This beef wellington looks impressive, but it’s actually a lot easier to do than it might appear. Using a mix of simple ingredients, like puff pastry and prime beef fillet, this wellington can be used to replace the traditional main in a Sunday roast, or for any special occasion.
Served alongside sautéed potatoes and wilted baby gem lettuce – with classic mustard vinaigrette making a great dressing – this is a hearty, rustic dish that the whole family can tuck into.
Top Tips:
To keep the pastry light and crisp, wrap the beef and mushrooms in a layer of Parma ham to shield the pastry from moisture and prevent it from becoming soggy.
Carving at the table can bring everyone together, and it’s hard to go wrong with tender beef, juicy mushrooms and mustard.
Ingredients: (serves 4)
- 400g flat cap mushrooms, roughly chopped
- sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- olive oil, for cooking
- 750g piece of prime beef fillet
- 1-2tbsp English mustard
- 6-8 slices of Parma ham
- 500g ready-made puff pastry
- flour, to dust
- 2 egg yolks, beaten
Method:
Step One
Put the mushrooms into a food processor with some seasoning and pulse to a rough paste. Scrape the paste into a pan and cook over a high heat for about 10 mins, tossing frequently, to cook out the moisture from the mushrooms. Spread out on a plate to cool.
Step Two
Heat a frying pan and add a little olive oil. Season the beef and sear in the hot pan for 30 secs only on each side. (You don’t want to cook it at this stage, just colour it). Remove the beef from the pan and leave to cool, then brush all over with the mustard.
Step Three
Lay a sheet of cling film on a work surface and arrange the Parma ham slices on it, in slightly overlapping rows. With a palette knife, spread the mushroom paste over the ham, then place the seared beef fillet in the middle. Keeping a tight hold of the cling film from the edge, neatly roll the Parma ham and mushrooms around the beef to form a tight barrel shape. Twist the ends of the cling film to secure. Chill for 15-20 mins to allow the beef to set and keep its shape.
Step Four
Roll out the puff pastry on a floured surface to a large rectangle, the thickness of a £1 coin. Remove the cling film from the beef, then lay in the centre. Brush the surrounding pastry with egg yolk. Fold the ends over, then wrap the pastry around the beef, cutting off any excess. Turn over so the seam is underneath, and place on a baking sheet. Brush over all the pastry with egg and chill for about 15 mins to let the pastry rest.
Step Five
Heat the oven to 200°C, 400°F, gas mark 6.
Lightly score the pastry at 1cm intervals and glaze again with beaten egg yolk. Bake for 20 minutes, then lower the oven setting to 180°C, 350°F, gas mark 4 and cook for another 15 mins. Allow to rest for 10-15 mins before slicing and serving with the side dishes of your choice. The beef should still be pink in the centre when you serve it.
