Beef Wellington Recipe: Classic English Cuisine

For the Stuffing

• 1 lb baby bella mushrooms
• 1/2 yellow onion peeled and roughly chopped
• 3 cloves garlic peeled and roughly chopped
• the leaves from 2 sprigs fresh thyme
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• salt and pepper

For the Beef

• 3 lb chateaubriand center cut beef tenderloin
• salt and pepper
• 4 oz thinly sliced prosciutto
• 6 sprigs fresh thyme
• 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
• flour for rolling out puff pastry
• 12 oz puff pastry thawed
• 1 large egg lightly beaten (for egg wash)

For the Beef Wellington Sauce

• reserved drippings and pan from searing beef above
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1/3 small onion sliced or chopped
• 3 cloves garlic peeled and smashed
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme
• 2 tbsp brandy
• 26 oz box beef stock (3.25 cups)
• 2 tbsp heavy cream
• 2 tbsp grainy Dijon mustard
• 25-30 black peppercorns

The idea of cooking beef inside of a pastry dates back to the late 1700s; Wellesley was made Duke in 1814.

Quick Culinary Tips

What is Beef Wellington and its Origin

Beef Wellington is a steak fillet covered with pate de foie gras, then wrapped in pastry and baked.

The origin of Beef Wellington comes from a man named Arthur Wellesley. Wellesley is famous for defeating Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo; he was dubbed the first Duke of Wellington.

The idea of cooking beef inside of a pastry dates back to the late 1700s; Wellesley was made Duke in 1814.

Beef Wellington saw a surge of popularity in the late 1950s, during Richard Nixon’s reign as president – it was his favorite meal.

Beef Wellington Recipe For the Stuffing:

• Add the mushrooms, onion, garlic, and thyme leaves to a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Add the oil to a large skillet and set over medium high heat. Pour the food processor mixture into the pan and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until most of the liquid has cooked out. Season with salt and pepper and set aside to cool.

Beef Wellington Recipe For the Beef:

• Place a heavy bottomed skillet over medium high heat. Using kitchen twine, tie the tenderloin in 4 places. This will help it hold its shape while cooking. Season the beef all over with salt and pepper. When the skillet is hot, add the oil and sear the beef all over to brown the meat. Do not sear the beef for more than 5 minutes total, so just a minute on each side. Remove the beef to a plate, take the pan off the heat, and set aside for later (do not clean it).

• Lay out a large piece of plastic wrap, about 18 inches or so, and evenly space out the prosciutto so that it covers most of the plastic wrap. You want it spread out enough to fully wrap the beef when we roll it up. Spread the duxelles evenly over the prosciutto, then sprinkle with salt, pepper, and a few extra thyme leaves.

• Brush the beef with the Dijon mustard, then place the beef on the duxelles. Use the plastic wrap to wrap the entire beef tenderloin in the duxelles and prosciutto, then twist the ends of the plastic wrap tightly so the beef holds its log shape. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• On a floured surface, roll the puff pastry thinly enough so it can wrap around all of the beef, about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. Remove the beef from the plastic wrap, then set the beef in the center of the puff pastry, and roll it tightly in the puff pastry. Crimp the edges, using egg wash to help you seal the edges and sides. Place the beef seam side down onto a sheet pan. Brush the entire pastry with the egg wash, then cut Xs on top to let the steam escape while cooking. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until the beef measures at 125 degrees F with a thermometer, and the puff pastry is golden brown. Remove from the oven and place the beef on a wire rack to rest for at least 10 minutes while you make the sauce.

Beef Wellington Recipe For the Sauce

• Add butter to the pan you seared the beef in, and set over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and thyme, and saute for 5 minutes to impart the flavors. Remove the pan from the heat, add the brandy, then if you’re using a gas stove, light the brandy to burn the alcohol off. If you have an electric stove, you can skip that step. After the flame has died down, return the pan to the heat and add the beef stock. Turn the heat to high and reduce the liquid by half. Add the cream and mustard, then strain the sauce to remove the solids.