Cooking multiple Beef Wellington for Xmas.

Hi there, I’ve got an
Ambitious challenge this Xmas. Beef Wellington for 9 people (and a porc one)

I’ll be juggling 3 wellingtons to suit people’s tastes.

I’ve done it before with 2 and it went ok.

My main question is

Can some
Of the prep be done the day before and kept in the fridge?

Either the searing of the meat + mustard

The duxelle?

Or perhaps even better the combination of both and the wrap with the Parma ham

I am looking to cut some time off the 25th by doing some of it on 24

But I don’t know what steps and how an overnight stay in fridge might impact the recipe.

Thanks for any advice!

Siquest
  • Posted by: Siquest
  • December 15, 2023
  • 875 views
  • 2 Comments

2 Comments

Nancy December 15, 2023
The recipe for Beef Wellington on the Serious Eats site has, as they usually do, lots of exploratory notes and variations. According to them, holding the partially prepared and rolled up dish for up to a couple days not only don’t harm, it will help the dish when you bake it in the oven.
I’ve seen other recipes/videos also recommend chilling the dish at one or two points during prep.
Go luck with this heroic task - 9 or is it 10 - separate servings?!
 
Nancy December 17, 2023
PS
Why the fridge cooling & firming helps?
• It makes rolling the pastry around the beef mushrooms and sometimes bacon or prosciutto easier.
• It helps in the baking - getting the pastry cooked without overcooking the meat.
Last, use a meat thermometer to check the beef, pork, other fillings are cooked to desired level of doneness.
 
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