Italian Wellington Recipes

TRADITIONAL BEEF WELLINGTON

Steps:

• Place mushrooms in the bowl of a food processor. Blend to a very fine consistency.
• Heat a frying pan over medium heat. Add mushrooms and 1 pinch salt and pepper. Cook until moisture evaporates and mixture thickens, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
• Lightly season strip steak with salt and pepper. Heat a frying pan over high heat and add olive oil. Sear strip lightly on all sides to seal in juices, 5 to 7 minutes total, making sure not to overcook. Remove and baste with English mustard.
• Lay out a large piece of plastic wrap and place prosciutto on top in 2 rows of 4, overlapping them. Spread mushrooms evenly on top. Place steak in the center and roll prosciutto tightly around it. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap, twisting the ends. Chill in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Roll out pastry sheet; unwrap steak and place in the center. Mix egg and water in a bowl to make egg wash. Apply egg wash to the edges of the pastry using a pastry brush. Fold pastry tightly around steak. Chill for 5 minutes.
• Brush egg wash over the pastry and sprinkle sea salt on top. Place on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until pastry turns golden, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove and let stand for 5 minutes before slicing into 1-inch pieces.

INDIVIDUAL BEEF WELLINGTONS

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium-high and add 1 tablespoon oil. Generously season the filets mignons with salt and pepper, and sear until the surfaces on the top, bottom and rounded sides are no longer raw, about 2 minutes total. Transfer the steaks to a plate, reserving the oil in the skillet. Brush or spread the Dijon mustard all over each filet mignon and refrigerate until cool, about 15 minutes.
• Turn the heat to medium-high, and add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the skillet. Add the mushrooms and shallot, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until deeply browned and no longer watery, 10 to 12 minutes. Be patient: The mushrooms will first release some water; then, once that liquid evaporates, the vegetables will start to brown. If the vegetables are sticking before they can brown, lower the heat or add a little water to the pan.
• When the mushrooms are deeply browned, reduce the heat to medium and stir in the herbes de Provence, honey, wine and cream. Let the liquids bubble up and reduce until the mixture is thick and jammy, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a small dish and refrigerate until cool.
• To assemble the Wellingtons, cut the puff pastry sheet in half (it doesn't matter which direction). Use a rolling pin or empty wine bottle to evenly roll each sheet into an 1/8-inch-thick rectangle. Mount a filet mignon-size circle of the chilled mushroom mixture in the center of each rolled-out sheet, evenly dividing the mixture between the two pastry pieces. Top each mound of mushrooms with a filet mignon.
• Carefully bring the edges of the puff pastry up and over the steaks, stretching the dough if needed to completely cover the meat. Twist the tops of the dough to seal the filling, as if you're making dumplings. You want an even, uniform layer of pastry, so trim any overlapping dough as you go. When the tops are nicely sealed, flip the Wellingtons over, seam side down, and transfer to a parchment-lined sheet pan. You can use your hands to gently tighten each Wellington into perfectly smooth spheres. Refrigerate to chill completely before baking, at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.
• Heat the oven to 425 degrees. In a small dish, whisk the egg until homogenous and, using a pastry brush or your fingers, evenly coat the entire outsides of the chilled Wellingtons with the egg. Bake until the pastry is golden brown, 17 to 20 minutes. The internal temperature of the steak should read 120 degrees for medium-rare (it will continue to cook as it rests).
• Transfer the Wellingtons to serving plates. Let them rest for about 15 minutes before serving.

TASTY 101: BEEF WELLINGTON RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C).
• Add the mushrooms to the bowl of a food processor and pulse until finely diced, but not blended into a paste. Spread the mushrooms on a baking sheet in an even layer and transfer to the oven. Cook, stirring every 15 minutes, until the mushrooms have released their moisture and are dried out, about 45 minutes total.
• Meanwhile, truss the tenderloin: Measure a piece of butcher's twine 6 times the length of the tenderloin. Wrap the twine around one end of the loin and tie a knot to secure the string. Make a loop around your hand with the string and place over the loin about 1 inch down from the first knot. Continue looping the twine in 1-inch intervals until you reach the end, then tie the twine in a knot to secure (this helps the tenderloin hold its shape). Generously season the beef tenderloin with salt and black pepper.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Place the seasoned tenderloin in the pan and sear quickly on all sides to lock in moisture, about 1 minute per side. Do not overcook; it's fine if the meat does not have a golden brown crust.
• Remove the pan from the heat and transfer the seared tenderloin to a small plate or baking sheet. Cut off the twine, then brush the tenderloin with the mustard to cover completely. Transfer to the refrigerator to cool, about 1 hour.
• Return the pan to medium-low heat. Add the butter, shallots, and garlic and cook until the shallots have caramelized, about 5 minutes, stirring with a wooden spoon or heat-safe spatula to prevent from burning.
• Deglaze the pan with the cognac, stirring to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom. Continue cooking until the alcohol has evaporated and the pan is mostly dry, about 1 minute. Add the dehydrated mushrooms and stir to incorporate. Season with salt to taste. Transfer the duxelles to a bowl and cover with plastic wrap, pressing directly against the surface. Transfer to the refrigerator to cool completely, about 45 minutes.
• On a large sheet of plastic wrap, arrange the prosciutto in a large rectangle wide enough to cover the tenderloin, layering evenly. Spread the mushroom mixture evenly across the prosciutto, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges, and press down in a flat layer.
• Place the tenderloin at the bottom of the mushroom mixture and use the plastic wrap to help roll the prosciutto and mushrooms around the tenderloin. The prosciutto should tightly and completely cover the tenderloin. Hold the ends of the plastic wrap and roll the log to help create a tight seal. Refrigerate the roll until chilled all the way through, about 1 hour.
• Place a sheet of puff pastry on a lightly floured surface and roll out with a lightly floured rolling pin until the pastry sheet is large enough to cover the log.
• Brush the top third of the puff pastry with beaten egg. Unwrap the log and place on the bottom third of the pastry, then roll up into a tight log, turning so the seal is at the bottom. Fold in the sides of the pastry and press under the log. Set the log on a large sheet of plastic wrap and roll to wrap tightly. Refrigerate again while the oven preheats.
• Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Unwrap the log and set on the prepared baking sheet. Brush the log all over with beaten egg, then use a paring knife to create a decorative pattern on the puff pastry. Alternatively, cut the second sheet of puff pastry into long strips and create a lattice over the Wellington, and/or cut out autumnal shapes and press them onto the log. Brush the log with more beaten egg.
• Bake the Wellington until the puff pastry is a deep golden brown, 30-40 minutes. If the pastry is getting too dark before the beef is finished cooking, cover loosely with foil and continue cooking. The internal temperature of the beef should reach 125°F (52°C) for a medium-rare finish.
• Remove the Wellington from the oven and let rest for 1 hour. The internal temperature will continue to rise to 135°F (57°C).
• Slice the beef Wellington into 1-inch pieces and serve.
• Enjoy!