Servings: 8
If Britain has a holiday culinary showstopper; it’s got to be beef Wellington. This triumphant marriage of beef tenderloin, sautéed mushrooms, and rich chicken liver pâté (or truffles and pâté de foie gras, if you want to break the bank), rolled first in tender crêpes and then in buttery puff pastry, makes a grand centerpiece. Carved at the table and paired with a classic Madeira sauce, it’s a delicious and decadent meal.
Watch a video to learn how to make and assemble Classic Beef Wellington step-by-step and visit the Guide to Christmas Dinner for more holiday-worthy recipes, menu planning tools, and how-to videos.
Or for more ideas on how to boost the flavor of beef tenderloin, view our slideshows 21 Ways to Dress Up Beef Tenderloin and Beef Tenderloin Gets Saucy.
Cook until the crêpe is spotted with brown on the underside, about 1 minute, then flip and cook the other side until lightly browned, 30 seconds to 1 minute more. Repeat with the remaining batter, greasing the pan off the heat as necessary. Transfer the crêpes to a plate, separating them with sheets of parchment, and cool. You’ll need 4 crêpes.
Lay 4 crêpes on a clean work surface, overlapping them just enough to give you a 13×13-inch roughly square surface. Dot the pâté mixture over the crêpes, then use an offset spatula to spread it evenly across the crêpes’ surface.
Place the tenderloin in the center of the crêpes and carefully wrap them around the filet, pressing and molding them into place. Trim off any excess crêpe at the ends.
If using store-bought puff pastry that’s packaged as 2 sheets, fuse the sheets together by slightly overlapping them and lightly rolling over the seam until adhered.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out the puff pastry to a 13×16-inch rectangle (for store-bought puff, roll in the direction of the seam).
Transfer the wrapped beef to the center of the pastry and tuck any crêpes that have come loose back into place. Bring the pastry up around the beef, smoothing out any air pockets. Brush some of the beaten egg along the bottom edge of the seam and then press gently to seal; trim off any excess. Seal the pastry similarly at the ends.
Lightly grease a large baking sheet with the butter. Lift the Wellington onto the sheet, seam side down. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes and up to 3 hours. (If refrigerating longer than 1 hour, let the Wellington sit at room temperature for 1 hour before baking.)
At least 20 minutes before baking, position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 475°F.
Brush the Wellington with the remaining beaten egg. Using a sharp knife, score the surface of the pastry with diagonal lines, being careful not to cut all the way through the pastry. Put the Wellington in the oven and immediately reduce the temperature to 425°F. Roast for 10 minutes, then reduce the heat to 400°F and roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the Wellington registers 135°F for medium rare, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer to a carving board and let the Wellington rest for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, finish the sauce: Heat the sauce in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. When it begins to simmer, reduce the heat to low and whisk in the butter a few pieces at a time. Do not allow it to boil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Thickly slice the Wellington and serve it with the sauce.
Make Ahead Tips
There are several components to a Beef Wellington, but you don’t have to make them all in one day. Here’s how to spread out the work:
2 days (or up to 2 months) ahead: Make and chill (or freeze) the beef stock, duxelles, and puff pastry.
1 day ahead: Begin the Madeira sauce. Make the crêpes. Defrost the beef stock, duxelles, and puff pastry, if necessary.
Up to 5 hours ahead: Let the beef sit out at room temperature for 1 hour before searing.
Up to 4 hours ahead: Sear the beef; assemble and chill the Wellington.
Up to 1-1/2 hours ahead: Let the Wellington sit out at room temperature before baking.
Up to 1 hour ahead: Bake the Wellington and let it rest before carving.
Before serving: Finish the Madeira sauce.
kwagner | 12/19/2020
I've made this recipe for many years on Christmas and although it's time consuming, it's well worth the labor. Always a family fav. Best to start the prep such as stock a day or two in advance. Crepes ensure that the pastry does not get soggy.
im going to make the beef wellington and will use fresh fois gras. in the assembly process you say to mash the pate but im using fresh duck liver. Do I smash the foie gras raw into the duxelles? or do u grill it first. Please advise, thank you.
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