Drunken Porcini Crostini with Sliced Steak & Taleggio

It is mid-September, which means three things: the end of hot summer days, a beautiful change in nature’s colors, and the beginning of harvest. These three conditions bring new flavours and scents into our everyday. There is this distinct scent of fermenting grape juice in the air, sometimes interchanged by the scents of mushrooms growing, and as nature’s colors change from green to yellow, orange, and red we start craving for warmer comfort food.

Here is a great, yummy, and impeccable recipe for this season to be paired with our Sfriso Cabernet Franc, of course!

Drunken Porcini Crostini with Sliced Steak & Taleggio

Makes 24 crostini
Pair with: our Sfriso Cabernet Franc

1 1/2 ounces dried porcini mushrooms (42 g)
Sfriso Cabernet Franc
1 baguette (18 inches long), cut crosswise into 24 equal slices
3 tablespoons olive oil (45 mL)
Coarse salt and cracked black pepper
1 tablespoon neutral oil, such as vegetable, sunflower, or grapeseed (15 mL)
1 1/2 pounds beef tenderloin 1 1/2 inches thick, patted dry (675 g)
1 tablespoon fresh chopped rosemary (15 mL)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter (15 mL)
1 small shallot, minced
1 medium clove garlic, minced
8 ounces Taleggio cheese, softened (224 g)
Finely chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Place enough Sfriso Cabernet Franc to cover the dried mushrooms in a small saucepot. Bring the mixture to a low boil, turn off the heat, and cover the pot. Allow the mushrooms to steep for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the rehydrated mushrooms with a slotted spoon, roughly chop, and set aside. Strain the wine-mushroom stock through a fine sieve to get rid of any dirt.

Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C)

Spread out the baguette slices on a baking sheet, drizzle them with the olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Bake until lightly golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes.

Heat the neutral oil in a large cast-iron skillet over moderately high heat. Generously season the steaks with rosemary, salt, and pepper. Sear the steaks on the first side, without touching them, until they have a deep golden brown crust—3 to 4 minutes. Flip the steaks and cook them until they’re done to your liking (about 4 to 5 more minutes for medium-rare). Allow the steaks to rest for several minutes, and then thinly slice against the grain.

Turn the heat down on the cast iron to medium and then add the butter to the pan. Add the rehydrated mushrooms, shallots, and garlic and sauté until the shallots are translucent—about 1 minute. Add a splash of the wine-mushroom stock and cook until the liquid is evaporated. Set the mushroom mixture aside to cool to room temperature.

To assemble the crostini, evenly spread each toasted baguette slice with Taleggio and arrange them on a platter. Distribute the mushrooms over the cheese, top with slices of steak, and garnish the platter with the chopped parsley. Serve immediately.

Buon Appetito!

Recipe and photos developed by Fanny Slater, winner of the Rachael Ray Great American Cookbook Competition!