Steak au Poivre paired with Merlot provided by Fine Cooking This dish is a classic in France and always wonderful with a frisée salad, french fries, and a bottle of red wine. For sear-roasting steak, a cast-iron pan works best.

4 New York strip or sirloin steaks (6 to 8 oz. each), 3/4 inch thick, patted dry
Salt
3 Tbs. coarsely ground black peppercorns
Olive oil for the pan
1 cup red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir)
4 to 6 Tbs. butter, sliced

Heat the oven to 500°F. Sprinkle the steaks with salt on both sides, and then press the ground peppercorns into the steaks on both sides. Set a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat and add just enough olive oil to make a light film. When the oil is very hot, add the steaks, cooking until nicely browned on one side, about 3 min. (If the pan is small, work in batches.) Flip the meat over and put the skillet in the oven. For medium-rare steaks, roast for 3 min. for 6-oz. steaks; 4 min. for 8-oz. steaks. Check for doneness with the tip of a knife or by pressing with your fingertips, keeping in mind that the steaks will cook a bit more as they sit. Transfer the steaks to a warm plate and tent with foil.

With a spoon, remove any fat from the skillet. Put the skillet back on the burner and heat to medium high. Add the wine and cook until it's reduced to 1/4 cup, about 7 min., scraping up the browned bits with a wooden spoon. Whisk in the butter a slice at a time, whisking until completely melted. Taste and adjust the seasonings, drizzle the sauce over the steaks, and serve immediately with more sauce on the side.

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