Easy Ground Beef Wellington recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is beef wellington so difficult to make? ›

Beef wellington is not an easy dish to prepare with perfection. For starters, getting the tenderloin steak right is a challenge in itself. It has to be tender on the inside but decently firm on the outside, so it doesn't get mushed inside. The pâté and the duxelles are like preparing two individual dishes themselves.

Immediately before cooking, remove the Wellington from the fridge and give it final egg wash then sprinkle with sea salt. Again, don't let the egg wash pool inside the diamonds. Using the parchment paper, lift the Wellington and carefully transfer to the hot tray. This will help avoid a soggy bottom.

Cut the slices around an inch thick

Though you might have different preferences for slice thickness when dealing with other types of meat, when it comes to Beef Wellington, very thin slices are prone to falling apart, and very thick slices will be too filling and lose the delicate look and feel of a Beef Wellington.

Overcooking: Overcooking the beef or having portions of the pastry get soggy are common issues. To prevent overcooking, it is essential to sear the beef tenderloin quickly before wrapping it in puff pastry. This ensures that the beef remains tender and juicy [3].

Browning the beef gives it complexity and meaty depth. Tying the tenderloin improves both the appearance of the final dish, and leads to more even cooking. Phyllo provides a moisture barrier, preventing the puff pastry from getting soggy. A double layer of plastic wrap makes it easier to wrap up the tenderloin.

You can prepare the Wellington up to 24 hours in advance at this point, but make sure you remove it from the fridge 30-40 minutes before the final bake. Carefully transfer the Beef Wellington to a lightly greased baking sheet and bake in a pre-heated oven at 425°F/220°C for 20 minutes, until the pastry is golden brown.

Lower the fat content of your wellington by using filo pastry instead of puff, eliminating butter, a non-stick frying pan to reduce the amount of oil needed, replacing the pate and using herbs and garlic to boost flavour without needing salt.

Tenderize the sirloin by pounding with a meat mallet for several minutes (we're trying to simulate a filet here). In a medium-hot pan, sear the steak on all sides, about 30 seconds per side. The steak should still be rare inside at this point. Refrigerate until ready to use again.

If you prefer, you can make the various stages up to 24 hours ahead, but don't assemble it then as the pastry will start to discolour. Brown the beef, make the duxelles (fried mushrooms), then wrap separately in cling film and store in the fridge (wrapping the fillet tightly helps it keep its shape).

2) The crepes protect the pastry from excess moisture as the beef cooks, and also helps the beef stay joicy and tender once cooked. 3) Be very careful to tightly wrap your beef – the tighter the wrapping, the better the shape, which will result in more even cooking.

Should you cook Beef Wellington on a rack? ›

Preheat oven to 425°F. Set up a rack about 1/3 up from the bottom of the oven (this will ensure the bottom of the wellington browns nicely).

However, some would argue and recommend an English mustard since beef Wellington is a British recipe. Crepes – Using thin crepes creates a base to place the prosciutto and duxelles on. However, crepes are optional, you'll see many different recipes and some use crepes and some don't.

Cut 4 (2-inch) vents in top of pastry. Cook's Tip: Use any excess dough to decorate Wellington. Bake in 425°F oven 35 to 50 minutes or until golden brown and instant-read thermometer inserted into center of roast registers 135°F for medium rare; 150°F for medium. Transfer Beef Wellington to carving board.

The pastry should be golden brown and brittle when it's ready. You can check the core temperature of the beef with your meat thermometer - for a succulent pink Wellington, it should be 54°C after resting for 10 minutes, so we suggest that you remove it from the oven when it reaches 50°C.

Before prepping the meat take it out of the fridge to get to room temperature. Use a sheet of puff pastry and keep the leftovers to make some fun decorations on top of the beef wellington . Use your instant read thermometer to make sure the beef is cooked properly.

Make the Beef Wellington using a 500g block ready-made puff pastry made with butter, defrosted if frozen. Use chestnut mushrooms for the best flavour, and medium onions. We prefer our meat rarer so reduce cooking times to 25-30 minutes in the oven for medium rare.

A typical beef Wellington at a restaurant may cost you around $100 and can feed 2 people. My recipe will cost that same amount and feed 4-5 people.

Cooking the Beef Wellington longer in the oven will also cause the puff pastry to become darker. Cara T. The Beef Wellington can't be served medium or even well because it's wrapped in pastry. They state that it's prepared medium rare.