POACHED BEEF TENDERLOIN
Poaching a tenderloin of beef is the surest way to obtain perfectly and uniformly rare meat. Whether you choose a 2-pound piece, which will easily serve four, or a larger one, the procedure and results are consistently the same, making the dish ideal for dinner parties. As long as the meat is of fairly consistent thickness, every slice you cut-with the exception of the very ends-will look like the others. Buying the beef is simple but usually can be made even simpler with an advance call to the butcher; ask for the thick (châteaubriand) end of the tenderloin, 2 to 3 pounds (he will be willing to cut it to any size you like), in one piece, tied. If you allow the meat to reach room temperature before poaching, cooking time will be reduced by a few minutes; but it will be no longer than 20 and probably shorter anyway. It's key to serve the meat with a variety of garnishes from which you and your guests can choose: minced shallots, good mustard, chopped cornichons, coarse salt, soy sauce, even ketchup. These can be combined-I favor mustard combined with shallots and cornichons. I'd like a potato gratin with this recipe (page 482), but any potato dish (including good old mashed potatoes) would be fine, as would almost any nicely prepared vegetable. Bread, too.
Yield makes 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Put the meat in a deep pan just large enough to hold it-a Dutch oven is usually ideal, but you can curve the meat into a wide saucepan too-and cover it with boiling water or stock. Add a large pinch of salt if you're using water or if the stock is unsalted. Adjust the heat so that the mixture bubbles gently-on my stove that's medium.
- Cook until the meat's internal temperature reaches 120°F (use an instant-read thermometer); 125°F if you prefer medium-rare. Remove the meat and let it sit for about 5 minutes, then cut into 1/2- to 1-inch-thick slices. Serve immediately with the garnishes.
BEEF TENDERLOIN POACHED IN ONION BROTH
Steps:
- Tie additional kitchen string to end ties on beef tenderloin. Secure to ends of a wooden spoon long enough to balance on rim of a large Dutch oven. (String should be tied so beef hangs below pot rim and broth but doesnâ??t touch bottom.) Set aside.
- Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and caramelized, about 20 minutes. (If mixture begins to darken or dry out, add a few tablespoons water.) Add wine and cook, stirring and scraping browned bits off bottom, until almost evaporated, about 4 minutes. Add leeks, turnip, rutabaga, and 10 cups water. Bring to a simmer, then partially cover and adjust heat to maintain a bare simmer. Cook 30 minutes, then remove turnip and transfer to a dish. Continue simmering until rutabaga is fork-tender, about 10 minutes more. Remove rutabaga and transfer to dish.
- Push leeks and onions to sides of pot and lower beef into center, balancing wooden spoon on pot rim. If necessary, add more warm water to completely cover beef. Add potatoes and bring to a simmer. Cook, adjusting heat as necessary to maintain broth temperature at 190 degrees, until a thermometer inserted in center of beef reads 120 degrees for rare, about 30 minutes. (Meat will continue to cook after poaching.)
- Remove potatoes and transfer to dish with vegetables. Remove beef, transfer to a cutting board, and let rest, tented with foil, 5 minutes. Keep poaching liquid warm. Remove strings from beef and cut beef into slices. Strain poaching liquid through a fine-mesh sieve. Divide broth, vegetables, and meat among serving bowls. Season with salt and pepper and top with prepared horseradish.
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love