Bring the brasserie home with this simple, yet elegant Elk Venison Steak-Frites Recipe. (Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley photo)
By Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley
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Classic steak-frites can be found in almost any American steakhouse or European brasserie. Here, I show you how to make homemade French fries, soft on the inside but golden and crispy on the outside to accompany your hard-won elk venison steak. Though an uncomplicated dish with few ingredients, steak-frites, when made well, sets the bar at any table with its simplicity and elegance.
For some freshness and greenery, I suggest the pepperiness of arugula (rocket) with tangy balsamic vinaigrette that balances well with the elk and fries. I prefer a dry, dark red wine with this dish, such as cabernet sauvignon, zinfandel, syrah, shiraz, petite sirah, Bordeaux or a darker red blend.
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Serves: 2 Prep time: 1 hour Cook time: 45 minutes
Ingredients:
2 elk venison steaks 1 sprig rosemary, leaves chopped Kosher salt Freshly cracked pepper, coarse 4 russet potatoes Vegetable oil for frying Fine sea salt, to taste
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Directions:
Take elk venison steaks out of the refrigerator at least 1 hour prior to cooking (I prefer 2 hours). This will allow steaks to come to room temperature, ensuring more even cooking. Remove as much silver skin as possible. Pat steaks dry with paper towels and sprinkle with chopped rosemary. Set aside. Season the elk venison steaks with chopped rosemary. (Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley photo) Meanwhile, scrub russet potatoes under running water to remove all dirt. Cut potatoes into shoestring-sized pieces, dropping fries into a bowl of water as you go along. This will keep the potatoes from becoming brown. The water will also help remove excess starch from the potatoes, which can cause clumping and also inhibit the fries from getting crispy. Some people soak the potatoes overnight, but I didn’t have time for that. Keeping the freshly sliced potatoes in a bowl of water will help remove excess starch from the potatoes and prevent them from going brown. (Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley photo) For the perfect crispy-outside, tender-inside French fries, you will have to double fry your potatoes. The first fry at a low temperature ensures that the fries will be cooked through and fluffy on the inside, while the second fry will give them crunch. Double frying your potatoes ensures they will be fully cooked and crispy. (Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley photo) For the second fry, heat oil to 375 to 400 degrees. Fry French fries again in batches until golden brown and crispy. Toss with fine salt to taste. Meanwhile, over medium-high, heat enough oil to coat the bottom of a skillet. Dab elk steaks dry with paper towels and sprinkle kosher salt and coarse ground pepper all over. Cook for about 2-3 minutes on each side for medium-rare. Cooking times will vary depending on steak thickness. Serve steak with fries and a light, tangy salad. These fries are easy to make, taste delicious, and only require a few ingredients. (Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley photo)
