Blackberry Merlot Marinade Recipes

BLACKBERRY AND HERB FILET MIGNON

Steps:

• In large zip-top bag, combine all ingredients, except butter and fresh blackberries. Squeeze out air and seal bag. Massage bag until well combined and marinade mix is dissolved. Marinate in refrigerator 6 to 8 hours. Remove filets from refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking.
• Melt butter in heavy-bottomed, or cast iron, skillet over medium-high heat.
• Remove steaks from marinade and sear for 3 to 5 minutes per side.
• Serve hot, topped with pan juices and fresh blackberry garnish.

LOIN OF LAMB MARINATED IN MERLOT, GARLIC AND PARSLEY WITH PIQUILLO PEPPER PESTO

Steps:

• Whisk together the wine, thyme, oil, garlic, black pepper and parsley in a baking dish. Add the lamb and turn to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to marinate.
• Remove the lamb from the marinade 20 minutes before cooking. Heat a grill pan or saute pan over high heat. Season the lamb with salt on both sides and cook until golden brown and seared on both sides and cooked to medium-rare doneness (internal temperature of 135 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer). Place on a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Serve slices with a dollop of pesto on the side.
• Combine the peppers, pine nuts and garlic in a food processor and process until coarsely chopped. With the motor running, slowly add the oil and process until emulsified. Add the cheese, salt and pepper and pulse a few times to combine.

MERLOT MARINATED GRILLED BEEF

Steps:

• Combine Merlot, Worcestershire sauce, garlic cloves, brown sugar and black pepper.
• Stir and add beef filets.
• Let meat marinade for at least 10 minutes or up to 2 hours.
• When ready to grill steaks, heat grill.
• Place marinated beef filets on grill and cook until desired doneness.
• Serve with the rice and vegetables.
• Note: Add marinade mixture to a small saucepan and bring to a boil after meat has been removed.
• Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes.
• Pour sauce over cooked filets.

RASPBERRY-MERLOT SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine all the ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, uncovered, over medium-low heat until the mixture is thick and reduced to about 1 cup, about 30 minutes. As the sauce cooks, stir occasionally to prevent scorching.
• Strain the sauce through a coarse sieve atop a mixing bowl; as it drains, stir occasionally with a wooden spoon. Discard the seeds.

MERLOT SAUCE

Steps:

• In a small heavy saucepan bring water with sugar to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Boil syrup, without stirring, until a golden caramel. Remove pan from heat and carefully add vinegar down side of pan (caramel will steam and harden). Cook caramel over moderate heat, stirring, until dissolved, about 3 minutes, and remove pan from heat.
• In a heavy saucepan cook onion in butter over moderate heat, stirring, until golden, about 5 minutes. Stir in wine and boil until mixture is reduced to about 1 cup, about 15 minutes. Stir in stock or demiglace and boil until mixture is reduced to about 2 cups, about 10 minutes. Remove pan from heat and stir in caramel. Pour sauce through a sieve into a bowl. Sauce may be made 2 days ahead, cooled completely, and chilled, covered. Reheat sauce before serving.

MARINATED BEEF TENDERLOIN WITH MERLOT SAUCE

Steps:

• In resealable food-storage plastic bag or large glass or plastic dish, place beef. In small bowl, mix remaining beef ingredients; pour over beef. Seal bag or cover dish; refrigerate at least 8 hours but no longer than 24 hours, turning beef several times to coat with marinade.
• Heat oven to 425°F. Remove beef from marinade; discard marinade. Place beef on rack in shallow roasting pan. Insert meat thermometer so tip is in center of thickest part of beef.
• Roast uncovered 40 to 45 minutes or until thermometer reads 140°F (medium-rare doneness). Cover beef loosely with tent of foil. Let stand 15 to 20 minutes or until thermometer reads 145°F. (Temperature will continue to rise about 5°F and beef will be easier to carve as juices set up.)
• In 1-quart saucepan, heat all sauce ingredients to boiling, stirring occasionally; reduce heat to low. Simmer uncovered 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce is slightly reduced and syrupy. Cut beef across grain at slanted angle into thin slices. Serve with sauce.

VENISON WITH BLACKBERRY WINE SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat shallots, garlic, blackberry jam, and red wine in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Simmer until reduced to 1/2 cup of liquid, about 15 minutes. Strain liquid through a fine mesh sieve and set aside. Heat the beef broth in a separate skillet over medium-high heat until reduced by half, 15 to 20 minutes. Whisk the two reduced sauces together, and stir in the butter. Season with salt and pepper.
• Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the venison steaks until they are beginning to firm, and are hot and slightly pink in the center, 3 to 4 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 145 degrees F (65 degrees C). Serve the steaks with the sauce and a few fresh blackberries.