Steak with Wild Onion Pan Sauce and Black Truffles, Wild Mushrooms, Broccoli di Ciccio, and Celery Root–Cauliflower Mash
A winter steak dinner with a deep brown crust, wild onion pan sauce, and black truffle shaved generously over the top. Golden chanterelles and hedgehogs bring a little chew, celery root–cauliflower mash catches the juices, and leafy broccoli di Ciccio keeps the plate fresh.
By Jonathan Katzman · Cooked and photographed · Recipe updated
Serves: 4 servings
Tags: gluten-free, nut-free

Pan-Seared Ribeye Steaks
A dry surface and hot ghee build a browned crust while a thermometer keeps the interior rosy. Resting the meat also provides flavorful juices for the pan sauce.
Ingredients
- 4 boneless ribeye steaks, 10–12 ounces each and about 1¼ inches thick
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more to taste
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons ghee
Instructions
- Salt the steaks and refrigerate uncovered for at least 45 minutes, or overnight. Pat very dry before cooking and season with pepper.
- Heat the oven to 375°F. Heat two heavy ovenproof skillets over medium-high heat, then divide the ghee between them.
- Sear the steaks without crowding for 2–3 minutes per side, until deeply browned. Hold the fatty edges against the pan for 30–60 seconds to render them.
- If needed, transfer the skillets to the oven for 3–8 minutes. For medium-rare, remove the steaks when the centers reach 125–128°F; expect them to rise to about 130–135°F while resting.
- Rest on a warm platter for 10 minutes, loosely tented. Reserve the juices and one skillet with its browned fond for the wild onion sauce.
- Slice across the grain into approximately ½-inch slices immediately before serving.
Notes
- Timing depends on steak thickness and starting temperature; use the internal temperature rather than the clock.
- For diners who need a more conservative food-safety endpoint, cook whole-cut beef to 145°F and rest at least 3 minutes.
Wild Onion Pan Sauce with Fresh Black Truffle
Wine and stock dissolve the steak fond into a concentrated sauce. Soft wild onions add sweetness, while butter rounds the acidity and carries the aroma of freshly shaved truffle.
Ingredients
- 1 bunch food-safe wild onions, about 3 ounces, cleaned and thinly sliced, whites and greens separated
- ½ cup dry red wine
- ¾ cup unsalted gluten-free beef stock
- 2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cubed
- ½ teaspoon sherry vinegar, plus more to taste
- 30–40 grams fresh black winter truffle, gently cleaned and dried
- to taste kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Pour excess fat from one steak skillet, leaving about 1 tablespoon and all the brown fond. If the fond is black or burnt, use a clean pan with 1 tablespoon of the reserved steak fat instead.
- Lower the heat to medium. Add the wild onion whites and cook for 2–3 minutes, stirring, until softened.
- Add the wine and scrape up the fond. Simmer until reduced by about half, then add the stock and reduce until lightly syrupy, about 4–6 minutes.
- Stir in the reserved steak resting juices and the onion greens. Simmer for 30 seconds, then remove from the heat.
- Whisk in the cold butter a few cubes at a time. Add the vinegar and season to taste. The sauce should coat a spoon lightly rather than form a thick gravy.
- Spoon the sauce over the sliced steaks, then shave the truffle very thinly over the warm meat at the table. Do not simmer the truffle in the sauce.
Notes
- Use only positively identified edible wild onions from a trusted supplier; slender spring onions are a practical alternative.
- If the sauce reduces too far, loosen it with a splash of water or stock. After adding butter, keep it warm without boiling.
Golden Chanterelles and Hedgehog Mushrooms
Cooking in uncrowded batches lets moisture evaporate before the mushrooms brown. A little garlic and finishing butter support their woodland flavor without competing with the truffle.
Ingredients
- ¾ pound chanterelle mushrooms
- ¾ pound hedgehog mushrooms
- 2 tablespoons ghee
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- to taste kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Trim the mushrooms and brush away debris. Briefly rinse gritty mushrooms if necessary, then dry thoroughly. Halve or tear large specimens, keeping smaller ones whole.
- Heat a wide skillet over medium-high heat. Add half the ghee and half the mushrooms in a single layer. Cook undisturbed for 2–3 minutes, then turn and continue cooking until their moisture evaporates and their edges turn golden, about 6–9 minutes total.
- Transfer to a plate and repeat with the remaining ghee and mushrooms.
- Return all the mushrooms to the skillet and lower the heat. Add the garlic and butter; toss for 1–2 minutes until fragrant and the mushrooms are tender throughout.
- Season with salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Keep warm briefly, uncovered, so they do not steam.
Notes
- Use correctly identified cultivated or professionally foraged mushrooms. Cook wild mushrooms thoroughly; do not leave their centers raw.
Garlicky Broccoli di Ciccio
A short blanch tenderizes the stems before a quick sauté wilts the leaves. Lemon cuts through the richness of the steak and mash.
Ingredients
- 1¼ pounds broccoli di Ciccio shoots, including tender leaves
- 1 tablespoon ghee
- 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- to taste kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Trim tough stem ends and split any thick stems lengthwise, retaining the tender leaves and small florets.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Blanch the broccoli for 2–3 minutes, until bright green and the stems are just tender. Drain well and spread on a towel to release excess moisture.
- Heat the ghee in a wide skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and stir for about 30 seconds without browning.
- Add the broccoli and sauté for 3–4 minutes, tossing until the leaves are wilted and the stems are tender but retain a little bite.
- Finish with lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Serve hot.
Notes
- Broccolini with its tender leaves is a good substitute if broccoli di Ciccio is unavailable.
Celery Root and Cauliflower Mash
Celery root gives the mash body and a savory, nutty flavor; cauliflower keeps it lighter. Lightly coloring the celery root and drying the cooked vegetables prevents a watery purée.
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds celery root, peeled weight, cut into ½-inch cubes
- 1 pound cauliflower florets, cut small
- 1 tablespoon ghee
- ¾ cup water, plus more as needed
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ cup heavy cream, warmed
- to taste kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Heat the ghee in a wide, heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add the celery root and a generous pinch of salt. Cook for 6–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly golden in places.
- Add the cauliflower and water. Cover, reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally and adding a little water if needed, until both vegetables crush easily with a fork.
- Uncover and cook off any remaining liquid, stirring so the vegetables do not scorch.
- Transfer to a food processor. Add the butter and half the warm cream, then process until smooth, scraping down the bowl. Add only enough remaining cream to make a thick, spoonable mash.
- Season with salt and pepper. Return to the saucepan and keep warm over very low heat, stirring occasionally.
Notes
- For a dairy-free mash, replace the butter with 2 tablespoons olive oil and use warm stock instead of cream; the result will be less rich.
Overall Timing / Workflow
The mash holds well, while the steak's resting period provides time to make the sauce and finish the greens. A second cook or a second skillet makes the final few minutes easier.
Instructions
- At least 45 minutes ahead: Salt the steaks. Clean the mushrooms, wild onions, and truffle; trim the broccoli and cut the mash vegetables.
- 0:00 — Start the celery root–cauliflower mash and bring a pot of salted water to a boil for the broccoli.
- 0:15 — Blanch and drain the broccoli. Begin browning the mushrooms in batches.
- 0:30 — Finish the mash and hold it warm. Finish the mushrooms and set aside. Heat the oven and steak skillets.
- 0:35 — Sear the steaks and finish in the oven as needed.
- Once the steaks are resting, make the pan sauce and sauté the broccoli. Briefly rewarm the mushrooms if necessary and check the mash's consistency.
- Slice the steaks, plate everything on warm plates, and shave the truffle over the sauced meat immediately before serving.
Notes
- Allow a little extra time if cooking with only one large skillet; finish the mushrooms before beginning the steaks.
Plating
Keeping the vegetables in distinct groups preserves their textures and lets the truffle-topped steak remain the focal point.
Instructions
- Spoon a generous mound of mash onto one side of each warm plate.
- Fan the sliced steak alongside it, then spoon the wild onion sauce over the meat.
- Arrange the mushrooms beside the steak and tuck the broccoli toward the back of the plate.
- Shave the black truffle generously over the warm sauced steak. Serve immediately.
Leftover Path
Gentle reheating keeps sliced steak from toughening, while the mash and mushrooms can become a second composed meal.
Instructions
- Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours in separate airtight containers. Use the cooked components within 3–4 days.
- Reheat the mash in a covered saucepan with a splash of water or cream, stirring until hot. Reheat the mushrooms and broccoli separately.
- For a hot meal, warm the steak gently in a covered pan with a little stock until it reaches 165°F; it will lose its pink center. Alternatively, serve properly chilled leftover steak thinly sliced over a salad.
- Warm the sauce gently without boiling and spoon over the reheated components. Shave any remaining fresh truffle over the food only after heating.
Notes
- Store unused whole truffle dry, wrapped in a paper towel inside a sealed container in the refrigerator. Change the towel daily and use promptly.