Special Occasions Recipes - Fillet Steak with Cashel Blue Cheese and Croutons Recipe

Ingredients

Serves 1

• 1 fillet steak, 4 cm/1 1/2 inches thick

• 25 g/1 oz butter

• 50 g/2 oz Cashel Blue cheese, rinded and sliced

• salt and pepper

To garnish:

• thyme sprigs

• croutons

• watercress sprigs

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Method:

1. Season the fillet with salt and pepper and seal on both sides in a little butter in a very hot pan. Transfer to a buttered baking sheet and set the cheese slices on top.

2. Put into a very hot oven, 220°C (425°F), Gas Mark 7, for 5 minutes for rare; 8 minutes for medium rare and 15 minutes for well done, allowing the cheese to melt and lightly color.

3. Transfer the steak from the baking sheet to a hot plate, scatter round the croutons and a few sprigs of thyme and pour around the cooking juices.

4. Garnish with sprigs of watercress. Serve immediately.

Note: Cashel Blue is one of Ireland's most famous cheeses and, in addition to being an important element on the cheese board, has many uses in the kitchen. It is perfect in soup, as a topping for toasted bread, scones and pies and it can also be used in stuffing for fillet of beef and breast of chicken.