When you think of a fancy Christmas dinner menu, the first food that comes to mind is the beloved Beef Wellington. Beef Wellington will make a beautiful presentation on your holiday dinner table along with your array of tempting holiday side dishes.
The best thing we love about Beef Wellington is its combination of flavors and textures. The tender and juicy beef fillet is complemented by the earthy flavors of the mushrooms, herbs, and possibly pâté, which add depth and complexity to the dish. The puff pastry provides a flaky and crispy outer layer that contrasts with the soft and tender filling, creating an enjoyable texture experience. Beef Wellington is almost always presented beautifully and is considered a sophisticated and elegant main course, making it a popular choice for holidays and special occasions .
Beef Wellington Recipe – Perfect for Holiday Entertaining and What to Serve with Beef Wellington
Beef Wellington is a wonderful meal to prepare for special occasions. And did you know that Beef Wellington is prepared more often for Christmas than any other occasion! Beef Wellington is made with beef tenderloin which is the best cut of meat you can buy and is also the most tender cut. Perfect for an elegant holiday dinner.
This makes a great dinner for special guests or special family! Don’t be afraid to try your hand at this recipe. Just follow below and you will impress yourself!
- Serve sauteed garlic shrimp scampi as an elegant side dish for your Beef Wellington.
Ingredients needed for Christmas Beef Wellington:
- Beef Tenderloin
- Olive Oil
- Eggs
- Puff Pastry Sheets
- Sesame Seeds
Duxelle Ingredients:
- Mushrooms – we use white mushrooms
- Onion – yellow onions
- Butter – salted butter
- Marjoram
- Flour
- Beef Broth
- Chopped Ham
- Fresh Parsley
Try Your Hand at a Delicious Holiday Beef Wellington Recipe for a Special Dinner.
- 2 ½ -3 lb. beef tenderloin
- olive oil
- 1 package puff pastry sheets
- 1 egg yolk lightly beaten
- sesame seeds
- 1 recipe of duxelles included
- ½ lb. chopped mushrooms
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 3 Tablespooons butter
- 1/2 teaspoon marjoram
- dash of black pepper
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 3 tablespoons beef broth
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or 1 dried
- 1/2 cup finely chopped ham cooked
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Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
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Place beef on a rack in a baking pan. Brush with olive oil. Bake for 45 minutes, or until a meat thermometer registers 150 degrees for medium rare meat. If rare meat is desired, bake for about 37-38 minutes, or until the meat thermometer registers 140 degrees. You may also grill the meat; preheat the grill and check for desired doneness. Cool the meat.
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Sauté the mushrooms and onion in the butter until the mushroom liquid evaporates. Stir in marjoram, pepper, flour, and broth. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens. Remove from heat, and stir in the parsley and the ham.
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Put the pastry sheets together to form one long sheet. Spread the duxelles on the pastry, leaving a space along the edges (about ¼- ½ inch). Place the beef on the center of the pastry and fold the pastry up over the beef. Place seam side down in a shallow baking pan. Pinch the edges together slightly to prevent the duxelles from cooking out. Brush the pastry with the egg yolk mixed with a few drops of cold water. Cut slits into the top of the pastry and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake (at 425 degrees again) for about 30 minutes.
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Let stand about 10 minutes before carving.
Try your hand at this delicious and special beef wellington recipe for the upcoming holiday!
What is Beef Wellington?
Beef Wellington is a British dish consisting of a beef fillet that is wrapped in puff pastry, often along with other ingredients such as mushrooms, onion, herbs, and sometimes pâté. The wrapped beef is then baked until the pastry is golden brown and crispy. The result is a flavorful and tender beef that is encased in a flaky, buttery crust. The dish is usually served as a main course, often for special occasions, and is considered a classic of British cuisine.
What is Duxelle?
Duxelles is a finely chopped mixture of mushrooms, onions and herbs sautéed in butter.
Beef Wellington Wine Pairing
A fancy holiday dinner of Beef Wellington deserves the best wine pairing for the dish. What wine pairs well with Beef Wellington?
Champagne or Sparkling Wine – Surprisingly, a high-quality Champagne or sparkling wine can be an excellent match for Beef Wellington, providing a delightful contrast to the richness of the dish. Also a fancy pairing for any holiday.
Red Bordeaux wines like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blends often work excellently with Beef Wellington. They have the right level of tannins and complexity to complement the meat and pastry. A good Merlot can offer a softer, more approachable option if you prefer something less tannic but still rich in flavor.
A full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon can stand up to the richness of Beef Wellington and its earthy mushroom component.
What to Serve with Beef Wellington:
Side Dishes for Beef Wellington:
Potatoes – Mashed with Sour Cream and Cream Cheese. Served with brown gravy
Green Vegetable – Asparagus or Roasted Broccolini with Hollandaise Sauce
Salad – Fancy Pear Salad
Wine – Pinot Noir or Chianti
Dinner Rolls – plenty of salted butter or garlic butter
What Starch to Serve with Beef Wellington
Baked Mashed Potatoes would be our first choice for serving with beef wellington. It’s rich and delicious made with sour cream and cream cheese. Easy to prepare just add about a cup of each cream cheese and sour cream to your favorite mashed potatoes and then bake for about 20 minutes at 350 degrees.
Red Skinned Mashed Potatoes are also an excellent choice. Add in the additional sour cream and cream cheese for a holiday Beef Wellington side dish. Garlic Redskin Mashed Potatoes
Serve potatoes with a gravy jar filled with brown gravy.
For a Holiday Side Dish, how Many Potatoes per Person?
Plan on to 1/2 pound of potatoes per person for your holiday dinner.
What Vegetable to Serve with Beef Wellington
Asparagus – Definitely Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce. This dish always makes a beautiful presentation and is so delicious to eat.
Green Beans – Whole green beans make a nice side dish for the Beef Wellington. Jazz them up with some melted butter and saluted almond slivers.
Roasted Broccolini – Roast broccolini in a little lemon and olive oil.
Salads – we do love the little Watergate Salads that you can serve in individual serving dishes. You can learn how to make these here – Fluffy Watergate Salad.
or this Elegant Pear and Arugula Salad – Simple to create, just lay your washed and dried arugula lettuce on a plate with sliced pears, shaved Parmesan and walnuts.
Helpful links for the Holidays!
How to Make the Best Mashed Potatoes
Christmas or Thanksgiving Lima Beans
Thanksgiving Guide to Less Stress
Corn Casserole
15 ways to have a green Thanksgiving
