Bistecca Alla Fiorentina Recipe (Florentine Steak) (2024)

Published August 23, 2022.This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Meet the king of all steaks, Bistecca Alla Fiorentina Recipe. Seasoned 3-pound porterhouse steak grilled to perfection and brushed with butter and fresh herbs.

Bistecca Alla Fiorentina Recipe (Florentine Steak) (1)

Also known as Florentine Steak, this large cut of meat has been a traditional dish served for years across Italy and Italian restaurants in the US.

Bistecca Alla Fiorentina

This is a classical Italian recipe that you’ll see at any traditional Italian restaurant. The Bistecca Alla Fiorentina is a huge 2 ½ to 3-pound porterhouse steak with a New York strip steak on one side and a filet mignon on the other.

It was originally founded in Florence, Tuscany, and to be true to this recipe. It must feature the porterhouse steak. Anything else strips it of its authenticity. Classically it’s seasoned with salt, brushed with olive oil, and grilled. That’s it.I, of course, changed this recipe up a little bit just to put my little touch on it.

Ingredients and Substitutions

  • Steak – You will need a 2 to 3-pound bone-in porterhouse steak.
  • Herbs – I like to use a combination of fresh rosemary, sage, and thyme.
  • Seasonings – In addition to salt and pepper, you can use a little granulated garlic and onion to enhance the flavor.
  • Fat – You will need some good olive oil and unsalted butter for this recipe.

How to Grill Bistecca Alla Fiorentina

I’ve been grilling meat since the first restaurant I worked in 25 years ago, and I’ve changed how I like it cooked over the years. I’m a rare + guy these days, so I’m grilling this for just a few minutes per side.

Classically Florentine steak is grilled over the open flame, but it’s ok to do it in a grill pan or even just a big cast-iron skillet.

Make the baster by wrapping the fresh herbs up in butcher’s twine.

Bistecca Alla Fiorentina Recipe (Florentine Steak) (2)

Next, brush both sides of the steak with olive oil.

Bistecca Alla Fiorentina Recipe (Florentine Steak) (3)

Season the steak on both sides with salt, pepper, onion, and garlic granules.

Bistecca Alla Fiorentina Recipe (Florentine Steak) (4)

Make sure your griddle is hot before placing down your meat, and cook it for 4-6 minutes per side for a beautiful rare steak. If you like more of a medium-rare internal temperature, then add 2 minutes per side when cooking.

Bistecca Alla Fiorentina Recipe (Florentine Steak) (5)

While the meat is cooking, be sure to baste it with the butter and brush it with the fresh herbs for just an awesome little added touch to this recipe. Once the steak is done, let it rest for 3 to 4 minutes.

Bistecca Alla Fiorentina Recipe (Florentine Steak) (6)

Serving a Florentine Steak is as simple as brushing it one last time with the butter and herbs and carving the cuts of steak away from the bone. Slice the strip steak and filet mignon away from the T-bone and then slice those cuts on a bias and serve it all next to the bone for a cool rustic look.

Bistecca Alla Fiorentina Recipe (Florentine Steak) (7)

Make-Ahead and Storage

Make-Ahead: This steak is meant to be eaten as soon as it is done cooking.

How to Store: You can keep this covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Cover and freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the refrigerator for 1 day before reheating and serving.

How to Reheat: When reheating any piece of meat, it will raise the internal temperature. Re-sear it in a hot pan with lightly smoked oil or on a hot grill until warm.

Bistecca Alla Fiorentina Recipe (Florentine Steak) (8)

chef notes + tips

  • You can use different herbs than what I used for brushing the Florentine steak.
  • For sure, try cooking this on an open flame grill.
  • You can purchase up to a 3-pound or 3″ thick steak for this.

My Favorite Steak Recipes

  • Grilled Carne Asada Steak Fajitas
  • Grilled T Bone Steak Recipe
  • Steak Frites Recipe with Lemon Butter
  • Bone-In Ribeye Steak Recipe
  • Chopped Steak Recipe

Be sure to follow me onFacebook,YouTube,Instagram,andPinterest, and if you’ve had a chance to make this, then definitely drop me a comment and a rating below.

Bistecca Alla Fiorentina Recipe (Florentine Steak) (9)

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Bistecca Alla Fiorentina Recipe (Florentine Steak)

Bistecca Alla Fiorentina Recipe (Florentine Steak) (10)

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5 from 7 votes

Meet the king of all steaks, Bistecca Alla Fiorentina Recipe. A seasoned 3-pound porterhouse steak that is grilled to perfection!

Servings: 3

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes minutes

Resting Time: 3 minutes minutes

Total Time: 17 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons of onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons of garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon of sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon of pepper
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 2 ½ to 3- pound porterhouse steak
  • 2 sprigs each of fresh rosemary, sage and thyme wrapped with butchers twine at the root end.
  • 3 tablespoons of melted unsalted butter

Instructions

Notes

Make-Ahead: This steak is meant to be eaten as soon as it is done cooking.

How to Store: You can keep this covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Cover and freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the refrigerator for 1 day before reheating and serving.

How to Reheat: When reheating any piece of meat, it will raise the internal temperature. Re-sear it in a hot pan with lightly smoked oil or on a hot grill until warm.

You can use different herbs than what I used for brushing the steak.

For sure, try cooking this on an open flame grill.

You can purchase up to a 3-pound or 3″ thick steak for this.

Nutrition

Calories: 1035kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 79gFat: 77gSaturated Fat: 31gCholesterol: 242mgSodium: 2534mgPotassium: 1205mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 350IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 31mgIron: 8mg

Course: dinner, Main

Cuisine: Italian

Author: Chef Billy Parisi

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19 comments

    • sue
    • Bistecca Alla Fiorentina Recipe (Florentine Steak) (11)

    Read this out to hubby reckon he’s salivating 😁😋🤩thank you Chief Billy for your recipes

    • Reply
    • Robert

    Mad it this evening however used my favorite cut of meat ( A 2” thick Tenderloin)! Melt in your mouth tasty! Also made Parmesan potatoes and broccoli.

    • Reply
    • Bea
    • Bistecca Alla Fiorentina Recipe (Florentine Steak) (12)

    Well Chef Billy, I love your recipes but here’s where the rubber hits the pavement. I can’t eat less than a medium steak, which I’ve eaten some beautifully grilled ones but I can’t cook one to save my life! Please advise me on how to get a medium steak that’s juicy & tender. I usually buy ribeye with occasional tbone, or a strip. Thank you!

    • Reply
    • Eben

    Hi Billy, love your style of presenting !! I am not so big on onion and garlic seasoning, so I ground some herbs (fresh rosemary, mint, lavender calyxes and thyme) and mixed this with sea salt, then basted the steak with the herb salt and melted butter which results in an extreme flavour taste. I also serve the herb salt on the side.

    • Reply
    • Vee

    How many times are you flipping the steak? Shows only once which means only one side gets basted….or should I flip it every few minutes to continuously baste both sides? Appreciate your thoughts.

    • Reply
    • Bistecca Alla Fiorentina Recipe (Florentine Steak) (14)

        I flip once, maybe twice. The basting is just to get some of that herb flavor in there, it’s not going to make it more juicy or tender.

        • Reply
      • roger

      So talking with chefs in Firenze who I thought made the best versions of this, they all claimed that the grilling method was what was crucial (as well as getting your beef from the correct cow, correctly raised, butchered, and aged). They told me the steaks needed to be large because they were cooked over a hot wood fire standing upright on the bone, cooking from both sides at once. Is this folklore?

      • Reply
      • Bistecca Alla Fiorentina Recipe (Florentine Steak) (15)

          Of course living in Florence Italy helps with selecting the correct cow, but since I live in Chicago that is a no go. It is at least a 3 lb t-bone steak and should be cooked over a grill, and preferably a wood burning one. It is to be marked on all sides, which is why they said standing it up. You do this because the steak is so thick and it should be cooked on all sides. Different methods based on different chefs will still get you what you are looking for. When I made this it was dead of winter in Chicago, so not happening on my green egg 🙂

          • Reply
        • Andie Thueson
        • Bistecca Alla Fiorentina Recipe (Florentine Steak) (16)

        This steak is absolutely beautiful and looks soo good!

        • Reply
        • Bistecca Alla Fiorentina Recipe (Florentine Steak) (17)

            Thank you kindly, it was dang tasty!

            • Reply
          • Courtney O’Dell
          • Bistecca Alla Fiorentina Recipe (Florentine Steak) (18)

          I am DROOLING over this steak – so delicious and perfect every time!

          • Reply
          • Bistecca Alla Fiorentina Recipe (Florentine Steak) (19)

              Thanks Courtney, I agree!

              • Reply
            • Becky Hardin
            • Bistecca Alla Fiorentina Recipe (Florentine Steak) (20)

            That steak looks so amazing! I can’t stop looking at it. lol yum

            • Reply
            • Bistecca Alla Fiorentina Recipe (Florentine Steak) (21)

                Thanks Becky haha, it is nice to look at!

                • Reply
              • lauren kelly
              • Bistecca Alla Fiorentina Recipe (Florentine Steak) (22)

              Whoa, this is cooked to perfection! Gorgeous!

              • Reply
              • Bistecca Alla Fiorentina Recipe (Florentine Steak) (23)

                  Thanks Lauren! It’s all about the rare to medium-rare 🙂

                  • Reply
                • Alli
                • Bistecca Alla Fiorentina Recipe (Florentine Steak) (24)

                Wow this looks heavenly. I can’t stop drooling right now I need this in my life.

                • Reply
                • Bistecca Alla Fiorentina Recipe (Florentine Steak) (25)

                    Thanks Alli, it is ridiculous lol!

                    • Reply
                Bistecca Alla Fiorentina Recipe (Florentine Steak) (2024)

                FAQs

                Can you get Florentine steak in the US? ›

                Also known as Florentine Steak, this large cut of meat has been a traditional dish served for years across Italy and Italian restaurants in the US.

                What is so special about Florentine steak? ›

                these steaks are made with a specific breed of Tuscan. cacto called canina. it's very tender meat, marbled ever so slightly, meaning that it stays tender when it's rare. and it will be a shame to overcook it.

                What cut is used for Florentine steak? ›

                Bistecca alla fiorentina is obtained from the cut of the sirloin (the part corresponding to the lumbar vertebrae, the half of the back on the side of the tail) of a young steer or heifer of the Chianina breed: in the middle it has the T-shaped bone, that is, a T-bone steak, with the fillet on one side and the sirloin ...

                What wine is best for Florentine steak? ›

                The ultimate treat for Florentines is Bistecca alla Fiorentina. I think it deserves a good wine. Foreigners would choose a full bodied Brunello or Chianti Classico riserva, but the locals will say that a simple Chianti Classico is the perfect match. The steak is the star here and the wine is the supporting actor.

                What is the most expensive steak in the world called? ›

                First on our list is the Japanese Kobe Beef. Known for its unparalleled marbling, tenderness, and flavor, this beef is a testament to the art of beef production. Raised in the Hyogo prefecture of Japan, these cattle live a life of luxury with special diets, massages, and the utmost care.

                Can one person eat a Florentine steak? ›

                The Florentine Steak is 2 inches Thick (At Least)

                A steak this thick will be around 1 – 1.2 kilos – that's over two and half pounds! Don't worry though! Traditionally a Fiorentina steak is supposed to be shared with at least 2 people.

                How much should a Florentine steak cost? ›

                Traditionally the steak is cooked on a wood grill. As for prices of the steak, it is usually a “pay by the kilo” system. The usual portion is one kilo, which sounds as if it is not too expensive, but expect to spend about 40 euros for one kilo!

                Is Florentine steak chewy? ›

                If you are not happy with a very rare steak, it's probably best not to order a Bistecca alla Fiorentina. In order to get the inside well cooked, the outside will be as tough as old boots and possibly crunchy, too!

                What side dish goes with Florentine steak? ›

                Traditional sides are roast potatoes, sautéed spinach or silverbeet and white cannellini beans – and plenty of Tuscan bread to mop up the juices. The perfect bistecca fiorentina: It must be eaten rare. That means not just blushing pink inside, but bloody.

                Is Bistecca alla Fiorentina the same as porterhouse? ›

                Bistecca alla fiorentina is essentially a porterhouse steak with a very big tenderloin, cooked in a very specific way (read: over charcoal)—but more on this later.

                What is the most expensive cut of steak called? ›

                A5 Japanese Kobe Beef

                Japanese Kobe steak is one expensive meat. In fact, it's usually considered the most expensive steak in the world, although prices vary by location, restaurant, etc.

                What does bistecca mean? ›

                noun. steak [noun] a slice of meat (usually beef) or fish (often cod) for eg frying or stewing. (Translation of bistecca from the PASSWORD Italian–English Dictionary © 2014 K Dictionaries Ltd)

                How do you eat Florentine steak? ›

                Cut the meat off the bone, slice it into strips across the grain and serve it up on a hot plate. Your fellow diners can then help themselves to meat and juice as they wish. Bistecca alla fiorentina is traditionally accompanied by a delicious bowl of fa*gioli, Tuscan white beans (cannellini).

                Is Bistecca alla Fiorentina rare? ›

                It's traditionally served rare, so trust us when we say, even if you don't usually eat your meat rare, this one is a MUST to experience in all its rawness ! Here is everything you need to know about Bistecca Alla Fiorentina.

                How is Bistecca alla Fiorentina served? ›

                It's often served with Tuscan cannellini beans cooked with olive oil and a little lemon, and, of course, a glass of good Tuscan wine!

                What French cuts of steak are like USA? ›

                French Beef Cut Translations
                • Filet – Fillet, tender, juicy, expensive.
                • Faux-Filet – Sirloin steak with a different name in each English-speaking country. ...
                • Entrecôte – Fore rib steak. ...
                • Basses-côtes – Chuck steak although I could be misundersting things in the UK. ...
                • Rumsteak – Rump steak (in steak form rather than roast form)

                Is Florentine steak the same as T-bone? ›

                T-bone steak (Fiorentina): what it is, how to cook and where to buy online. The T-bone steak is a typical dish of Italian and international culinary art of Florentine origin. Its fame derives, above all, from the cut of Chianina meat, a prized breed of cattle from Arezzo and Siena.

                Can you get Kobe steak in the US? ›

                The tightly-controlled regional farmers and processors that handle Kobe Beef produce only 5,500 qualifying head of cattle per year, only 10% of which are made available for export overseas. If you would like to try the one and only Kobe Beef, there are only 37 restaurants in the U.S. that are licensed to serve it.

                What is oyster blade steak called in America? ›

                Flat iron steak (US), butlers' steak (UK), feather steak (UK) or oyster blade steak (Australia and New Zealand) is a cut of steak cut with the grain from the chuck, or shoulder of the animal. Flat iron steak. Beef Cuts.

                References

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