Steak-frites is one of the most popular dishes in France. It is a simple, hearty meal that can be ordered in almost any bistro or restaurant from Paris to Corsica. The dish has two components: steak and fries, and it is usually served with a sauce.
The name steak-frites is derived from the words for steak (bifteck) and fries (frites). This dish is a staple at French cafés and brasseries, but this does not mean you will find identical versions of the dish everywhere. The sauce that accompanies steak-frites varies by region, and the type of beef served with this dish can vary as well.
Steak-Frites
Steak-frites are typically served with frites, which are not French fries. Fries are normally made by frying potatoes twice: once at low temperature to cook the potato through, then again at high temperature to crisp them up. Frites are usually fried only once at high temperatures, so they tend to be less crispy than fries. Beef lovers will be happy to hear that this dish almost always comes with two pieces of beef per serving: either two small steaks or one larger one. The type of beef used for this dish
What kind of steak is steak frites?
- You can find almost any kind of steak you might want to buy in America, and the quality of the cut is surprisingly good. But the French approach to this cut of meat is a little different: They use it for a specific purpose and serve it with specific accompaniments.
- Steak frites are often confused with steak tartare, which is raw beef served without any other ingredients. However, steak tartare doesn't have additional toppings, just raw beef, and some vegetables; it's just a form of French-style carpaccio.
- Steak frites can be one of those weird dishes that you might have once in a while at your local French restaurant, but you won't see it on many menus. You'll find it on menus only in places that serve good food and know what they're doing with steak frites.
- The name comes from French fries (frites) and steak (steak). The idea was to create a unique combination of both sliced steak and fried potatoes. The dish is commonly topped with gravy or brown butter, or both (doux), but this isn't required.
Steak frites, or steak tartare, is a classic French dish of raw beef cooked with egg yolk and served with fries. It's often served on small pieces of toast, which can be prepared in a variety of ways. A classic preparation involves rinsing the raw meat with vinegar to remove any possible contaminants from the cow.
Steak tartare is typically served with a raw egg yolk mixture into the beef. The yolk adds richness and flavor. Some chefs also add mustard to the meat, which adds another layer of flavor and yellow coloration.
Although you won't find it on every menu, another variation of steak frites is steak Tartare de Gavroche (Filet mignon tartare prepared with shallots and capers), which is made by combining the raw filet mignon (or other tender cuts) with shallots, capers, and olive oil.
Difference between steak and steak frites
- Steak is a meat generally sliced perpendicular to the muscle fibers, potentially including a bone. Steak frites is a dish of steak cut into strips and fried with butter and garlic until browned, and served with French fries.
- Steak frites are simply steak and French fries (frites), but they can connote an entire dish or meal. Steak (or other meats) can be served alongside French fries, or on top of them, with some sauce involved. In the latter case, it's often called surf and turf (land and sea).
- Steak frites are often done with skirt steak or flank steak: relatively thin cuts that are best-served medium-rare or rare. There are some variations of this dish that involve hanger steak; this cut is somewhat different from the other two, in that it has a single muscle instead of several parallel muscles.
- Steak usually refers to a cut of meat that is cooked and served whole, while steak frites is the same steak served with French fries. Steak is often served as an entree or main dish, while steak frites may be an entree or a side dish.
There are many different types of steak, including filet mignon and porterhouse.
Why do they call it steak frites?
Potatoes are a favorite food the world over and have probably been around since the first human settlers began farming them. The same goes for meat, which is so popular that it has been one of the most common dishes for most of recorded history.
So it's not surprising that steak and potatoes are often eaten together. But there is something that sets steak frites apart from other dishes. When people talk about steak frites, they're talking about a particular type of steak and fries. It's a specific preparation that's common in France and Belgium but also found in many other countries around the world.
Serving options for steak frites
Steak frites is a classic French dish of steak and fries. The ultimate comfort food, is hearty and filling, with a simple, straightforward preparation that you can easily master at home.
- The most important part of the meal is the steak. The best cuts are often the most expensive, so if you're looking to cut costs, try a skirt or flank steak. These cuts are thin and best-prepared medium-rare for tenderness. If you choose to buy a more expensive cut of meat like ribeye or sirloin, note that these are thicker, so they will take longer to cook through to the center.
- Also called steak frites, this dish is a French staple. It was originally made with a tough cut of meat, such as a hangar or skirt steak. The meat was cut against the grain and quickly seared in butter.
- Today, it is most often served with fries (or frites) and béarnaise sauce. You can find the dish in many restaurants around the world. But one of the best places to enjoy steak frites is in Paris.
Steak Frites is masculine or feminine
Like many things in life, sometimes the right choice depends on what comes out first. This is particularly true when it comes to food and gender. Steak frites, a French dish consisting of steak and French fries, are sometimes considered masculine and sometimes feminine.
But if you look at the meaning of the words themselves, it's not that simple: steak means meat, and fries means potatoes in French. But there's an interesting linguistic twist: "frites" literally means "little sticks" or "shorter sticks," and depending on how it's used, it can be seen as more masculine or more feminine. The word is often used to refer to potatoes, but it can also refer to other foods that are served fried on sticks — like chicken nuggets or onion rings.
It all seems very complicated, but the answer is fairly obvious: a masculine steak frites is one where the potatoes are cooked separately from the meat, while a feminine steak frites is one where all the food is cooked together.
Difference between steak fries and potato wedges
When it comes to the world of deep-fried potatoes, there are endless options — French fries, tater tots, potato chips, and hash browns, to name just a few.
But what's the difference between steak fries and potato wedges?
- Steak fries are thick, long French fries that have a square shape. They're also known as chunky or steakhouse fries.
- Potato wedges consist of quarters or eighths of a whole potato with the skin left on. True wedge-cut potatoes are not square but triangular like a slice of pie.
- Steak fries are large, thick French fries — so-called because they're best suited to steak or another hearty fare (though they're also well suited to fried chicken). Sometimes they're cut in a wedge shape, but usually, they're just rectangular. Potato wedges are baked or fried potato halves — they're usually cut in half lengthwise, then again lengthwise (or sometimes quartered) to create long pieces with four flat sides.
- The key difference between the two is in their shapes: Potato wedges are triangular, while steak fries are rectangular.
Difference between steak fries and French fries
French fries, also known as chips or frites in some countries, are long strips of potatoes that are deep-fried until crispy and golden brown. Steak fries have a similar cooking method: they're made by first cutting the potatoes into thicker wedges and then deep-frying them until they're crispy on the outside and fluffy inside, similar to steak.
The biggest difference between steak fries and French fries is their size. French fries are typically thinner than steak fries — they're usually cut into pieces that are between 1/8 and 1/4 inch thick. Steak fries have a thickness of about 1/2 inch or more. Because steak fries take longer to cook than their thinner counterparts, they tend to be fluffier on the inside.
Are steak fries healthier than French fries?
A study conducted by the Harvard Medical School has discovered that eating steak fries can be healthier than French fries. Both are fried potato products, but steak fries only use vegetable oil, while French fries use both vegetable and animal fat to create a crispy texture and flavor. Animal fat is more difficult for your body to break down and metabolize.
The potatoes themselves have certain health benefits, particularly for diabetics and those prone to blood sugar fluctuations. Potatoes contain important nutrients like potassium, vitamin C, dietary fiber, and vitamin B6, which can help prevent heart disease.
Steak fries are also available in both single-serving sizes, as well as larger portions that can be shared or eaten over a few days. That makes them an ideal choice for people who want to watch their weight but enjoy their food at the same time.
Steaks are beef
Steaks are a type of beef. Beef is the meat of cattle. Steaks come from different parts of the animal, and there are many types of steaks. Some examples are filet mignon, T-bone steak, New York strip steak, ribeye steak, and top sirloin steak. Beef refers to the meat from cattle that have been slaughtered for human consumption. The flesh of cattle is referred to as beef regardless of whether the meat is from a bull, cow, or steer.
The meat of cattle may be used in many dishes and cuisines. Steaks are a type of beef that come from different parts of the animal's body. They are prepared in various ways including roasting, broiling, baking, and grilling.
How do you pan fry a medium steak?
Pan-frying is a great way to cook up steaks and other cuts of meat. It's quick and easy and allows you to make a tasty sauce to go with it. If you're wondering how to pan-fry a medium steak, here are some things you need to know.
- Use a cast-iron skillet or non-stick frying pan. You'll need enough room for all of your steaks without them being crowded in the pan so use a pan that is at least twice as big as the surface of the steaks you have.
- Heat your skillet over medium-high heat for about 10 minutes before adding any butter or oil. Take your time heating, because the longer you take, the more even the heat will be over the whole pan.
- Once the skillet is heated, put a little butter in it and let it melt while you pat your steaks dry with paper towels. The amount of butter will depend on how many steaks you are cooking—you want just enough to cover the bottom of the skillet in a thin layer after it melts.
- Sprinkle both sides of each steak with salt and pepper before placing them in the hot butter (in batches if necessary). You want to hear
What to serve with Steak Frites
Here are some tips on how to serve the perfect steak frites:
- Start with a good cut of steak. If you've got a sirloin or strip steak on hand, go for it. Steak frites are wonderful on their own, but also great with other preparations as well as classic accompaniments like green beans and salad. They're also delicious with shrimp or scallops.
- Don't cook your steaks too long! Contrary to what you may have heard, this is not mandatory. You can grill them over high heat until they reach your desired doneness and serve them while they're still hot (if they're rare enough to cook through when they hit the plate). You can also finish off your steaks in the oven at 400 degree.
So enjoy these Steak Frites.
