Filets and Mashed Potatoes

This weekend we were feeling hungry for steak, but with a little different twist. I attempted to make a recipe I saw on Boy Meets Grill, one of my new favorite shows on Food Network. The basic idea is to slather the already-cooked steak in chile sauce, top with a piece of goat cheese and toast it. The steak was good (we get them at a local shop and they are always terrific), but I didn't really love the goat cheese and chile sauce. I did substitute some slightly different chiles in the sauce because I couldn't find exactly what the recipe called for. In the end, I could take it or leave it from a taste point of view, but making the chile sauce was fun. I haven't cooked with dried chiles before, so it was fun to try something new and simple.

For accompaniments, we had steamed asparagus and mashed potatoes. I added a little bit of sauteed onion, queso fresco and whipping cream to the potatoes and they were delicious! We'll definitely have that again.

Black Pepper Crusted Filet Mignon with Toasted Goat Cheese
and Twice Cooked Red Chile Sauce

4 filet mignon steaks, each 1 1/2-inches thick
1 tablespoon ground cumin
2 tablespoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons coarsely ground black pepper
4 (3/4-inch thick) slices goat cheese
Red Chile Sauce, recipe follows
Chopped cilantro, for garnish

Preheat the grill to high. Remove the steaks from the refrigerator and let stand at room temperature for 20 minutes before grilling.

Meanwhile, combine the cumin, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Liberally season both sides of each filet with the spice mixture. Grill the filets for about 3 to 4 minutes on each side for medium doneness.

Meanwhile, preheat the broiler. Remove the steaks from the grill onto a baking sheet, and top each with a slice of the cheese. Place under the broiler until cheese is golden brown and soft. Alternatively, use a blow torch or kitchen torch to brown the cheese.

Ladle the sauce onto each plate, place the steak in the center, and garnish with chopped cilantro.
Red Chile Sauce

2 tablespoons canola oil
1 large red onion, coarsely chopped
3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
2 New Mexican red chiles, lightly toasted
2 quajillo chiles, lightly toasted
1 ancho chile, lightly toasted
6 to 8 cups homemade chicken stock
1/4 cup creme fraiche
2 tablespoons maple syrup
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onions and garlic, and cook until soft. Add the chiles and stock, and bring to a simmer for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the chiles are soft.

Transfer the mixture to a food processor and process until smooth. Strain the mixture into a saute pan that has been set on high heat for a few minutes, and cook the sauce until slightly thick.

Remove from the heat and stir in the creme fraiche and maple syrup. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

From Bobby Flay, Boy Meets Grill, Food Network