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This is a very special beef roast that is sure to please your family and friends.
In fact, this tenderloin roast is fantastic as it is so tender that you can cut it with your fork. You can serve it with or without the Wine Sauce.
This is probably the most expensive meat cut today, but sometimes special occasions call for a very special beef dinner. This is what I served for
my family's special October Birthday Dinner.
Pepper-Wine Beef Tenderloin Roast Recipe
Recipe Type:
Beef,
Tenderloin Roast ,
Wine
Yields: 6 to 8 servings
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Ingredients:
1 (3- to 4-pound) beef tenderloin roast*
Extra-virgin
olive oil
1 to 2 tablespoons coarse
salt
2 tablespoons coarsely-ground
black peppercorns
1/2 cup
red wine (your favorite red wine)
3 tablespoons butter
2 teaspoons Dijon-style mustard
1/2 cup
heavy cream
* Buy the largest or heaviest tenderloin you can afford,
because the larger the tenderloin the better it is to use as a roast.
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 450°F.
Trimming the tenderloin roast:
 Bring the tenderloin roast to room temperature before cooking.
Trim the tenderloin of fat and silverskin. Silverskin is a silvery-white connective tissue. It doesn't dissolve when the
tenderloin is cooked, so it needs to be trimmed away. If the silverskin is not
trimmed off, it will cause the tenderloin to curl up into the shape of a quarter
moon. If you ask, your butcher will do this for you.
Trussing the tenderloin roast:
Once the tenderloin roast is trimmed, it no longer has any structure and will start to flatten out. As you want the meat as round as possible for
even cooking and also for presentation, trussing is the key.
Using individual pieces of
kitchen twine/string to truss the roast. Tie the string around the tenderloin roast with equal spacing between
each truss. Tie the meat firmly, but not too tight. NOTE: I usually have my butcher do this for me.
Searing the beef tenderloin roast:
 Pat the beef dry with paper towels (this is important as surface moisture will interfere with good browning). Lightly oil outside of the roast and sprinkle with coarse salt; pat
ground peppercorns all over the meat, pressing into the meat with the palm of your hand.
By browning the meat's proteins and sugars, you are enhancing the meat's flavor
even more. NOTE: The tenderloin roast that I cooked was
approximately 5 pounds and wouldn't fit in my fry pan. I used my large
cast-iron griddle to sear it. It worked great!
Heat a large cast-iron frying pan over high heat. Without adding any cooking fat, sear the roast on all sides (about 3 rotations, approximately 1 minutes
each). NOTE: Resist the temptation to constantly turn the beef from side to side and you'll be rewarded with a beautifully browned crust.
When browned, immediately remove from heat.
Roasting the tenderloin roast:
Tenderloin, like other lean cuts of meat, are best roasted at a high heat rather
than baked at lower temperatures. Flavor comes from the browning, not from fat
slowly melting into the meat.
Place the seared roast in a large baking pan or roasting pan and bake, uncovered.
Roast in oven approximately 20 to 40 minutes (depending on size of your roast) until a
meat thermometer registers desired temperature (see below). NOTE: Turn tenderloin over halfway through cooking for
even browning.
Rare - 120°F
Medium Rare - 125°F
Medium - 130°F
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What constitutes rare and medium-rare cooked meat? To satisfy government home economists, the Beef
Council says rare beef means an internal temperature of 140 degrees F. Well, that is ok if you like well-done and dry meat. If you like moist, rosy meat (like I do),
rare begins at 120 degrees and starts to become medium rare at 125 or 130 degrees. To cook your meat properly, you must purchase and use a good instant-read digital
meat thermometer.
 This
is the type of cooking and meat thermometer that I prefer and use in my cooking. I get many readers
asking what cooking/meat thermometer that I prefer and use in my cooking and baking. I, personally, use the
Thermapen Thermometer shown in the photo on the right. Originally designed for professional users, the
Super-Fast Thermapen Thermometer is used by chefs all over the world. To learn more about this excellent
thermometer and to also purchase one (if you desire), just click on the underlined:
Thermapen Thermometer.
Residual Heat or Carry-Over Cooking: Remember, the steak will continue to cook as it sets. The
temperature will rise to 125 degrees F. to 130 degrees F. internal temperature (medium rare) at 15 to 20 minutes. So, pay attention to how long you let the cooked
steak sit before serving.
Residual Heat Definition:
Carry-over cooking is caused by residual heat transferring from the hotter exterior of the meat to the cooler center. As a
general rule, the larger and thicker the cut of meat, and the higher the cooking temperature, the more residual heat will be
in the meat, and the more the internal temperature will rise during resting due to carry-over cooking. This means the meat
must be removed from the heat at an internal temperature lower than your desired final internal temperature, allowing the
residual heat to finish the cooking.
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When the tenderloin roast is cooked to your liking, remove from oven, and transfer onto a cutting board; cover with a tent of aluminum foil and let stand 15 minutes before carving
(meat temperature will rise 5 to 10 degrees after it is removed from the oven).
To Make the Wine Sauce:
Pour the red wine into the baking or roasting pan, scraping up any brown bits.
In a large frying pan or cast-iron frying pan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the mustard and cream; bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally.
Add the cutting juices and the red wine mixture to the cream sauce; stir to combine, Pour into a heated serving bowl to serve with the sliced roast.
When ready to serve:
Cut the roast into 1/2-inch slices and place on a warm serving platter. Serve with the wine sauce.
Makes 6 to 8 servings.
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