Peppered fillet steaks

Recipe by Pippa Mattei

Ingredients

• 2 thick, good-quality steaks (fillet or rib-eye or anything you prefer)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp butter
• Whole or crushed Sichuan peppercorns
• 2 tbsp soya or Worcestershire sauce
• Brandy
• 4 tbsp cream

Method

1. Marinate steaks in Worcestershire or soya sauce, and some pepper. Leave in fridge till you are ready to cook them.
2. Heat the olive oil and the butter in a solid frying pan. 
3. When sizzling, add steaks and fry for 5 mins on each side adding a good amount of the pepper on both sides. 
4. Add the brandy and a little salt and fry for another 2 mins.
5. Check for rareness and when ready, add the fresh cream. 
6. Turn steaks twice till coated in the cream/pepper sauce, and serve immediately with chips and either steamed green vegetables or a fresh salad.

Perfect fries

Ingredients

• 2 to 3 medium potatoes per person
• Coarse salt

Method

1. Peel and slice potatoes, cutting the slices into fine strips. 
2. Cook in VERY hot oil shaking the pan now and again, and ONLY when turning golden, toss with a large slotted spoon till well cooked. 
3. Take out carefully with the slotted spoon, put into a bowl lined with a piece of kitchen paper (to absorb the oil).
4. Add salt and pepper and then remove the paper and serve at once.