Tom and I had the pleasure of hosting my brother and his fiance for dinner the night before Valentine’s Day. Since we were not going out to eat for the holiday, I thought we would splurge and make something extra special to celebrate!
Everyone said they enjoyed the entree and it looked very impressive. I, however, would use crab or shrimp or something a bit less expensive than lobster next time. I did love the idea of stuffing the tenderloin. So, keep an eye out for more stuffed meat recipes.
The original recipe was found at foodnetwork.com and serves 8.
Ingredients
2 rock lobster tails
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/4 pound pancetta or bacon, chopped (Alesia’s Note – I ommitted this ingredient).
1/2 cup chopped shallots
3 tablespoons minced celery
2 teaspoons minced garlic
4 ounces baby chanterelle mushrooms, stems trimmed and sliced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons minced green onions
2 tablespoons dry white wine
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves
1 center-cut beef tenderloin, about 3 1/2 pounds, trimmed and butterflied (Alesia’s note – we butterflied at home, but did ask the butcher for the string to tie the meat)
Steamed fresh asparagus, as accompaniment
Bearnaise Sauce, recipe follows
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Set up a large steamer. Place the lobster tails in the steamer and steam until just cooked through, about 6 minutes. Remove the lobster tails from the steamer. Cut along the underside of the shell and remove the tail meat whole. Set aside
In a large skillet, heat 1 teaspoon of the oil over medium-high heat. Add the pancetta and cook, stirring, until crisp and the fat is rendered, about 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon. Drain off all but 2 teaspoons of fat from the pan. Add the shallots and celery and cook, stirring, until soft, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add the mushrooms and a pinch each of salt and pepper, and cook until the mushrooms give off their liquid, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the green onions and stir. Add the wine, increase the heat, and cook until it has nearly all evaporated, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the parsley and stir. Remove from the heat, stir in the cooked pancetta, and let cool.
Spread the butterflied beef, cut side up, flat on a surface. Spread the pancetta-vegetable mixture in a line across the meat, about 2 inches from the top, leaving a 1/2-inch border on the sides. Lay the lobster tails on top of the mixture, going across the beef. Pull the top flap over the lobster tails and roll the meat over the stuffing, jellyroll fashion, and tuck in the ends. Tie with kitchen twine every 2 inches.
Place in a large heavy roasting pan, rub on all sides with the remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil, and season lightly with salt and pepper. Place over medium-high heat and sear the meat on all sides, about 6 minutes. Place in the oven and roast to desired temperature, 30 to 35 minutes for medium-rare.
Transfer to a cutting board. Tent and let rest for 10 minutes before carving. Remove the kitchen twine and slice thickly. Place on a platter, surround with the asparagus, and drizzle with the Bearnaise Sauce. Serve immediately.
(Alesia’s Note – I use the store bought Bearnaise dry seasoning packet and it turns out great each time).
Bearnaise Sauce:
2 tablespoons chopped shallots
4 sprigs fresh tarragon
1/4 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup dry vermouth
4 large egg yolks
1 cup (2 sticks) melted unsalted butter or clarified butter
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon leaves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground white pepper
In a small saucepan, combine the shallots, tarragon, white wine, and vermouth. Bring to a boil and cook until reduced to 2 tablespoons. Remove from the heat, strain, and cool.
In the top of a double boiler, or in a metal bowl fitted over a pot of barely simmering water, whisk the egg yolks and reduced wine until ribbons start to form. Whisking constantly, drizzle in the melted butter a bit at a time until all the butter is added and the mixture is thick. Remove from the heat. Whisk in the lemon juice, chopped tarragon, salt, and pepper. Adjust the seasoning, to taste. Cover to keep warm until ready to serve. To serve, place in a decorative bowl with a small sauce ladle.
