French Onion Rib Eye Steak

RECIPE

You can prepare the French onions up to 1 day ahead or start them just before the steak.

Yield
Makes 4 servings

Ingredients
1 fat-trimmed beef rib eye steak (cut 2 in. thick, 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 lb.)
1/2 teaspoon each kosher or coarse salt, cracked pepper, dried onion flakes, and dried garlic flakes
1 teaspoon olive oil
French onions
1/2 cup shredded gruyère or Swiss cheese
1/2 cup fat-skimmed beef broth

Preparation
1. Rinse beef steak and pat dry. Pat salt, pepper, onion flakes, and garlic flakes evenly onto meat.

2. Pour olive oil into an 8- to 10-inch ovenproof nonstick frying pan over high heat; tilt to coat pan bottom. When hot, add steak and brown on both sides, about 4 minutes total. Supporting meat with tongs, tip steak onto its edge and rotate to brown lightly, about 2 minutes total. As fat in pan accumulates, wipe out with paper towels.

3. Put pan with steak in a 400° regular or convection oven and bake until meat is done to your taste (cut to test), 8 to 12 minutes for rare or about 25 minutes for well done.

4. Turn oven heat to broil. Remove pan and wipe out fat with a paper towel. Mound French onions onto meat and sprinkle with cheese. Broil in pan about 6 inches from heat until cheese is bubbling and beginning to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove pan from oven and pour broth around meat, stirring to release browned bits.

5. Leave meat in pan or use a wide spatula to transfer steak and onions to a warm rimmed platter (pour juices around meat). To serve, cut meat and onions into 4 equal portions; set each on a rimmed plate and spoon juices around meat.

Nutritional Information
Calories:302 (51% from fat)
Protein:33g
Fat:17g (sat 7.4)
Carbohydrate:0.6g
Fiber:0.1g
Sodium:329mg
Cholesterol:99mg

French cooking@home
by cooking mania

French Onion Soup with Beef and Barley

Yield
6 servings

Ingredients
1 cup boiling water
1/2 ounce dried shiitake mushrooms
1 tablespoon dark sesame oil, divided
2 medium onions, each cut into 8 wedges (about 4 cups)
1/2 cup chopped shallots or onion
2 teaspoons chopped peeled fresh ginger
4 garlic cloves, minced
3 cups sliced button mushrooms
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 (12-ounce) lean boneless sirloin steak, cut into 2-inch strips
4 cups water
2/3 cup uncooked pearl barley
1/4 cup dry sherry
3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 (10 1/2-ounce) can beef consommé
12 (1/4-inch-thick) slices diagonally cut French bread baguette
3/4 cup (3 ounces) shredded Gruyère or Swiss cheese

Preparation
Combine boiling water and shiitakes in a bowl; cover and let stand 30 minutes. Drain the shiitakes in a colander over a bowl, reserving liquid. Slice shiitakes, discarding stems.

Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion, shallots, ginger, and garlic; sauté 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Add the shiitakes, button mushrooms, sugar, and beef. Sauté 10 minutes, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Add reserved mushroom liquid, 4 cups water, and the next 4 ingredients (water through consommé); bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 50 minutes or until barley is tender. Stir in 1 teaspoon sesame oil.

Preheat broiler.

Ladle 1 1/2 cups soup into each of 6 ovenproof soup bowls; top each serving with 2 bread slices and 2 tablespoons cheese. Broil 3 inches from heat 1 minute or until cheese melts. Serve immediately.

Note: This soup will freeze well for up to two months. Pour into an airtight container, leaving enough room for expansion (usually an inch or two at the top). To reheat, thaw completely in the refrigerator; then place contents in a saucepan over low heat, adding some liquid if necessary.

Nutritional Information
Calories:351 (27% from fat)
Fat:10.7g (sat 4.3g,mono 3.8g,poly 1.7g)
Protein:24.6g
Carbohydrate:40g
Fiber:6.2g
Cholesterol:50mg
Iron:3.7mg
Sodium:676mg
Calcium:196mg

French cooking@home
by cooking mania