Bacon-Wrapped Steak with Garlic Butter
- 12 large garlic cloves, peeled
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small chunks
- kosher salt
- 3½ teaspoons chopped chives
- ½ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- 4 (6- to 7-ounce) filet steaks, about 1 inch thick
- 4 very thin slices of lean bacon
- 6-inch wooden skewers, soaked in water 10 min and patted dry
Place peeled garlic and olive oil in 1-cup, ovenproof dish. Cover dish tightly with aluminum foil and place in oven. Roast on center rack until garlic is golden and very tender and soft when pierced with knife, about 30 min (start checking cloves after 20 min and then every 5 min until done). With slotted spoon, remove garlic from bowl and reserve oil. Place garlic, 1½ tsps of the reserved oil, butter and ⅛ tsp salt in food processor or blender and process, pulsing machine on and off for 30 seconds or less until garlic is coarsely chopped and blended with butter and oil. Transfer garlic butter to small bowl and stir in 2 tsps of the chives. (Garlic butter can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature 30 min before ready to use.)
When ready to cook steaks, oil a grill rack and prepare grill. In small bowl, stir together 1 tsp kosher salt, coarsely ground black pepper and thyme. Rub both sides of each filet with some of this seasoning. Wrap each steak around its sides with 1 slice of bacon. Skewer bacon in place with wooden skewer or 2-3 toothpicks.
Grill steaks until lightly charred on the outside and until bacon is cooked, about 5 min per side for medium-rare. When done, remove steaks from grill. Remove toothpicks.
Top each steak with 1 generous pat of roasted garlic butter and sprinkle with some of remaining chives. Butter will start to melt and season the steaks. Serve immediately.