Steak Diane Recipe Is All About the Sauce, Here's How to Make it (2024)

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"Diane" refers to the pan sauce made with mustard, Worcestershire sauce, cream, and cognac. Make it in under 30 minutes for a delicious date night in.

By

Elise Bauer

Steak Diane Recipe Is All About the Sauce, Here's How to Make it (1)

Elise Bauer

Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.

Learn about Simply Recipes'Editorial Process

Updated September 12, 2023

22 Ratings

Steak Diane Recipe Is All About the Sauce, Here's How to Make it (2)

Steak Diane is traditionally made with a thinly pounded steak, and a cognac, butter, and shallot sauce that is flambéed right before serving to great dramatic effect.

What Is Steak Diane?

Doing some research into Steak Diane, I found that the "Diane" part refers to Diana, the Greco-Roman goddess of the hunt, and "a la Diane" sauces were typically served with venison and game meat in centuries past.

It was probably New York hotels that popularized the flambéed steak version.

Steak Diane Recipe Is All About the Sauce, Here's How to Make it (3)

My Favorite Steak Diane Recipe

This Steak Diane recipe is based off of one I got years ago from my friend Heidi, who found a version in her local paper, the Carlisle Mosquito (great name for a newspaper, isn't it?).

The recipe calls for pan-frying the steak, using the pan juices as a base for the "Diane" sauce—a sauce made with mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and cream—and then serving the steak with the sauce poured over it. No flames are involved.

The Best Substitutes for Heavy Cream READ MORE:

Heidi's husband Vaughn is a master at the grill, so they often grill the steak instead of pan-frying it, and just make the sauce separately. The sauce can be used over chicken or pork as well, and if you have leftovers, you can even stir it in over some pasta.

Love Steak? Try These Other Recipes!

  • Swiss Steak
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  • Cowboy Steak with Chimichurri Sauce
  • Hanger Steak With Shallots

Steak Diane Recipe Is All About the Sauce, Here's How to Make it (4)

Steak Diane

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time15 mins

Total Time30 mins

Servings4 servings

If cooking gluten-free, use gluten-free broth.

Ingredients

  • 4 (6-ounce) center cut beef tenderloin steaks or another cut of your choice

  • Salt

  • 1/2 cup beef broth

  • 4 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

  • 2 teaspoons tomato paste

  • 2 tablespoons butter

  • 1/2 cup finely minced shallots

  • 4 tablespoons cognac or brandy

  • 1/3 cup heavy cream

  • Freshly ground black pepper

  • 2 tablespoons chives, finely chopped

Method

  1. Salt the steak and let sit at room temp:

    Sprinkle salt on both sides of the steak and set aside at room temperature for 15 to 30 minutes.

  2. Mix the broth, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, tomato paste:

    Whisk together broth, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard and tomato paste; set aside.

  3. Sear the steaks in butter:

    Melt the butter in a skillet set over medium-high heat. Pat the steaks dry with a paper towel. Increase the heat to high and sear the meat for 1 to 4 minutes, depending on how thick the steak is. Turn and sear on the other side and cook until done.

    If your steak is thick enough to test with an instant-read thermometer, you can use it to check for your desired doneness—rare: 125°F; medium rare: 135°F; medium: 145°F; well done 160°F.

    If you do not have a thermometer, use the finger test to check the doneness of the meat.

    When the steaks are done, move to a cutting board and tent with foil.

    Simple Tip!

    You may need to cook the meat in batches. If you crowd the pan, the meat will steam and won't get the nice sear needed.

    Steak Diane Recipe Is All About the Sauce, Here's How to Make it (5)

  4. Sauté the shallots:

    While the meat is resting, sauté the shallots in the pan, 2 minutes on medium-high heat, stirring once or twice.

  5. Deglaze the pan with cognac:

    Add the cognac to deglaze the pan. Increase the heat and cook until the cognac is almost evaporated.

  6. Add the broth mixture, then cream:

    Stir in the broth mixture and bring to a boil. Cook until thickened, about 2 to 3 minutes.

    Stir in the cream and cook for two more minutes.

    Steak Diane Recipe Is All About the Sauce, Here's How to Make it (6)

    Steak Diane Recipe Is All About the Sauce, Here's How to Make it (7)

  7. Serve the steak with sauce:

    If you want, thinly slice the steak to serve. Otherwise serve individual steaks. Drizzle warm Diane sauce over the steak and garnish with freshly ground black pepper and chives.

    Did you enjoy this recipe? Let us know with a rating and review!

  • Quick Dinners
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  • Gluten-Free
  • Skillet
  • Steaks
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
720Calories
55g Fat
6g Carbs
42g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories720
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 55g70%
Saturated Fat 25g124%
Cholesterol 182mg61%
Sodium 532mg23%
Total Carbohydrate 6g2%
Dietary Fiber 1g4%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 42g
Vitamin C 4mg20%
Calcium 52mg4%
Iron 6mg34%
Potassium 756mg16%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

Steak Diane Recipe Is All About the Sauce, Here's How to Make it (2024)

FAQs

What is a steak diane sauce made of? ›

The recipe calls for pan-frying the steak, using the pan juices as a base for the "Diane" sauce—a sauce made with mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and cream—and then serving the steak with the sauce poured over it. No flames are involved.

What is a substitute for brandy in steak diane? ›

Brandy or Cognac: A key ingredient in Diane sauce is brandy or cognac. If you don't have either on hand, you could substitute dry white wine. If you want to leave the alcohol out altogether, use fruit juice, water, or extra beef broth.

What is the difference between steak diane and steak au poivre? ›

What's the difference Between Steak Diane and Steak au Poivre? “Au poivre” is French for pepper and indicates a pan sauce for steak that uses shallots, liquor (Cognac or dry sherry), cream, and copious amounts of coarsely cracked pepper in the sauce. Steak Diane often contains mushrooms and lots less pepper.

Which sauce is best for steak? ›

Here are our Top 10 Steak Sauces:
  • Blue Cheese. ...
  • Peppercorn. ...
  • Béarnaise. ...
  • Chimichurri. ...
  • Garlic Herb Butter. ...
  • Salsa Verde. ...
  • Red Wine Jus. ...
  • Mushroom Sauce. Mushrooms pair extremely well with steak, and this recipe serves as both a sauce and side dish.

Can you buy Steak Diane sauce? ›

Diane Steak Sauce (80g) - Order Online - Owton's Butchers.

Why do they call it Steak Diane? ›

While its exact origins remain a topic of debate, it is believed that Steak Diane got its name from the Roman goddess Diana, the huntress. The precise birthplace of Steak Diane is a matter of contention among food historians, but it is often associated with French cuisine.

What does Diane mean for steak? ›

Steak Diane is a dish of pan-fried beefsteak with a sauce made from the seasoned pan juices. It was originally cooked tableside and sometimes flambéed. It was most likely invented in London in the 1930s. From the 1940s through the 1960s it was a standard dish in "Continental cuisine", and is now considered retro.

Can I use apple cider vinegar instead of brandy? ›

Apple Cider Vinegar

As an excellent apple brandy substitute, apple cider gives the much-needed sweet and sour punch to your recipes. To use, dilute your apple cider with water, using a 2:1 ratio. Then, add the same amount of the diluted apple cider as what your recipe calls for brandy. Best for savory dishes.

Can I use whiskey instead of brandy in a sauce? ›

If you are skipping the brandy because you don't have any - try a rum or whisky instead. They have a slightly different flavour profile, but not hugely different.

What makes a brandy a brandy? ›

Brandy refers to a distilled spirit made from a fruit-based wine and originates from the word 'brandewijn' which is Dutch for 'burnt wine. ' It can be produced using any fruits, for example pears apples or cherries, but brandy that is not made from grapes must be labelled with the fruit that it's made from.

What steak is the king of steaks? ›

Often referred to as “the king of steaks”, the Porterhouse is actually two steaks in one. One side of the bone yields a succulent and tender tenderloin, while the other side yields a flavourful striploin. Porterhouse steaks are famous for their size.

What is the hardest steak to cook? ›

Skirt, Flank, & Hanger Steak

"Both flank and skirt steaks, while flavorful, are also cuts of beef that are known to be tougher in texture, making them potentially difficult to cook at home–unless you have a grill that can get really hot or you're willing to trip the smoke alarm," says Nunez.

What is the most expensive type of steak in the world? ›

What is this? Japanese Kobe steak is one expensive meat. In fact, it's usually considered the most expensive steak in the world, although prices vary by location, restaurant, etc. In fact, Japanese Kobe is often hailed as having the best marbling of any steak that your money can buy.

What does steak diane sauce taste like? ›

Steak diane is a beef dish that is served with a mushroom cognac sauce that is typically flambeed. The sauce has heavy cream, mustard, and broth to give it lots of depth of flavor. There are no flames needed to get a great flavor in this sauce!

Why is it called Diane sauce? ›

In the 19th century, sauces made “a la Diane” were dedicated to Diana the Rome goddess and was originally served as an accompaniment to venison. Sauce a la Diane was composed of cream, truffles, and ample amounts of black pepper.

Can you buy steak diane sauce? ›

Diane Steak Sauce (80g) - Order Online - Owton's Butchers.

Can you buy ready made Diane sauce? ›

Sainsbury's Diane Sauce, Inspired to Cook 150g (Serves 2) | Sainsbury's.

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