Truffle Linguine with Fillet Steak, Mushrooms and Asparagus
A proper restaurant plate, made at home for two. Seared fillet, a glossy Madeira jus, mushrooms and buttered asparagus, finished with fresh truffle through a cream linguine — deep, savoury and unapologetically indulgent. This is a weekend showstopper, or the dinner you cook when you actually want to impress someone.
Why this works
- Fresh truffle through a warm cream sauce releases its aroma without cooking it to nothing — kept to a minute or two on the heat, it stays fragrant rather than flat.
- A veal-jus-and-Madeira reduction does the heavy lifting on flavour, so the dish tastes like it took hours when it is on the plate in thirty minutes.
- Everything cooks in small batches in one pan rotation — mushrooms, steak, sauces — so there is less washing up than the ingredient list suggests.
Ingredient notes and swaps
- Fresh truffle — the star, and the splurge. No fresh truffle? A good truffle paste or a careful drizzle of truffle oil at the end works, though use oil sparingly; it is far stronger than the real thing.
- Veal jus — gives the sauce its body and gloss. Swap for a good beef stock reduced hard with the Madeira, or a quality shop-bought beef jus.
- Madeira — adds a nutty sweetness to the reduction. Dry Marsala or a dry sherry both stand in well.
- Fresh linguine — this is a deliberately small pasta portion because it is piled on top of the steak, not the main event. If you would rather it ate more like a pasta dish, push it up to 100–125g.
- Chestnut mushrooms — closed-cup or a few wild mushrooms work too; just keep them well coloured, not stewed.

Truffle Linguine with Fillet Steak, Mushrooms and Asparagus
FavouriteIngredients
Method
- Fry the shallot, garlic and mushrooms in the butter until softened.
- Set aside and keep warm.
- Heat a large non-stick pan.
- When smoking hot, add the oil and steaks with the thyme and garlic and cook for 3 minutes.
- Flip over and cook for a further 3 minutes, finish with the butter and rest.
- If needed, the steaks can be finished in the oven for a few minutes to suit your taste.
- Pop the jus and Madeira into a pan, bring to the boil then reduce by half.
- Finish with butter and season.
- Bring the butter and cream to the boil, add the parsley and truffle and reduce to a simmer, only for a minute or two.
- Do not allow it to thicken too much.
- Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil, add the linguine and cook for 3 minutes, drain and coat in the sauce.
- Add the asparagus to a small shallow pan with 15g of butter and 2 tbsp water.
- Simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Place the steak in the centre of the plate, spoon the mushrooms around and top with the sauce, then sit the pasta on top of the steak.
- Garnish with a grating of truffle, with the asparagus alongside.
Nutrition
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Let us know how it was!Tips for success
- Get the pan properly smoking before the steak goes in — a true sear is the difference-maker, and a 200g fillet wants a confident crust.
- Rest the steak while you finish the sauces. Do not skip it; the few minutes rest is what keeps it juicy.
- Do not over-reduce the cream sauce. A minute or two is plenty — it should coat the linguine, not turn claggy.
- Reduce the jus hard until it is glossy and just coats the back of a spoon. That is where the restaurant feel comes from.
Make ahead, storage and reheating
- Make ahead: The mushrooms and the Madeira jus can both be made a few hours ahead and gently warmed through. Sear the steak and cook the pasta fresh.
- Storage: Best eaten straight away. Leftover components keep in the fridge for up to 2 days, but cream sauces and fresh pasta do not love reheating.
- Reheating: Warm the steak and mushrooms gently to avoid overcooking; the pasta is better made fresh.
What to serve it with
- It is a complete plate as is. If you want a starter, keep it light and sharp — a simple leaf salad or something citrussy to cut the richness.
- To drink: a structured red like a good Barolo or a Rhône Syrah stands up to the truffle and veal.
FAQ
Can I make this without fresh truffle? Yes — truffle paste is the best stand-in. Truffle oil works in a pinch, but add it off the heat and go easy; it is potent.
Is 50g of linguine really enough for two? It is, here, because the pasta sits on top of the steak as a luxury rather than the bulk of the plate. Want it more pasta-forward? Double it.
What can I use instead of veal jus and Madeira? A hard-reduced beef stock for the jus, and dry Marsala or sherry for the Madeira. You will still get a rich, glossy sauce.
How do I know when the fillet is done? Three minutes a side gives a rosy medium-rare on a 200g fillet; finish it in the oven for a few minutes if you prefer it more done.
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