Real Life Recipes

Filet of Beef with Spicy Crab Salad
As prepared by The Cook's Companion, Nadine Hughes - Feb 12

Filet of Beef with Spicy Crab Salad

Serves 2
Preparation Time:    10 minutes
Cooking time:         30 minutes
Notes:            This decadent surf and turf meal is special enough for Valentine’s Day but you’ll reach for this recipe again and again when you want to spoil your guests.

Ingredients:

2 beef filet mignons
4 tablespoons olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups yellow cherry or grape tomatoes
1 bunch arugula, trimmed
Spicy Crab Salad:
2 cups lump crab meat, picked through for bones
¼ cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon chile paste (such as sambal)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh coriander
Juice of ½ lime
Salt and freshly ground black pepper


Preheat the oven to 400°F. Arrange one oven rack on the bottom and a second rack in the middle.
Heat a medium cast-iron or ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot add 2 tablespoons olive oil.
Season filets all over with salt and pepper and sear for 7-8 minutes until well browned on all sides. Place the pan in the oven on the middle rack and roast until the internal temperature reaches 125°F, takes about 20 minutes.
While the beef cooks, drizzle the tomatoes on a baking sheet with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place in the oven on the bottom rack and roast until the tomatoes burst, 7 to 10 minutes. Place the tomatoes into a bowl and season again with a drizzle of oil, salt and pepper; let them cool slightly.
While the beef and tomatoes are roasting, stir the crabmeat with the mayonnaise, chili paste, coriander and lime juice in a bowl, and season with salt and pepper. 
When the beef is done put on a platter and cover loosely with aluminum foil to let it rest and keep it warm.
To serve, place a handful of arugula on each plate, place the beef on top of the arugula and mound a large spoonful of the crab salad on top of the beef.  Scatter the tomatoes around the beef.