Pan Seared Oven Roasted Filet Mignon

Fork tender with a great garlic taste. My go to method for this cut of the beef tenderloin. An extremely dependable 30 minutes including resting time recipe. Skill level 2/10.

Start with a couple of good quality filets. I tend to be at Sam's Club early in the day on my way home from work (today I was there at 7:30AM) and they almost ways have some filets marked down. I think of that as aged beef.  So about 8 oz 1 1/2 inch thick cuts are a great start. Trim a little. Coat with 7:2:2 seasoning (see my post on making 7:2:2 HERE) and give each side a nice sear in some butter for a few minutes and finish in a preheated over. Don't forget to let them rest for a few minutes before serving. All this in almost exactly 30 minutes every time.

Rating:

An easy 5. I have done this over and over and could survive on it.

Note: The quality of the beef is very important. If you want this to be something special buy the Choice or Prime. The Sam's is Choice and we always find it excellent.

Let the meat come to room temp if you plan ahead before starting

If you don't have a cast iron pan. YOU MUST GET ONE. For about $20 you will have a friend for live. I have a 10 inch since I'm "Cooking for 2" and I have a 12 inch "Chicken Fryer" - think frying pan with high sides. 

Start with 1 1/2 thick filets about 8 oz each and trimmed well. Remove any silverskin. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Season all sides with 7:2:2 season. If you don't have that, use a mixture of 1 T kosher salt, 1 t course pepper and 1 t of granulated garlic powder. (see my post on making 7:2:2 HERE).
If you don't have the granulated garlic powder then use regular or a clove of garlic.

In an oven safe pan (I love my 10 inch cast iron) over medium high heat melt 1 T of butter or use oil. When hot, sear both sides of the filets for 2-3 minutes. I start with "good side up" then sear, flip, sear and final flip before going to the oven.

Transfer to your preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes to get an internal temp of about 145. A little less or more depending on taste.

Remove and let rest for 3-5 minutes before cutting. It needs to reabsorb fluids internally and will cook a few more degrees during the rest.

Pan Seared Oven Roasted Filet Mignon

by DrDan at 101 Cooking for Two March-10-2012

Fork tender with a great garlic taste. My go to method for this cut of the beef tenderloin. An extremely dependable 30 minute recipe. Skill level 2/10. Ingredients

Ingredients

• 2 - 8 oz Filet Mignon about 1 1/2 inch thick
• 1 T butter or oil
• 7:2:1 or 7:2:2 seasoning

Instructions

1) Start with 1 1/2 thick filets about 8 oz each and trimmed well. Remove any silverskin. Rest to room temp if you have the time. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.2) Season all sides with 7:2:2 season. If you don't have that, use a mixture of 1 T kosher salt, 1 t course pepper and 1 t of granulated garlic powder. If you don't have the granulated garlic powder then use regular garlic powder or a clove of garlic.3) In an oven safe pan (I love my 10 inch cast iron) over medium high heat melt 1 T of butter or use oil. When hot, sear both sides of the filets for 2-3 minutes. I start with "good side up" then sear, flip, sear and final flip before going to the oven.4) Transfer to your preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes to get an internal temp of about 145. A little less or more depending on taste. 5) Remove and let rest for 3-5 minutes before cutting. It needs to reabsorb fluids internally and will cook a few more degrees during the rest.

Details

Prep time: 2 mins Cook time: 25 mins Total time: 30 mins Yield: 2 servings

Updated

March 10 2012

DrDan