Beef Wellington is a classic dish that has been enjoyed by foodies for generations. This savory dish features a tender filet mignon, topped with a flavorful mushroom duxelle and encased in buttery puff pastry dough.
It’s a dish that is sure to impress your dinner guests and leave them feeling satisfied. But how do you cook the perfect Beef Wellington?
In this article, we’ll take you through the steps to create a delicious and impressive Beef Wellington using fresh market ingredients. So, let’s get started!
How To Cook Fresh Market Beef Wellington?
Step 1: Preheat Your Oven
Preheat your oven to 425°F (218°C) and adjust the oven rack to the center position.
Step 2: Prepare Your Ingredients
Gather all of your ingredients, including a high-quality filet mignon, mushrooms, garlic, thyme, puff pastry sheets, and an egg for brushing.
Step 3: Cook Your Mushrooms
In a medium nonstick skillet, cook your mushrooms, garlic, and 1/4 teaspoon of thyme over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes. Remove the skillet from heat and chill.
Step 4: Season Your Meat
Season both sides of your filet mignon with salt and pepper.
Step 5: Assemble Your Wellington
Unfold your puff pastry sheets and cut each crosswise in half. Spoon the chilled mushroom mixture onto the center of the four pieces of puff pastry. Place your seasoned filet mignon on top of the mushroom mixture. Bring the corners and edges together to seal completely. Place seam side down on a baking sheet. Cut 2-3 slits in the pastry case to vent steam.
Step 6: Bake Your Wellington
Brush your Beef Wellington with beaten egg and sprinkle liberally with coarse sea salt. Bake until the pastry is golden brown and the center of the roast registers 110°F (43°C) for rare or 120°F (49°C) for medium-rare on an instant-read thermometer. This should take between 35 to 45 minutes.
Step 7: Rest Your Wellington
Remove your Beef Wellington from the oven and allow it to rest for ten minutes before serving.
Selecting The Best Beef Filet
When it comes to making a delicious Beef Wellington, selecting the best beef filet is crucial. Look for a center cut beef tenderloin roast, with the chain removed, weighing about 2 pounds. This cut of meat is lean, tender, and has a mild flavor that pairs well with the other ingredients in the dish.
It’s important to choose a high-quality cut of meat from a reputable source. At the fresh market, look for beef that is bright red and marbled with thin lines of fat throughout. This marbling will not only add flavor but will also keep the meat moist and tender during cooking.
To ensure even cooking, try to select a filet that is uniform in size and shape. This will help to prevent any overcooked or undercooked areas in your Beef Wellington.
Before cooking, make sure to let your beef filet come to room temperature for about 30 minutes. This will help it to cook more evenly and avoid any tough or dry spots.
By selecting the best beef filet for your Beef Wellington, you can ensure that your dish will be a success and impress your guests with its tender and flavorful meat.
Preparing The Mushroom Duxelle
The mushroom duxelle is a key component of Beef Wellington, adding depth of flavor and texture to the dish. To prepare the duxelle, you will need to finely chop your mushrooms, shallots, garlic, and thyme. You can do this by hand or by using a food processor.
Once your ingredients are chopped, heat butter and olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add your mushroom mixture and sauté for 8 to 10 minutes until most of the liquid has evaporated. Season with salt and pepper and set aside to cool.
The duxelle should be spread evenly on top of the puff pastry before placing the filet mignon on top. The mushrooms will help keep the meat moist and add a rich umami flavor to the dish.
It’s important to chill the duxelle before assembling the Wellington to prevent it from becoming too wet and causing the pastry to become soggy during baking. Once chilled, spoon the mixture onto the center of each puff pastry sheet, making sure to leave enough room around the edges to fold and seal the pastry.
With these tips in mind, you’ll be able to prepare a delicious mushroom duxelle that will take your Beef Wellington to the next level.
Rolling Out The Puff Pastry Dough
Step 1: Thaw Your Puff Pastry Sheets
Remove your puff pastry sheets from the freezer and let them thaw at room temperature while you prepare your other ingredients. The puff pastry should be pliable but still cold.
Step 2: Roll Out Your Puff Pastry Dough
On a lightly floured surface, roll out one-third of the 500g pack of puff pastry to an 18- x 30-cm strip. Repeat with the remaining puff pastry sheets.
Step 3: Cut Your Puff Pastry Dough
Slice each rolled-out sheet of puff pastry into equal rectangles. The number of rectangles you get will depend on the size of your puff pastry sheets and the size of your filet mignon.
Step 4: Assemble Your Wellington
Spoon the chilled mushroom mixture onto the center of each rectangle of puff pastry. Place your seasoned filet mignon on top of the mushroom mixture. Bring the corners and edges together to seal completely. Place seam side down on a baking sheet. Cut 2-3 slits in the pastry case to vent steam.
Step 5: Brush With Egg Wash
Brush your Beef Wellington with beaten egg to give it a golden brown color when baked.
Step 6: Bake Your Wellington
Bake your Beef Wellington as described above in Step 6 of the previous section.
By following these steps, you can create a delicious and impressive Beef Wellington using fresh market ingredients and homemade puff pastry dough.
Assembling The Beef Wellington
Assembling the Beef Wellington is a crucial step in the process of making this classic dish. First, preheat your oven to 425°F (218°C) and adjust the oven rack to the center position. Next, gather your ingredients, including your prepared mushroom mixture, seasoned filet mignon, and puff pastry sheets.
Unfold your puff pastry sheets and cut each crosswise in half. Spoon the chilled mushroom mixture onto the center of the four pieces of puff pastry. Place your seasoned filet mignon on top of the mushroom mixture. Bring the corners and edges together to seal completely. Place seam side down on a baking sheet. Cut 2-3 slits in the pastry case to vent steam.
Once your Beef Wellington is assembled, brush it with beaten egg and sprinkle liberally with coarse sea salt. Bake until the pastry is golden brown and the center of the roast registers 110°F (43°C) for rare or 120°F (49°C) for medium-rare on an instant-read thermometer. This should take between 35 to 45 minutes.
After baking, remove your Beef Wellington from the oven and allow it to rest for ten minutes before serving. Assembling your Beef Wellington may take some practice, but with these steps, you’ll be able to create a delicious and impressive dish that will impress your guests.
Cooking And Serving The Perfect Beef Wellington
Cooking and serving the perfect Beef Wellington requires attention to detail and careful preparation. Here are some tips to help you achieve a delicious and impressive dish:
1. Use high-quality ingredients: Choose a fresh, well-marbled filet mignon and select fresh, flavorful mushrooms for your duxelles.
2. Chill your mushroom mixture: After cooking your mushrooms, garlic, and thyme, chill the mixture in the refrigerator before assembling your Wellington. This will help keep the pastry crisp and prevent the mushrooms from releasing too much moisture.
3. Season your meat appropriately: Season your filet mignon with salt and pepper before assembling your Wellington. This will help enhance the flavor of the meat.
4. Seal your pastry completely: When assembling your Wellington, make sure to seal the edges of the pastry completely to prevent any leaks during baking.
5. Vent steam properly: Cut 2-3 slits in the pastry case to vent steam during baking. This will help prevent the pastry from becoming soggy.
6. Rest before serving: After baking, allow your Beef Wellington to rest for ten minutes before slicing and serving. This will help the juices redistribute and make for a more tender, flavorful dish.
By following these tips, you can create a stunning and delicious Beef Wellington that is sure to impress your guests.