Guides

How to Make a Special Beef Wellington?

Beef Wellington is a terrific and tasty dish that is enjoyed by many people. However, many people do find that the dish is hard to make. The beef must be tender and juicy and is placed inside a pastry that is crispy and flaky. This is a dish that is stunningly beautiful in presentation, as the beef is placed on top of a mound of delicious mushrooms that have been sauteed, which are discovered when you cut into the pastry.

This dish is wonderful for special occasions, such as weddings, anniversaries, conventions, etc. To help you replicate the dish that you just at during these special events, here’s an article to help you do just that!

Why is Beef Wellington So Special?

Well, the delicacy is named after the Duke of Wellington and the idea of cooking beef inside a pastry dates back to the 1700’s. There was nothing more fascinating than beef, mushrooms, and wine cooked in a pastry at that time. Turns out, it was Richard Nixon’s favorite meal and he popularized it in the 1950’s.

It remains very special until this day even though it’s hard to master and typically difficult to put together. It’s stunningly beautiful, extremely delicious, and it makes special events even more special! It’s so special that Gordon Ramsay made this his signature dish as well!

There’s a way you can make the perfect Beef Wellington at home too! All you need are the right tools (a meat thermometer to achieve that tender & moist beef).

How to Cook Beef Wellington

For the mushroom mixture, you need to combine shallots, thyme and mushrooms in your food processor until they are chopped finely. Then add some olive oil as well as butter in a pan that you will place over heat at the medium setting. Place the mushroom combination in the pan. Sauté the mixture for 9-10 until no more liquid remains. Add pepper and salt according to your preference. Allow the mixture to cool.
For the beef, you need to tie the beef tenderloin in four areas in order to form a shape that is cylindrical. Pour a bit of olive oil on the meat. Then add some pepper and salt to season the meat. Sear the meat on all sides. That means that you should also ensure that you sear the ends of the beef by placing the beef in skillet that has a light coating of olive oil. The time to sear the beef will be around 3-4 minutes.
Place the prosciutto on a piece of plastic that is a length of approximately eighteen inches, which will allow you to wrap the beef in it as well. Arrange the prosciutto in the form of a rectangle that will be large enough to accommodate the complete piece of beef. With the aid of a rubber spatula, cover the prosciutto with the mushroom mixture. Season the layer of the mixture with pepper and salt. Also drape some fresh thyme over the mixture.
Once the beef is completely seared, take it off the heat and remove the string. Slather some Dijon mustard lightly over the beef. Permit the beef to cool a bit. Next, you will place it on top of the mushroom mixture that is covering the prosciutto to form a roll as you use the plastic to guide the process. Be sure to wrap the roll tightly and uniformly. Place the beef roll in the refrigerator for at least thirty minutes to allow the shape of beef roll to become firm. Preheat your oven to a temperature of 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
Roll out pastry dough to a thickness of 14 inch. It is now time to get your beef roll out of the refrigerator and to remove the plastic. Place the beef roll in the middle of the pastry and fold over the sides that are longer. Brush the pastry with an egg wash in order to provide sealing for the beef roll. Place some sea salt on top of the Beef Wellington. Place the Beef Wellington on a sheet to bake it in the oven. Make sure to place some slits in the top part of the pastry with a small knife, as this will ensure that the steam can exit during the process of cooking.
It will take about 45 to 50 minutes to cook Beef Wellington till the pastry becomes a delightful golden brown color and the beef reaches a temperature of 125 degrees Fahrenheit on a food thermometer. A great thermometer to use is the ThermoPro TP25 Wireless Bluetooth Meat Thermometer, which allows you to enjoy an extended range of as much as 495 feet. This means that you can monitor the progress of your dish while you are doing something else.
Take the Beef Wellington out of the oven and let it rest prior to slicing it in thick pieces. You can opt to garnish the Beef Wellington by placing some minced chives on top of it. Also, Beef Wellington goes well with a tasty green peppercorn sauce if you so desire.

Tips for Cooking Beef Wellington

Be sure there is no liquid remaining when you cook the mushrooms. This will prevent the pastry from experiencing sogginess.
Wrap the beef with care in a tight manner. This will provide an excellent and solidified shape for the Beef Wellington. Also, this will aid in cooking that is more even for the entire Beef Wellington.
Make sure that no holes or gaps form in the pastry as you wrap the pastry around the beef. This will allow the meat inside to cook perfectly.
You can even make Beef Wellington ahead of time. You can store the beef and mushroom mixture in your refrigerator a day before your guests arrive. Then cook the Beef Wellington on the day that your guests will arrive.
Use a top-quality thermometer to check the internal temperature of the beef.

Summary

Beef Wellington is truly a special dish, because it is so delicious and refined. It can be difficult to make but with this guide that we have provided here, you should be able to make it with great success from the mushroom mixture, the searing of the beef, the forming of the beef roll and eventually the covering of the beef roll with the pastry.

You should also be able to enjoy cooking wonderful Beef Wellington like a pro when you use an accurate and affordable meat thermometer. We bet your family and friends will be truly impressed with your beautiful and tasty Beef Wellington. So make it now!