Grilling Filet Mignon

If you love to have beef dishes and are keeping a watch over your waistline, grilled filet mignon may be the ideal recipe for you. Derived from the tenderloin of beef or cattle, filet mignon is very tender and juicy. A typical filet mignon is about 1 - inch in thickness and weighs 4 - 6 ounces. As compared to the meat from other body parts, it is relatively expensive. So, make the best use of your culinary skills to grill this special meat. Less preparation time and quick cooking are other plus points of grilling filet mignon; you can complete grilling this cut meat in 30 minutes.

Tips to Grill Filet Mignon

Filet mignon is usually grilled to medium rare or rare, so as to restore the juiciness and tenderness of the meat. You can complete cooking dishes within no time and spent time with your guests. Also, while fixing a quick dinner, try grilled filet mignon recipe. Mention below are some tips on how to grill filet mignon at home:

Grilling Filet Mignon on Charcoal Grill
Filet mignon requires minimal preparation before grilling. Simply sprinkle fresh ground black pepper on both sides of the meat and allow it to sit for about 45 minutes. This will help absorb the spice properly and also, bring it to room temperature. By the meantime, you can start preparing charcoal grill. Spread the charcoals evenly and wait till they turn red hot in color. With the help of tongs, place the filet mignon over the grill and sear it for 2 - 3 minutes. Do not poke the meat in between or the juice will drain.

Lift the one-side grilled filet mignon, rotate in 90 and grill in this position for 3 minutes. Then, flip the steak and sear the other side for another 2 - 3 minutes. Again, lift and turn the partly seared filet mignon to cook the last side. Leave for about 3 minutes and your grilled filet mignon is ready. Remove the steak from the charcoal grill on a platter and allow it to cool down for 5 minutes. Push on the steak to check whether it is done or not. If you notice finger indentation on the steak surface, it is ready to eat. Sprinkle with kosher salt and extra virgin olive oil, and serve.

Grilling Filet Mignon in the Oven
Other than conventional charcoal grills, you can also cook yummy filet mignon in oven or barbecue grill. For grilling 4 - 6 ounces of filet mignon, combine together the ingredients - 1 tablespoons extra virgin oil, 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper and 1 tablespoon minced garlic in a small mixing bowl. Take the steak in a shallow dish and coat the spice mixture evenly on both sides. Marinade the steak at room temperature for about 2 hours before grilling. Or else, you can refrigerate for 1 - 2 days to get better taste.

After you are done with marinating, preheat the oven to the highest temperature (500 - 550). Turn on the stove burner, preheat a skillet over medium heat temperature and sear filet mignon for 3 minutes per side. Reduce the oven to the broil temperature - 120 F for rare, 125 F for medium rare and 130 F for medium grilling. Then, place the seared filet mignon in a non-stick baking sheet and cook for about 8 minutes in the oven. Remove steaks from the oven and check whether it is cooked well or not. If desired, you can cook for 2 minutes more.

These were some of the easy ways to grill a dainty piece of filet. With less oil or fatty ingredients, this recipe taste delicious. Hence, you don't need to sacrifice the flavor of beef recipes, while still controlling your weight. In case of a lean filet mignon, wherein fats from the outer edges are removed completely, grilling filet mignon wrapped in bacon is a better alternative. By doing so, you can retain the juice in the meat while grilling. Whichever method you cook, grilled filet mignon serves best with asparagus, mashed potatoes and red wine.