French Onion Rib Eye Steak

Photo: flickr user avlxyz

Ingredients

1 fat-trimmed beef rib eye steak

(cut 2" thick, 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 lbs)

1/2 teaspoon kosher or coarse salt

1/2 teaspoon cracked pepper

1/2 teaspoon dried onion flakes

1/2 teaspoon dried garlic flakes

1 teaspoon olive oil

French Onions (see recipe)

1/2 cup shredded gruyere or Swiss cheese

1/2 cup fat-skimmed beef broth

Preparation

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

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.

Put pan with steak in a 400 degree 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.

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.

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.

This recipe yields 4 servings.

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