high heat, without oil, until lightly smoking. Gently place the fillets in the pan 1/2 inch apart and sear for 2 minutes per side. Transfer pan to preheated oven and roast for 10 minutes for medium-rare or 12 minutes for medium.

Makes 4 Servings

Special Fork is a recipe website for your smartphone and PC that solves the daily dinnertime dilemma: what to cook now! Our bloggers blog Monday through Friday to give you cooking inspiration. Check out our recipe database for quick ideas that take no more than 30 minutes of prep time. Join the conversation on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.