To ring in the new year and decade, we decided to have a quiet night home with our family. We do this practically every year, but I wanted to make a special dinner for Ryan and I, and something that the girls would eat too. While searching on Pinterest I was SO excited to come across a recipe for one of the most delicious meals I’ve ever tasted in my life from one of my favorite restaurants in Florence, Italy: the Acqua al Due Blueberry Steak! I thought it would also be the perfect dish for a Valentine’s night in with your sweetheart!
In the fall of 2004, I studied abroad in Florence, Italy with five of my college besties. We lived in our own three bedroom apartment steps from the Ponte Vecchio, and traveled all over Italy and most of Europe. It was one of the best four months of my life! Believe it or not, I still haven’t been back! There’s a statue of a wild boar (“Il Porcellino“) that sat around the corner from our apartment. Legend has it, if you put a coin into the boar’s mouth and it falls into the grate below, you will return to Florence. If the boar eats your coin, you will not return. Time after time, Il Porcellino ate my coins. I’m determined to prove the boar wrong and return to Florence! Until then, I’ll be recreating the Acqua al Due Blueberry Steak at home. Thank you to Kitchen Swagger for this recipe!
Acqua al Due Blueberry Steak Recipe
Ingredients:
Steak:
- filet mignons
- 2–3 tablespoons butter
- salt and pepper to taste
Blueberry glaze:
- 3/4 cup blueberries, mashed
- 1/2 cup dry red wine (I used Chianti)
- Tablespoon brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
- pinch of salt and pepper
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 415° F. Remove steaks from the refrigerator and bring the steak to room temperature. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
2. Add the butter to an oven safe cast iron skillet and turn up high, allowing the skillet get hot. Once the butter melts, sear the filets for 2 minutes. Flip the filets and sear for an additional 2 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, combine all blueberry glaze ingredients in a small saucepan (I used a potato masher to crush the blueberries, breaking the skins).
4. Simmer on medium-high heat, whisking occasionally until mixture reduces by half and slightly thickens, about 10-12 minutes. Remove from heat and let rest.
5. Transfer your cast iron skillet directly to the oven. [WARNING! Skillet will be hot, so handle with oven mitts!] Depending on the thickness/size of the steak, they may take more or less time.
- 4 minutes (rare)
- 5-6 minutes (medium rare)
- 6-7 minutes (medium)
- 8-9 minutes (medium well)
6. Remove the filets from the skillet and set on a plate. Let them sit for 5 minutes before serving.
7. Serve each filet topped with blueberry sauce.
I hope this Aqua al Due Blueberry Steak recipe made your mouth water! If you make it, please take a picture and tag me on Instagram (@kate.deverin) so I can see it! As always, if you have any questions, feel free to reach out!
XO,
Kate