Filets Mignons with Orange Fennel Crust

Tender beef filets mignons topped with a flavorful crust made from breadcrumbs, fennel seeds, and orange zest, first seared then finished in the oven for a perfect medium-rare finish.

4 servings
30 min

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup fine dry bread crumbs
  • ½ teaspoon fennel seeds, coarsely chopped
  • ½ teaspoon finely grated fresh orange zest
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 4 piece filets mignons
  • 4 teaspoons Dijon mustard

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Put oven rack in upper third of oven and preheat oven to 500°F.

    10 min

  2. 2.

    Stir together bread crumbs, fennel seeds, zest, 1 tablespoon oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl until combined well.

    5 min

  3. 3.

    Pat steaks dry, then sprinkle all over with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Heat remaining tablespoon oil in a 12-inch heavy ovenproof skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sear steaks until browned well on bottom, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and turn steaks over with a spatula. Spread top of each steak with 1 teaspoon mustard, then sprinkle evenly with bread crumb mixture. Transfer skillet to oven and roast steaks, without turning over, 5 minutes for medium-rare.

    15 min