Mock tender steak is a cut of beef from the back of the cow. It got its name from its shape (similar to the tenderloin) rather than its texture, as it can be quite chewy. This lesser-known cut is cooked as a steak and ideally served thinly sliced, or it can be used in soups or stews. Its advantage is that mock tender steak is very economical.
What Is Mock Tender Steak?
Mock tender steak is a tough little beef steak that is part of the chuck section, specifically the point of the chuck primal next to the top blade. It is very chewy, as it is made up of connective tissue and fibrous muscle. Chuck yields more than six different cuts of steak, each having the most complex bone and muscle makeup compared to the rest of the animal's meat.
Mock tender also goes by several other names including chuck fillet steak, chuck clod tender, shoulder tender, petite fillet, fish steak, chuck tender steak, tender medallions, and shoulder petite tender.