Beef Wellington with wild mushroom Madeira sauce recipe (2024)

  • Preheat the oven to 100C/80C Fan/Gas ½.

  • Heat the oil in frying pan over a high heat. Quickly fry the beef fillet, turning it every few seconds, until browned on all sides.

  • Cut 4 large pieces of heatproof cling film or aluminium foil big enough to roll the beef fillet in, and place them on top of each other. Place the beef fillet in the centre and wrap it very tightly to form a cylinder, twisting the ends to secure. Place the wrapped beef fillet on a baking tray and roast in the oven for an hour.

  • Remove the beef from the oven, set aside until cooled to room temperature, then chill in the fridge until completely cold.

  • Meanwhile, heat a knob of butter in a frying pan over a medium heat. When the butter is foaming, add the chopped mushrooms and fry for 1-2 minutes, or until all of the liquid has evaporated and the mushrooms have softened. Transfer the mushrooms to a bowl and wipe the pan with a piece of kitchen roll.

  • Add a little more butter to the pan, then fry the spinach for a minute, or until just starting to wilt. Remove the pan from the heat and continue to stir the spinach until completely wilted. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.

  • Next, make the pancakes. Place the two whole eggs and the flour in a bowl and whisk together until well combined. Gradually whisk in the milk until the mixture forms a smooth batter that is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

  • Heat a knob of butter in a frying over a high heat. When the butter is foaming and starting to smoke, add a ladleful of the pancake batter and swirl the pan to evenly coat the base. Fry for 1-2 minutes, or until the underside of the pancake is golden-brown. Flip the pancake over and cook for a further minute, or until the pancake is cooked through and golden-brown all over. Slide the pancake out onto a plate lined with greaseproof paper, then cover it with another layer of greaseproof paper. Repeat the process with the remaining butter and pancake batter.

  • Place the chicken liver pâté in a bowl and beat until smooth and soft.

  • Increase the oven temperature to 230C/210C Fan/Gas 8.

  • Roll out the puff pastry on a lightly floured work surface to a rectangle measuring 40x50cm/16x20in with a thickness of 2-3mm (it needs to be large enough to wrap the beef fillet).

  • Arrange the pancakes all over the pastry, overlapping the edges slightly and leaving a 2.5cm/1in border free at the edge. Trim the overlapping edges of the pancakes using a sharp knife so they sit in one even layer.

  • Spread the softened pâté in an even layer all over the pancakes. Arrange a layer of wilted spinach on top. Spread the cooked mushrooms on top of the spinach. Season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Finally, peel the cling film or foil from the beef fillet and place it in the centre.

  • Whisk the egg yolks in a bowl, then brush them around the pastry border. Tightly roll the beef fillet in the pastry, ensuring the seal sits at the bottom of the Wellington. Tuck the ends underneath the Wellington without trimming them. Transfer the Wellington to a baking tray lined with baking paper and brush all over with the remaining beaten egg yolks. If desired, decorate with pastry trimmings.

  • Bake the beef Wellington in the oven for 20-25 minutes (for medium), or until the pastry has risen and is golden-brown.

  • Meanwhile, heat a knob of butter in a frying pan over a high heat. When the butter is foaming, add the wild mushrooms and fry for 2-3 minutes, or until just softened. Add the Madeira and set it alight using a match. (Caution: Keep eyes and hair away from the flames and switch off the extractor fan before flaming.) Allow the flames to flare up and die down.

  • Add the concentrated beef stock and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat until the mixture is simmering. Continue to simmer for 3-4 minutes, or until the volume of liquid has reduced by one-third. Stir in the remaining butter until melted.

  • To serve, carve the beef Wellington into thick slices and place each into the centre of a serving plate. Drizzle the mushroom and Madeira sauce around the edge of the plates.

  • Beef Wellington with wild mushroom Madeira sauce recipe (2024)

    FAQs

    What is Madeira sauce made of? ›

    The sauce is typically made by reducing the Madeira wine over medium heat until it thickens and becomes syrupy. The beef or veal stock is added to the pan along with other ingredients, such as chopped shallots, minced garlic, or herbs.

    What is a good substitute for mushroom duxelle in beef Wellington? ›

    The only time I ever made wellington, I simply put a mixture of onions and bacon and cheese in place of the mushroom layer. I first sprinkled parmesan cheese. Then I put a layer of finely chopped sauteed onions and then crumpled cooked bacon.

    How do you make beef Wellington not soggy? ›

    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.

    Why is beef Wellington so hard 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.

    What is a substitute for Madeira sauce? ›

    Madeira Substitute

    Like Madeira, Marsala comes in dry and sweet varieties — but the ones typically used for cooking tend toward dryness. Unless your recipe specifically calls for a sweet Madeira, opt for a dry substitute. Other acceptable alternatives are dark sherry, port, or red vermouth.

    What is difference between Marsala and Madeira? ›

    Madeira (named after the Portuguese island where it is made) uses Sercial, Verdelho, Boal and Malvasia grapes. Marsala, the famed Italian fortified wine some consider one the world's best, is made in Sicily from Grillo, Inzolia (white), Catarratto and Nerello Mascalese (red) grapes.

    Does beef Wellington have a strong mushroom flavor? ›

    Notes from the Food & Wine Test Kitchen

    Wrapped in golden, buttery puff pastry and filled with deeply savory mushroom duxelles, beef Wellington is an unforgettable centerpiece to any feast. Dried porcini deliver extra umami to the beef, while a touch of Dijon and chopped herbs add a layer of freshness as well.

    What is a substitute for mushroom paste in beef Wellington? ›

    Carrots are most appropriate as a substitute for mushroom in beef Wellington. Their texture is far from that of mushrooms, but in beef Wellington you can puree carrots instead of mushrooms to make your duxelle.

    How to keep puff pastry from getting soggy in Beef Wellington? ›

    But Kenji takes it one step further by wrapping the prosciutto, duxelles, and loin in filo dough before wrapping it in puff pastry. Why? Because filo is great at making packets that contain liquid, and that's great for keeping your puff pastry from getting soggy, one of the common problems with Beef Wellington.

    Are crepes necessary in Beef Wellington? ›

    However, crepes are optional, you'll see many different recipes and some use crepes and some don't. You can make your own crepes using my recipe, or get some already made from the grocery store. Prosciutto – Prosciutto has good flavor, and is delicately sweet, and salty. It pairs well with the beef.

    Can you prep Beef Wellington the night before? ›

    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.

    Should Beef Wellington be chilled before cooking? ›

    Chill for at least 30 mins and up to 24 hrs. Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6.

    How do you tenderize beef for Wellington? ›

    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.

    What temperature do you cook Beef Wellington in the oven? ›

    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. Let stand 10 minutes.

    What is Madeira made of? ›

    Madeira wine is produced almost exclusively from white grapes. The preferred varieties are Malvasia, Sercial, Verdelho, and Bual de Madeira. Listrão, Tinta Negra Mole, and Negra are commonly used for inexpensive Madeira wines (Stevenson, 2005).

    What is the flavor of Madeira? ›

    The Taste of Madeira: There are several tastes profiles, but most will have flavors of Caramel, Walnut Oil, Peach, Hazelnut, Orange Peel, and Burnt Sugar.

    What is the ingredient Madeira? ›

    Approximately 85% of Madeira is produced with the red grape, Negra Mole. The four major white grape varieties used for Madeira production are (from sweetest to driest) Malvasia, Bual, Verdelho, and Sercial. These varieties also lend their names to Madeira labelling, as discussed below.

    Is Madeira dry or sweet? ›

    Madeira wine is available in varying levels of sweetness: seco (dry), meio seco (medium dry), meio doce (medium sweet), and doce (sweet). Most Madeiras have at least some sweet notes thanks to the maderization process. All Madeira is subjected to heat to develop its signature caramel notes and extend its shelf life.

    References

    Top Articles
    Latest Posts
    Article information

    Author: Roderick King

    Last Updated:

    Views: 5751

    Rating: 4 / 5 (71 voted)

    Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

    Author information

    Name: Roderick King

    Birthday: 1997-10-09

    Address: 3782 Madge Knoll, East Dudley, MA 63913

    Phone: +2521695290067

    Job: Customer Sales Coordinator

    Hobby: Gunsmithing, Embroidery, Parkour, Kitesurfing, Rock climbing, Sand art, Beekeeping

    Introduction: My name is Roderick King, I am a cute, splendid, excited, perfect, gentle, funny, vivacious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.