What is Steak Diane?
Diane Sauce also known as Steak Diane, was popular in American restaurants in the 1940's and 50's. It's a mushroom gravy sauce which is served with your steak, which is flambéed for dramatic effect.
It was popular to have it flambéed table-side in a restaurant. This ensures the alcohol from the brandy is burned off, leaving the classic. Now I probably use too much mushrooms, as I love mushrooms. You could use only 2 or 3 sliced up for flavor, and keep the sauce runnier, but who loves a runny mushroom gravy?
How to Make Steak Diane
Often this recipe was made by pan frying the steak, then making the sauce in the same pan, using the steak juices. I usually barbecue our steaks outside and make the sauce in a saucepan. Some people use thinner minute steaks, but I like a proper thick steak with this recipe. This sauce can be made in advance, as it re-heats easily.
I thinly slice the mushrooms, but you can chop the mushrooms into small pieces if you want a smoother sauce. You can use any brandy or cognac that you have at home. You don't need to spend a lot of money on the brandy. As the brandy is burned off, the differences in quality of cognac or brandy won't matter as it mixed with the food. So it's ok to buy the cheap stuff. Don't skip the brandy, that's what gives this dish amazing flavor. Otherwise it's just a plain mushroom gravy. If you don't have brandy, you can substitute with Port Wine (which contains brandy). It won't flambé with port, just let it simmer for the alcohol to cook out.
The only caution I have is when you add the brandy to the saucepan. Carefully tip the pan to the flame on a gas stove to ignite the brandy, be careful not to burn yourself, or the kitchen down. Alternatively, use a firelighter to light the brandy. Did I mention to be careful?
Who invented Diane Sauce?
Many people confuse this as a French recipe, but it is in fact an American recipe. It originated from New York, commonly thought to be originated by a person called Nino of the Drake (from the Drake Hotel). His real name was Beniamino Schiavon, and he was an Italian immigrant. So it's definitely not French, but an American classic recipe.
I have never made Diane Sauce before I came to Australia. It's just wasn't popular in Canada, but I wish it was. Most Australian pubs or restaurants seem to have it as option along side their gravies and sauces. However, it's gone out of fashion to flambée table-side in restaurants. You can even buy it as an easy powdered gravy in the supermarket. But made from scratch always tastes better!
I love eating Diane Sauce over my Garlic Mashed Potatoes or even dipping my Potato Wedges or French Fries. You can't go wrong with a tasty sauce.
What Other Sauces Go With Steak?
- Chimichurri Sauce - a garlicky parsley condiment from South America
- Creamy Horseradish Sauce
- Hren - a Russian beet and horseradish sauce eaten with meats
Modern food has gotten trendier. It's way too cool for a delicious, buttery, mushroomy, calorie-laden gravy sauce. It may not be considered a fancy dish anymore, but boy, is it delicious. One of my favorite 'retro' recipes. Bon Appetit! Приятного аппетита!
Diane Sauce - Steak Diane
Ingredients
- 1 small onion sliced
- 4-5 small mushrooms sliced
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- ⅓ cup brandy
- 1 cup thick whipping cream
- handful of chopped parsley
Instructions
- Put oil in a frying pan and fry onion until soft.
- Add mushrooms, garlic and butter and cook for about 2 minutes.
- Add Worcestershire Sauce and Dijon mustard and any steak juices to the frying pan and stir together.
- Add the brandy and cook until the alcohol has burned off.
- Add the whipping cream and cook until the sauce thickens slightly. Add parsley and season with salt and pepper.
©PetersFoodAdventures.com
