Perfect Pan-Seared Beef Steaks with Classic Hollandaise
Juicy beef steaks pan-seared to perfection, basted with herb butter, and served with a creamy homemade hollandaise sauce.
- Prep10 min
- Cook10 min
- Total20 min
- DifficultyMedium
- Servings2
This recipe brings together two classic elements: a perfectly seared beef steak and a rich, tangy hollandaise sauce. The steaks are cooked in a hot pan, then basted with a fragrant butter infused with garlic, thyme, and rosemary for extra flavor.
The hollandaise is made from scratch using a simple bain-marie method, resulting in a light, fluffy sauce that pairs beautifully with the savory steak. Serve with crispy French fries for a complete, satisfying meal.
Ingredients
For the steaks
For the hollandaise sauce
For serving
Converted amounts are rounded.
Method
- Place a large skillet over high heat and let it get very hot.
- Drizzle the steaks with olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Place the steaks in the hot skillet. When the first side is nicely browned, flip them and reduce the heat to medium-low.
- Add the garlic, thyme, rosemary, and 1 tablespoon butter to the pan. Once the butter melts and becomes fragrant, baste the steaks with it using a spoon for 3–4 minutes.
- Remove the steaks from the pan and transfer them to a plate. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and let them rest for 5 minutes.
- In a heatproof bowl, combine the vinegar, water, mustard, and egg yolks. Place the bowl over a pot of simmering water (bain-marie), making sure the bottom does not touch the water.
- In a separate small bowl, place the 100 g butter, cover with plastic wrap, and microwave at 800 Watts for 1 to 1½ minutes until melted.
- Whisk the egg mixture continuously over the bain-marie until it becomes thick and fluffy. Remove the bowl from the heat and continue whisking.
- Slowly drizzle in the melted butter while whisking constantly. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer the hollandaise to a small serving bowl.
- On a serving platter, arrange the rested steaks, a generous spoonful of hollandaise sauce, and a portion of French fries. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with fresh thyme.
💡 Tips
- For the best sear, pat the steaks dry with paper towels before seasoning.
- Use a meat thermometer for perfect doneness: 130°F for medium-rare.
- If the hollandaise becomes too thick, whisk in a teaspoon of warm water.
Inspired by a recipe from Άκης Πετρετζίκης
