Steak Au Poivre Day Date in the current year: September 9, 2024

Steak au poivre, also called pepper steak, peppered steak or peppercorn steak in English, is a French steak dish. It consists of a filet mignon steak (a cut of meat taken from the smaller end of the tenderloin) crusted with coarsely cracked black or mixed peppercorns. The peppercorn crust provides a spicy counterpoint to the tender beef without overwhelming it, resulting in a subtle and satisfying mix of flavors and textures.

Steak au poivre is usually prepared in the following way. The steak is placed in a bed of crushed peppercorns and then seared in a hot skillet with a small amount of oil and butter. It is crucial to cook the steak at a high temperature so that the outside cooks quickly, forming the peppercorn crust, while the interior is cooked to rare or medium-rare. Once the stake is cooked, it should rest for several minutes rather than be served immediately.

Steak au poivre is often served with peppercorn sauce for a little extra flavor and texture. The sauce usually consists of heavy cream, a dash of cognac or another liquor, the peppercorn-infused liquid left in the pan after cooking the steak, and sometimes also other ingredients such as bay leaf, butter, Dijon mustard, garlic, shallots, star anise, tarragon, etc. The ingredients are reduced in a pan until the sauce is thick, creamy and fragrant. Common sides to go with steak au poivre are French fries, mashed potatoes, or asparagus.

Although steak au poivre originated in France, it has become popular outside of its home country and can be found in French restaurants in many parts of the world. The recipe has been adopted by several cuisines – of course, with some modifications. For example, Mexican-style steak au poivre can be made with chili pepper.

French pepper steak should not be confused with the eponymous dish of American Chinese cuisine, which is completely different. Chinese pepper steak is a stir-fried dish that consists of a beef steak that is sliced and cooked with bamboo shoots, sliced bell peppers, other vegetables (for example, bean sprouts and sliced onions), and various seasonings such as ginger and soy sauce.

Since the United States is one of the world’s biggest consumers of read meat, it is not surprising that steak au poivre is a popular dish here and even has its own unofficial holiday. It is unclear who invented it or why Steak Au Poivre Day is observed on September 9, but if you like French cuisine and/or steaks, you absolutely need to celebrate it!

How can you observe Steak Au Poivre Day? Of course, by indulging in a delicious steak! You can go out to a French restaurant or try and cook steak au poivre at home – it is not as hard as it might seem once you get a hang of the process. And don’t forget to spread the word about the holiday by posting a photo of your steak before eating and adding the hashtag #SteakAuPoivreDay.