Beef Wellington Is The Perfect Special Occasion Main Dish (2024)

  • Beef
  • Christmas Dinners
  • British

Based on Gordon Ramsay’s beef Wellington recipe, it does not disappoint.

By

Elise Bauer

Beef Wellington Is The Perfect Special Occasion Main Dish (1)

Elise Bauer

Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.

Learn about Simply Recipes'Editorial Process

Updated November 16, 2023

Beef Wellington Is The Perfect Special Occasion Main Dish (2)

30 ratings

In This Recipe

  • What Is Beef Wellington?

  • Make-Ahead

  • Buying the Tenderloin

  • What to Serve With Beef Wellington

A few months ago my father got an inkling to make beef Wellington, beef tenderloin smothered with mushroom duxelles, wrapped in puff pastry, and baked. Who knows where he got the idea, maybe just curiosity.

Beef Wellington is one of those dishes that was a lot more popular 40 years ago than it is now. But once my dad decides he wants to make something, come hell or high water, it will be made.

It also helps that Chef Gordon Ramsay has a video online on how to make his version of beef Wellington, using Parma ham wrapped around the tenderloin instead of the more traditional pâté de foie gras.

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So, we recently set out to make it, dad channeling Chef Ramsay, albeit without the yelling and swearing (though I'm guessing that if dad thought he could get away with acting like Chef Ramsay around the rest of us, he would).

It's actually a lot easier to make than it looks, assuming you are using ready-made puff pastry, and the result is fantastic. A great idea for a Father's Day dinner for the beef-loving dads out there.

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What Is Beef Wellington?

Beef Wellington is a traditional English way of preparing beef tenderloin. Believed to have originated in the 1800s after the Duke of Wellington had a victory at Waterloo in 1815, it was a popular "fancy" dish in the mid-1900s.

The beef is covered in paté de foie gras or mushrooms duxelles (a mushroom puree that has its moisture cooked out) and some sort of ham — like Parma or proscuitto — cover the beef. It's then wrapped in puff pastry and cooked in the oven.

Make-Ahead Strategies for Beef Wellington

We don't recommend making beef Wellington ahead of time and reheating it when it's time to serve because the puff pastry will get soggy, but you can make the mushrooms duxelles in advance so it's quicker going when it's time to cook.

Prepare the mushrooms duxelles up to 2 days ahead of time as directed in Step 4. Cool completely and then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before using.

Tips for Buying Beef Tenderloin

It might be tricky to find the right size beef tenderloin on the supermarket shelf. Beef tenderloins are often cut into steaks, which won't work for this recipe. When in doubt, as a butcher. They should be able to cut a thick, 1-pound tenderloin for you.

What to Serve With Beef Wellington

  • Smashed New Potatoes With Garlic and Chives
  • French Green Beans With Butter and Herbs
  • Quick and Easy Asparagus
  • Broccoli Rabe With Caramelized Onions
  • Roasted Baby Carrots

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Beef Wellington

Prep Time20 mins

Cook Time45 mins

Cool and Chill Time40 mins

Total Time105 mins

Servings4 servings

Recipe adapted from this video for making Beef Wellington by Chef Gordon Ramsay.

You can use any mushrooms you like. We used half cremini and half shiitake. If using shiitake mushrooms, cut off the tough stems and discard or save them for stock.

This recipe uses a frozen puff pastry sheet. Plan ahead to thaw the sheet for 2 to 4 hours in the refrigerator, or on the counter for about 40, until it’s easily pliable but not too soft or squishy.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound thick beef tenderloin

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

  • 2 tablespoons yellow mustard (like Coleman's Original English Mustard)

  • 1 pound mushrooms (see recipe note)

  • 4 thin slices ham (Parma ham if you can get it) or prosciutto

  • 1 (7 to 8 1/2-ounce sheet) puff pastry, thawed (see recipe note)

  • 2 large egg yolks, beaten

  • Flaky salt, for sprinkling on top

Method

  1. Preheat the oven:

    Allow the oven to preheat to 400°F as you assemble the Wellington.

  2. Sear the beef:

    Season the beef generously with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large pan on high heat. Sear the beef in the pan on all sides until well browned, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. (Hint: do not move the beef until it has had a chance to brown.)

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  3. Brush the beef with mustard:

    Remove the beef from the pan and let cool. Once cooled, brush the beef on all sides with mustard.

    Beef Wellington Is The Perfect Special Occasion Main Dish (6)

  4. Prepare the mushrooms:

    Chop the mushrooms and put them into a food processor. Pulse until very finely chopped.

    Heat the sauté pan on medium-high heat. Transfer the mushroom mixture into the pan and cook, allowing the mushrooms to release their moisture, 10 to 15 minutes.

    When the moisture released by the mushrooms has all boiled away, remove the mushrooms from the pan and set aside to cool.

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    Beef Wellington Is The Perfect Special Occasion Main Dish (8)

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  5. Wrap the beef in mushroom paste and ham:

    Roll out a large piece of plastic wrap. Lay out the slices of ham on the plastic wrap so that they overlap and are large enough to wrap around and encapsulate the beef. Spread the mushroom mixture over the ham.

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    Place the beef in the middle and roll the mushroom and ham over the beef, using the plastic wrap so that you do this tightly.

    Wrap up the beef into a tight barrel shape, twisting the ends of the plastic wrap to secure. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.

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    Beef Wellington Is The Perfect Special Occasion Main Dish (13)

  6. Roll out the puff pastry and wrap the beef:

    On a lightly floured surface, roll out the puff pastry sheet to a size that will wrap around the beef.

    Unwrap the beef from the plastic wrap and place in the middle of the pastry dough. Brush the edges of the pastry with the beaten egg yolks.

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    Fold the pastry around the beef, cutting off any excess at the ends. (Pastry that is more than 2 layers thick will not cook all the way, try to limit the overlap.)

    Place on a small plate, seam side down, and brush beaten egg yolks all over the top. Chill for 5 to 10 minutes.

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  7. Brush with the egg wash and score:

    Place the pastry-wrapped beef on a baking pan. Brush the exposed surface again with beaten eggs.

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    Score the top of the pastry with a sharp knife, not going all the way through the pastry. Sprinkle the top with coarse salt.

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  8. Bake in the oven:

    Bake at 400°F for 25 to 35 minutes. The pastry should be nicely golden when done. To ensure that your roast is medium rare, test with an instant read meat thermometer. Pull out at 125 to 130°F for medium rare.

    Simple Tip!

    To ensure an accurate temperature reading, stick the thermometer into the center of the beef from 2 to 3 different angles. Test from the top as well as the side.

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    Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Slice in 1-inch thick slices.

    Leftover slices can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days. Wrap tightly with foil and reheat in a 350°F oven. Once warm, remove the foil and bake for a few minutes more to crisp the pastry. Note that reheated slices will be closer to medium or well-done.

    Did you love the recipe? Leave us stars below!

    Beef Wellington Is The Perfect Special Occasion Main Dish (20)

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
749Calories
54g Fat
34g Carbs
31g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories749
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 54g70%
Saturated Fat 14g68%
Cholesterol 170mg57%
Sodium 766mg33%
Total Carbohydrate 34g12%
Dietary Fiber 3g12%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 31g
Vitamin C 5mg23%
Calcium 35mg3%
Iron 7mg37%
Potassium 783mg17%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

Beef Wellington Is The Perfect Special Occasion Main Dish (2024)

FAQs

What is so special about Beef Wellington? ›

Beef Wellington is a Beautiful Union of Textures and Flavors

At the heart of the beef wellington lies the tenderloin, lightly seared on the outside, succulent and juicy on the inside. The beef is then coated with a mixture of pâté and duxelles.

Is Beef Wellington a main course? ›

We love Beef Wellington as the main dish on Christmas day (although it's a great beef dish for any season). It looks and tastes great, but given that Christmas day can be very hectic for the cook, this beef wellington recipe includes some “nobody will know” shortcuts.

Is Beef Wellington a national dish? ›

Beef Wellington is a traditional British dish; it's said to have originated in the 1800s after the Duke of Wellington won a victory in Waterloo. The celebratory dish became a classic that rose to popularity as a fancy centerpiece served at dinner parties and holidays in the mid 1900's.

Is Beef Wellington one of the hardest dishes to make? ›

Beef Wellington is a dish that is rated under the “top 10 hardest dishes to make”, at number 4. One of the hardest parts of this dish is cooking the meat correctly, and not over cooking it. Typically a beef wellington's tenderloin should be at a medium rare – which is not always an easy feat to achieve.

What is Gordon Ramsay's best dish ever? ›

Gordon Ramsay's best recipes include Beef Wellington, Coq au Vin, Beef Stroganoff, Chicken Piccata, Rack of Lamb, Baked Salmon with Lemon and Dill, Shrimp Scampi, Beef and Guinness Stew, Spaghetti Carbonara, and Beef Burgundy.

What is Gordon Ramsay's favorite food? ›

In most of Ramsay's restaurants, you can find it on the menu. However, Ramsay has revealed his favorite American food is grits topped with shrimp and Parmesan cheese.

Why is Beef Wellington so expensive? ›

But on top of its tedious cooking process, beef Wellington is also expensive. The dish typically calls for beef tenderloin, the tender cut of beef that filet mignon comes from, in addition to pricey prosciutto. With these high-priced meats, beef Wellington isn't exactly budget-friendly.

Who popularized Beef Wellington? ›

In 1965, the TV programme hosted by Julia Child 'The French Chef' aired in the US and included a Filet of Beef Wellington' – after this the dish's popularity skyrocketed.

Is Beef Wellington meant to be rare? ›

You slice through it to reveal layers of some of the finest ingredients in the Western world: slivers of prosciutto, a duxelles of wild mushrooms bound with cream, and finally foie gras, all encasing a core of medium-rare, buttery-soft beef tenderloin.

What is the toughest dish to make in the world? ›

The 10 toughest dishes in the world
  • Consommé Devilish dish: A clear soup made from meat, tomato, egg whites and stock, slowly simmered to bring impurities to the surface for skimming. ...
  • Turducken. ...
  • Béarnaise sauce. ...
  • Baked Alaska. ...
  • Croissants. ...
  • Soufflé ...
  • Macarons. ...
  • Beef wellington.
Jan 18, 2023

Why is Beef Wellington soggy? ›

Excess moisture doesn't make the beef extra juicy. Instead, it prevents the puff pastry from fully crisping up, ultimately causing the crust to get soggy. Luckily, using proper cooking techniques can prevent too much moisture from collecting in your beef Wellington.

What are common mistakes in Beef Wellington? ›

Not cooking the mushroom mixture long enough

Unfortunately, beef Wellington often falls victim to soggy pastry from excess moisture. The beef Sirloin juices are one explanation, but mushroom duxelles can also cause excess liquid to soak into the crust.

Why are beef wellingtons so expensive? ›

Beef Wellington begins with a beef tenderloin, the tenderest and costliest cut of meat. The beef is wrapped in a thin layer of duxelles, which is sauteed mushrooms and onions or shallots, and in this case garlic.

Why do people put crepes on Beef Wellington? ›

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.

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