Best French Steak Tartare Recipe (Easy Minced Beef Tartare) (2024)

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Steak Tartare is meaty, delicious, and full of flavor. Considered a French delicacy, this minced beef tartare is highly revered by foodies and steak connoisseurs who like their steak raw.

If you’re a self-described carnivore and love the flavors of fresh, well-seasoned beef, chances are, you’ll thoroughly enjoy this dish. While many are skeptical about preparing raw meat at home, with the right ingredients and technique, you can safely serve your very own steak tartare.

What is Steak Tartare?

Steak tartare is a meat dish found in many European cuisines. The French version – tartare aller-retour – is the most renowned and is considered a delicacy. Here in the United States, tartare dish is served at high-end restaurants for meat lovers with a discerning palate.

Often served as an appetizer, steak tartare is made using high-quality, finely chopped raw steak fillet, delicately seasoned and topped with a poached or raw egg. This dish balances flavors of salty and sour and the beef is tender and gamey.

Is Steak Tartare Safe to Eat?

Raw meat is found in many cuisines, including raw fish being consumed by Japanese and Scandinavian people. As with all raw meat, quality and method of preparation play a significant role in the taste and safety of the meal. If prepared properly, beef tartare is completely safe to eat, though not recommended for pregnant women, children or people with compromised immune systems.

Ingredients for Steak Tartare

• Steak Fillet: You’ll be using fresh, lean beef steak. Filet mignon and sirloin are excellent options. Get your steak from a reputable butcher and let them know you’ll be eating it raw to ensure you get the best quality. Do not use ground beef.
• Olive Oil: It’s loaded with healthy fats and a subtle flavor. We recommend using extra-virgin olive oil for your steak tartare.
• Pickled Cucumbers: Also simply known as pickles, pickled cucumbers can be made at home or purchased in a store.
• Capers: With their salty, citrusy taste, capers add incredible flavor to this meaty dish.
• Shallot: Shallots offer a sharp, slightly sweet flavor to exquisitely season your steak. You may substitute with white or yellow onions.
• Chives: With their mild oniony taste, fresh chives are subtle, yet noticeable. Substitute with scallions if chives are unavailable.
• Parsley: You’ll be using fresh parsley to season your beef and as a garnish.
• Worcestershire Sauce: This classic sauce adds a burst of umami to the beef. Substitute with a mixture of vinegar and soy sauce.
• Ketchup: This simple condiment can be substituted with tomato paste or tomato sauce. For a spicier beef tartare, try using sriracha.
• Salt & Pepper
• Egg Yolk

How to Make Steak Tartare

• Trim off fat and rinse the steak thoroughly. Pat dry with paper towels.
• Sprinkle salt onto the steak generously. Place it on a plate and cover with plastic wraps. Let it sit in the fridge for 1-2 hours, and then rinse the steak again. Pat dry completely with paper towels.
• Place the steak on a clean cutting board, and mince the steak finely with a sharp knife.
• Mix the minced steak and olive oil.
• Add finley chopped pickled cucumbers, capers, shallot, chives, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined. Taste test and adjust the seasoning if needed.
• Place a food ring mold (you can make one at home with a plastic bottle) on a plate.
• Add the steak mixture into the mold. Gently pressing down to make sure there are no gaps.
• Create a small well in the center of the steak mixture. Slide in the egg yolk carefully.
• Lift and remove the mold gently. Garnish with more parsley and serve immediately.

Tips & Tricks

• Make sure to source the freshest, highest-quality beef, ideally from a butcher.
• To save time, you can prepare your herbs and seasonings ahead of time, but do not combine them with the meat until you’re ready to eat.
• Though traditionally served with a raw egg, you can lightly poach your egg if you prefer.

What Kind of Meat is Used for Steak Tartare?

To make restaurant-quality steak tartare, you’ve got to start with the right ingredients. Since you’ll be eating it raw, it’s very important to get the right cut of beef. Tenderloin cuts such as filet mignon are your best options. You can also use top sirloin steak.

What to Serve with Steak Tartare?

As an appetizer, steak tartare is often served with a freshly toasted baguette or with French fries. This meaty dish can also serve as the protein in a fresh salad, or can be served alongside steamed vegetables.

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