French Dinner Series: Steak au Poivre

🥩 A Simple French-Inspired Dinner: Steak au Poivre

There’s an amazing restaurant in my town that serves the most perfect steak au poivre — that classic French peppercorn sauce, rich with cream, draped over a perfectly seared steak. Every time I go, I remind myself that I can eat slowly because the kids aren't with us for date night. The lighting is soft, the wine is always great, and for those brief few hours, it feels like I’ve escaped to a quiet café in Lyon.

And lately, I’ve been craving that feeling more than ever.

So for this week’s French-inspired dinner series, I wanted to bring that magic home. Nothing fussy or over-the-top — just a beautiful cut of steak, a whisper of cream, a side of bright and peppery arugula salad, and a toasted garlic butter baguette (to help get all that delicious sauce). And for dessert? A velvety chocolate mousse that's made with instant pudding mix! It's a quick take on my classic go to chocolate mouse that comes together in minutes.

This is the kind of meal that encourages you to set the table. To light the candle and encourage everyone at the table to share some great memories from the day.

🍷 This Week’s Menu

• Main: Steak au Poivre

• Salad: Arugula Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette

• Starch: Garlic Butter Baguette

• Dessert: Easy Chocolate Mousse (with instant pudding)

• Wine Pairing: Pinot Noir or bold red blend (I love Pinots from Willamette Valley)

🧑‍🍳 The Recipes

🥩 Steak au Poivre

Serves 2
Ingredients:

• 2 good-quality steaks (sirloin or filet)

• Salt and freshly cracked black pepper

• 1 tbsp oil

• 1 tbsp butter

• ½ shallot, minced

• Thyme sprigs

• ¼ cup chicken broth (traditionally this recipe uses Cognac, but this isn't something I usually have on hand, so I've subbed it out for chicken broth)

• ½ cup heavy cream

Instructions:

1. Season steaks with salt and press cracked peppercorns onto both sides. Let rest 20 minutes.

2. Sear in oil over medium-high heat about 3–4 minutes per side with added garlic and thyme sprigs. Remove and rest. Ensure that steaks read at least 135 in the center for a medium rare.

3. In same pan, sauté shallot (or onions) in butter, deglaze with chicken broth (off heat), then stir in cream. Simmer until slightly thickened.

4. Serve steak topped with sauce.

🛒 Tip: To get a great crust on your steak, I recommend using a cast iron pan like this one (Amazon affiliate). I've had this exact pan for years and it's held up fantastically. I do also recommend this handle cover though because it does get hot!

🥬 Arugula Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette

Serves 2-4

Ingredients:

• 5 oz arugula (you could also substitute this for any type of salad greens you prefer)

• 1 tsp Dijon mustard

• 1 tsp honey

• 2 tbsp red wine vinegar

• 3 tbsp olive oil

• Salt & pepper

Instructions:

1. Whisk mustard, honey, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Drizzle in olive oil to emulsify.

2. Toss with arugula just before serving.

🛒 Nothing says rustic elegance like this wooden salad bowl and salad tongs! And for more simple and healthy salad dressings, I use this little shaker that has tons of recipes printed right on it.

🥖 Garlic Butter Baguette

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

• 1 baguette

• 4 tbsp butter, softened

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• Pinch of chopped parsley (optional)

• Pinch of salt

Instructions:

1. Mix butter, garlic, parsley, and salt.

2. Spread on baguette halves and broil until golden (1–2 min). Slice and serve.

🛒 I use this adorable French butter crock that keeps your butter fresh and easily spreadable. It adds just the right amount of chic to your kitchen or is nice enough to have it's very own spot on your dinning room table.

🍫 Easy Chocolate Mousse with Instant Pudding

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

• 1 small box chocolate instant pudding mix

• 1 cup cold milk

• 1 cup heavy cream

• 2 tbsp sugar (optional)

• Whipped cream for topping

Instructions:

1. Whisk pudding mix and milk until thick.

2. Whip cream (and sugar if using) to stiff peaks.

3. Gently fold whipped cream into pudding until smooth. Chill 30 minutes. Top with extra cream.

🛒 Serve in these mini ramekins or in these really cute vintage champagne glasses.

🛒 Grocery List

• Steaks (sirloin or filet)

• Black peppercorns

• Shallot

• Heavy cream

• Arugula

• Dijon mustard

• Honey

• Red wine vinegar

• Olive oil

• French baguette

• Butter

• Garlic

• Parsley

• Chocolate instant pudding mix

• Milk

• Heavy cream

🛍️ Shop the Kitchen

Want to recreate this meal at home with tools that feel as good as they look? These are my go-to picks:

• Enameled Cast Iron Pan

• Cast Iron Handle Cover

• Wooden Salad Bowl Set

• Salad Dressing Shaker

• French Butter Crock

• Ramekins

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📲 Let’s Cook Together

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