Filet mignon with a hearty zip sauce and blue cheese crumbles make an easy, irresistible combo. (KATHLEEN GALLIGAN/DETROIT FREE PRESS)

BY SUSAN M. SELASKY
FREE PRESS TEST KITCHEN DIRECTOR

A juicy beefsteak and sautéed mushrooms go together perfectly — especially when you add a great sauce to the mix.

Make that beefsteak a filet mignon, add a yummy zip sauce, top it off with a tangy blue cheese and you’ve got a combo that’s irresistible.

Today’s recipe mixes up sautéed mushrooms with some fresh green beans and my version of a zip sauce, a hearty sauce that enhances the beef’s flavor.

Another plus: This recipe keeps the mess to a minimum because it uses the same skillet to cook the beef and the mushrooms and make the sauce.

Just make sure the skillet is oven-proof.

Using a skillet to first sear the filets is a way to ensure a crusty exterior and a tender and juicy interior. Finishing them off in the oven provides low and slow constant heat.

Another option is to grill the filets over a high heat first and then move them to a cooler part of the grill to finish the cooking. When grilling, you’ll need to make the sauce separately, keeping in mind it won’t have any of those flavorful beefy pan juices or little bits of food that are packed with flavor.

Many metro Detroit chefs offer a version of zip sauce served with steaks.

In Detroit, the original Lelli’s restaurant, which burned in 2000, is known as the originator of zip sauce. Lelli’s, which now operates in Auburn Hills, serves the sauce with its famous filet mignon.

Lelli’s, of course, won’t dish on the recipe, only describing it as “a rich, buttery and slightly salty glaze.”

And if you’ve ever had it, it’s arguably all of that.

Some area grocery and gourmet stores sell versions of the zip sauce. Michael Esshaki, a former waiter at Lelli’s in Detroit, created the zip sauce called the Original Zip Sauce. A 12-ounce bottle of Esshaki’s sauce is about $7. All you need to do is add butter. Order it at www.ZipSauce.com.

BY SUSAN M. SELASKY
FREE PRESS TEST KITCHEN DIRECTOR

Mango Meatloaf with Zip Sauce

A big thanks to Ms. Recipe for her incredible post!

Being a food experimenter has become on of my favorite things to do since I was a little girl. Recently, I was given an oppurtunity to try Zipsauce.  Talk about speedy shipping, I received the Zipsauce within a couple of days. It arrived wrapped in bubble wrap to protect it from breaking. Along with two bottles of zip sauce I received several cards with recipes already made with Zipsauce. I decided to make a meatloaf with the sauce, but not your ordinary meatloaf. At first, I thought the sauce smelled like soy sauce, but once I tried the sauce I was surprised how good it did really tastes.

So on with the recipe…

Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour
Servings: 4-6

Ingredients:
2-3 pounds lean ground beef
1/4 cup ZIPSAUCE
2 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup evaporated milk
1 large egg
1 medium onion, chopped
1 cup mango, peeled, chopped
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup plain bread crumbs
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Combine all ingredients into large bowl.
3. Pour into large baking dish/pan and form into loaf.
4. Bake uncovered for 1 hour on bottom rack in the oven.Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Tips:
# 1 Substitute ground chicken or turkey for ground beef.
# 2 Substitute evaporated milk use whole milk.
# 3 Tastes great with mashed potatoes.

Zipsauce sent me 2 bottles of the zipsauce  to try and write a recipe with it.

ZipSauce Fruit Saute’
2 apples
2 pears
3 Tbl. ZIPSAUCE
3 Tbl. olive oil
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 sliced jalapeno
1/2 cup pureed tomatoes
1/2 cup corn starch
1 Tbl. Hoison Sauce

Directions:
1) Slice apples and pears
2) Saute apples, pears, olive oil, ZIPSAUCE, rice vinegar in pan on medium-low heat until light brown.
3)Put corn starch in ice water and stir well.
4) Add sliced jalapeno, brown sugar, pureed tomatoes, and stir
5) Finish with Hoison Sauce

Enjoy. May be served on salad or meat.

Robby,
Encino, CA

Dear ZipSauce,

Serving your sauce to my Christmas dinner party of 14 was a hit! I created my own recipe and wanted to share it with any other ZipSauce enthusiasts.

ZipSauce Marinade
1 cup ZipSauce
1 cup Olive Oil
½ cup Water
4 Garlic Cloves

I just blended it all in a blender and marinated my meat in it. I am so in love with ZipSauce I wish I could sell it! Thank you for the free bottle of ZipSauce for my recipe submission, this won’t stay long at our house!

RoseMary,
San Francisco, CA

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The Zip Sauce Recipes Card has 5 amazing dishes that can be created in mintes!  Impress your family and friends the next time you cook by adding ZipSauce to your favorite dishes!