Published January 1, 2007.
To create the steak frites recipe of our Parisian dreams, we first determined that the fries needed to be cooked in two batches, a procedure that minimizes the drop in oil temperature that naturally occurs when potatoes are added to frying oil. Our real breakthrough in our steak frites recipe, however, occurred when we coated the fries with an extra layer of starch, which added a protective sheath around each fry. For the steaks, we found that thicker rib-eyes gave us more time to get a nice sear without overcooking the middle.
Make sure to dry the potatoes well before tossing them with the cornstarch. For safety, use a Dutch oven with a capacity of at least 7 quarts. Use refined peanut oil (such as Planters) to fry the potatoes, not toasted peanut oil. A 12-inch skillet is essential for cooking four steaks at once. The recipe can be prepared through step 4 up to 2 hours in advance; turn off the heat under the oil, turning the heat back to medium when you start step 6. The ingredients can be halved to serve two-keep the oil amount the same and forgo blanching and frying the potatoes in batches. If you prefer not to fry, follow our recipe for Oven Fries, (see related recipe).
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