Braised steak with a wild mushroom and madeira sauce

Method

1. First, season the steaks with freshly milled black pepper, then, in a medium-size, deep frying pan, heat the oil and butter together till sizzling hot. Now, add the steaks and brown them really well on both sides, which will take about 5 minutes altogether. After that, remove them to a plate.
2. Next, add the onion slices, keeping the heat high, and brown them for 4-5 minutes, moving them once or twice. Then in go the sliced mushrooms and porcini (no need to rehydrate them) for a few good stirs, before leaving them for about 5 more minutes to cook.
3. Now return the steaks, sort of half-burying them in among the mushrooms and onions, then, in a jug, just whisk the sauce and the Madeira together. Pour the whole lot in to join the rest, season and give the pan a couple of shakes. Bring the sauce up to simmering point, then turn the heat down to its very lowest setting, put a lid on and let it cook really slowly for 2 hours.
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4. This is great with mashed potato and long-stemmed broccoli.