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Minute Filets with Pickled Vegetables

4.4

(2)

The bright, acidic flavor of these quickly pickled vegetables would also marry well with salmon, chicken, or pork.

Cooks' note.

Beef can be cooked in a 2-burner grill pan over medium-high heat.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    45 min

  • Yield

    Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

For pickled vegetables:

1 1/4 cups water
1 cup distilled white vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
2 garlic cloves
2 large dill sprigs
1 Turkish or 1/2 California bay leaf
1 tablespoon coriander seeds
5 whole allspice, crushed
2 medium carrots
2 celery ribs
1/3 seedless cucumber (about 1/4 pound)
5 large radishes

For beef:

1 garlic clove, smashed
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 (2-inch-thick) center-cut filets mignons (beef tenderloin steaks; 1/2 pound each)

Preparation

  1. Pickle vegetables:

    Step 1

    Bring water, vinegar, sugar, garlic, dill, bay leaf, spices, and 2 1/2 teaspoons salt to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring, then simmer 2 minutes.

    Step 2

    Cut carrots, celery, and cucumber into 1 1/2-to 2-inch lengths, then julienne all vegetables, including radishes, with slicer. Transfer to a medium bowl, then pour warm pickling liquid over vegetables and let stand while you prepare and grill beef.

  2. Prepare beef:

    Step 3

    Prepare grill for direct-heat cooking over hot charcoal (high heat for gas); see Grilling Procedure .

    Step 4

    Combine garlic and oil in a small bowl.

    Step 5

    Remove the string from meat if tied. To cut each steak into a long rectangle that is about 1/2 inch thick, stand it on its side on a cutting board, with a flat side facing you. Hold knife blade parallel to and 1/2 inch above cutting board and, with other hand holding top of meat, slice crosswise into meat (keeping blade 1/2 inch above board) just until you are 1/2 inch from cutting through. Rotate meat to left (or right, if left-handed) and continue to cut and rotate meat until it's unfurled and 1/2 inch thick.

    Step 6

    Brush beef on both sides with garlic oil, then season both sides with 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper per filet. Oil grill rack, then grill beef, covered only if using a gas grill, turning once, 4 minutes total for medium-rare.

    Step 7

    Drain pickled vegetables and discard dill, garlic, and bay leaf. Serve beef topped with vegetables.

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