Elevate your Plate: Filet Mignon with Saperavi Reduction Sauce, Broccoli, and Mashed Potatoes
Welcome to today’s food and wine pairing adventure! We’re diving into a dish that has been made many times by Fero’s very own wine maker. This meal combines classic comfort with an elegant twist: Filet mignon topped with a delectable Saperavi reduction sauce, served alongside perfectly roasted broccoli and creamy mashed potatoes. This dish brings together robust flavors and luxurious textures, making it perfect for a special occasion or a decadent dinner at home.
The Star of the Show: Filet Mignon with Saperavi Reduction Sauce
Filet mignon is renowned for its melt-in-your-mouth tenderness and exquisite flavor. To elevate this already exceptional cut of beef, we’re pairing it with our fan favorite dry red, Saperavi, and reducing it to a sauce. Saperavi, a grape originating in the Georgian Republic, is known for its deep dark color and intense fruity notes. The smooth mouth feel makes it very easy to drink but be careful, your teeth might turn purple! I personally love cooking with the Saperavi as it dyes anything you cook with it a deep purple and reduces to a beautiful sweet flavor. It’s a superb match for the rich flavors of filet.
The reduction might seem like a daunting task but I promise as long as you watch the sauce, you will make a delicious reduction. In a small pot heat up olive oil and sauté minced garlic and diced onions until the onions are transparent. Once those onions look transparent, add the Saperavi and be generous! You'll hear a beautiful sizzle as the wine deglazes the pan and absorbs all of those delicious flavors released by the garlic and onions. After a few minutes, I like to add a little bit of sugar to my simmering sauce for some extra sweetness. Be patient there will be times that you think to yourself ‘let me add some flour or cornstarch’ DO NOT. Although the sauce will still be delicious if you add a thickening agent, the reduction will thicken up on its own just from the heat, be patient. It took me about 30-40 minutes of simmering and stirring for my reduction to thicken up.
A Perfect Side: Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are the ultimate comfort food and make a perfect accompaniment to any steak. You can never go wrong with adding a little cheese and bacon on top of your potatoes to make this side dish even more hearty!
A Fresh Contrast: Broccoli
To balance the richness of the filet mignon and the creamy mashed potatoes, a simple yet flavorful broccoli side is ideal. Roasted broccoli with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and olive oil is my personal favorite way to cook broccoli. I decided I wanted to add a light dusting of parmesan cheese to my broccoli after it was finished and that was exactly what it needed!
Putting It All Together
Plate the filet mignon and top generously with the Saperavi wine reduction sauce. Serve it alongside a heaping pile of creamy mashed potatoes and roasted broccoli. The richness of the steak and sauce, the comfort of the mashed potatoes, and the freshness of the broccoli create a balanced and satisfying meal that’s both luxurious and comforting.
Pair this meal with a glass of Saperavi to enhance the flavors even further. The deep, fruity notes of the wine will beautifully complement the steak and sauce, making for a truly memorable dining experience. Take a sip of Saperavi and let it sit on your tongue for a second before swallowing, then take a bite of steak with potatoes and sauce. That is the ultimate bite that will have your taste buds jumping for joy and begging for another bite!