Mini Venison Wellington Recipes

VENISON WELLINGTON

Steps:

• For detailed step-by-step images to help with creating your wellington, visit our guide page. Firstly, dry the venison with kitchen paper, then season well. Heat the oil in a frying pan and sear the meat all over for about 8 mins. Brush with mustard, leave to cool, then chill for 20 mins. Reserve any juices for the gravy.
• Melt the butter and soften the shallot and garlic. Add the mushrooms, herbs and seasoning, and cook for 10 mins until you have a paste-like mixture. Add the brandy and cook until it's evaporated. Leave to cool.
• Overlap 2-3 sheets of cling film on a clean surface and lay the prosciutto in 2 rows, slightly overlapping each slice. Spread the cooled mushroom paste all over the prosciutto, creating a thin, even layer.
• Place the fillet in the centre of the mushroom mixture. Using the edge of the cling film, carefully draw the layer of prosciutto and mushroom around the meat.
• Roll into a sausage shape, twisting the ends of the cling film as you do, to form a tight log. Chill for 30 mins to firm up.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll the pastry to a rectangle a little larger than a magazine, and trim the edges to neaten.
• Carefully unwrap the prosciutto parcel and lay in the middle of the pastry.
• Fold over the bottom half of the pastry. Lightly brush the rest of the sheet with beaten egg.
• Roll the whole thing around the meat to encase. Neatly fold under the shorter edges to create a parcel.
• Transfer to a baking sheet and, using your hands, smooth the pastry around the meat, pressing it firmly to avoid any air being trapped. Brush the pastry all over with beaten egg yolk.
• Chill for at least 30 mins or up to 24 hrs. Then, using the back of a knife, mark the pastry, being careful not to cut all the way through. Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7.
• Lightly oil a non-stick baking tray and heat until hot. Put the wellington on the tray and bake for 30 mins (35 mins for well done). Remove from oven, brush with extra egg and rest for 20 mins.
• To make venison gravy, melt a large knob of butter in a medium pan, add 1 finely chopped shallot, 1 crushed garlic clove and 1 thyme sprig, and cook until soft. Add 1 tbsp flour, brown for about 1 min, then pour in 250ml Port and reduce by two-thirds. Add 400ml beef stock and any reserved juices from the venison, then reduce again by two-thirds until syrupy. Season, add 1 tbsp redcurrant jelly, if you like, and strain before serving.

VENISON WELLINGTON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a hot pan over medium-high heat. Brown venison in the hot butter, about 2 minutes per side. Set meat aside.
• Melt remaining butter in the pan over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms, onion, garlic, and Worcestershire sauce. Saute until mushrooms are soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Set aside and allow to cool.
• Spread thyme, salt, and pepper onto a large cutting board and roll backstrap halves on top to form a coating of herbs. Wrap each piece of backstrap in enough bacon to cover it.
• Unfold 1 puff pastry and place first piece of backstrap into the center. Bring the sides of the pastry together and pinch to seal. Repeat with other backstrap and remaining pastry. Place each into an ungreased baking dish.
• Mix egg yolk and water together in a small bowl. Coat the tops of the dough.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Continue to bake until dough is golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes more.

MINI BEEF WELLINGTONS

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Pat the beef dry with a paper towel and season all sides with salt and pepper. Quickly sear the beef on 2 sides only until deep golden brown, about 4 minutes total; do not overcook. Transfer to a plate to cool.
• Add the mushrooms and cook until beginning to brown and release liquid, about 5 minutes. Add the shallots and continue cooking until mushroom mixture dries out, is golden brown and shallots are soft, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and cool.
• Preheat to the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
• On a work surface, roll 1 sheet of puff pastry to a 10 by 14-inch rectangle. Put teaspoon-sized mounds of mushroom mixture on the pastry, evenly spacing them in 4 rows of 3. Top the mushroom mound with a piece of beef, seared side up. With a sharp knife, cut the pastry into even squares around the meat and mushrooms. Working 1 at a time, pull 2 opposite sides of pastry up over each beef piece, then fold the ends over the top to make a packet. Invert and arrange the packets seam side down on the baking sheet and press them lightly to seal the pastry. Repeat with the remaining beef, mushrooms, and pastry.
• Bake the Wellingtons until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven to a serving platter and let cool at least 10 minutes before serving.

MINI BEEF WELLINGTON BITES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
• To the bowl of a food processor, add the mushrooms, garlic, shallots and thyme. Pulse until finely chopped.
• To make the duxelles, in a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the mushroom mixture and sherry and cook, stirring occasionally, until the liquid released from the mushrooms has mostly evaporated, 7 to 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, then transfer to a sheet pan or large bowl. Refrigerate until cool.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll the pastry sheet into a 10- by-12-inch rectangle. Cut into twenty 2 1/2-inch squares. Place the squares on the prepared baking sheet about an inch apart. Prick each square all over with a fork (leaving about a half inch from each edge untouched).
• In a small bowl, beat the egg and 1 tablespoon water together. Use a pastry brush to brush the top of each square of pastry with the egg wash. To each square, add one piece of prosciutto, then gently press 1 heaping teaspoon of the duxelles into the center. Bake until the puff pastry is golden brown, about 15 minutes.
• Heat the oil in a medium skillet over high heat. Sprinkle the beef cubes with a large pinch of salt and a few grinds of black pepper and toss with the mustard. Add to the skillet and cook until browned all over, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Transfer the pastries to a platter, then add one piece of beef to the center of each pastry, gently pressing down to nestle the beef into the pastry. Drizzle with the Horseradish Sauce, then garnish with the chives.
• In a medium bowl, mix together the mayo, sour cream, horseradish, honey and mustard. Taste and season with salt and pepper.

MINI BEEF WELLINGTONS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
• Heat the butter and olive oil in a large skillet over a medium-high heat. Sprinkle the steak chunks with salt and pepper. When the butter has melted and the oil is hot, add the steak chunks and sear them for about 45 seconds per side. (The steaks will only be partially cooked at this stage.) Remove and set aside to partially cool.
• Add the onion and thyme to the same skillet and stir. Allow to continue cooking while you place the mushrooms in a food processor and pulse until they are finely chopped. Add the mushrooms to the skillet and stir to combine. Cook, stirring, until the mushrooms are golden and the liquid has evaporated from the skillet, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat, then add the Dijon mustard and stir to combine.
• While the mushrooms are cooking, lay out the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Using a rolling pin, roll the pastry to a 12-by-16-inch rectangle. Cut into 12 equal squares by cutting 4 long strips, then cutting each strip crosswise 3 times.
• Place a small amount of the mushroom mixture (known as duxelles) into the center of each square. Top each square with a piece of the steak. Fold the puff pastry up and over the steak, totally encasing the steak and mushroom mixture inside. Place on the prepared baking sheet with the smooth side facing upwards. Repeat with the remaining pastry, duxelles and steak.
• Brush each bundle with the egg yolk and sprinkle with the sea salt. Bake until golden, 16 to 18 minutes. Allow to cool slightly. Garnish with the chopped parsley and serve with the horseradish sauce. Enjoy.

MINI BEEF WELLINGTONS

Steps:

• Season beef with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a heavy skillet over high heat. Add half of beef; cook, turning, until browned all over, 2 to 3 minutes side. Transfer to a cutting board; repeat with second half. Let cool, 40 minutes. Cut each half into 4 equal pieces.
• Roll out 1 sheet of puff pastry to a little larger than 16 by 12 inches. Trim edges; cut into four 8-by-6-inch squares. Place one piece of beef, cut-side down, on a pastry square; top with 2 tablespoons mousse, spreading evenly. Lightly beat 1 egg, then brush over edges of pastry, fold up corners to enclose filling, and gently press to seal. Repeat with remaining pastry, beef, and mousse. Arrange Wellingtons, seam-side up, on parchment-lined baking sheet; wrap well in plastic and then foil. Freeze up to 2 weeks.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Lightly beat remaining egg, then brush over frozen Wellingtons. Divide between 2 parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake about 35 minutes for medium-rare. Remove Wellingtons from baking sheet and let rest 10 minutes before serving with mushrooms.

INDIVIDUAL BEEF WELLINGTONS

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium-high and add 1 tablespoon oil. Generously season the filets mignons with salt and pepper, and sear until the surfaces on the top, bottom and rounded sides are no longer raw, about 2 minutes total. Transfer the steaks to a plate, reserving the oil in the skillet. Brush or spread the Dijon mustard all over each filet mignon and refrigerate until cool, about 15 minutes.
• Turn the heat to medium-high, and add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the skillet. Add the mushrooms and shallot, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until deeply browned and no longer watery, 10 to 12 minutes. Be patient: The mushrooms will first release some water; then, once that liquid evaporates, the vegetables will start to brown. If the vegetables are sticking before they can brown, lower the heat or add a little water to the pan.
• When the mushrooms are deeply browned, reduce the heat to medium and stir in the herbes de Provence, honey, wine and cream. Let the liquids bubble up and reduce until the mixture is thick and jammy, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a small dish and refrigerate until cool.
• To assemble the Wellingtons, cut the puff pastry sheet in half (it doesn't matter which direction). Use a rolling pin or empty wine bottle to evenly roll each sheet into an 1/8-inch-thick rectangle. Mount a filet mignon-size circle of the chilled mushroom mixture in the center of each rolled-out sheet, evenly dividing the mixture between the two pastry pieces. Top each mound of mushrooms with a filet mignon.
• Carefully bring the edges of the puff pastry up and over the steaks, stretching the dough if needed to completely cover the meat. Twist the tops of the dough to seal the filling, as if you're making dumplings. You want an even, uniform layer of pastry, so trim any overlapping dough as you go. When the tops are nicely sealed, flip the Wellingtons over, seam side down, and transfer to a parchment-lined sheet pan. You can use your hands to gently tighten each Wellington into perfectly smooth spheres. Refrigerate to chill completely before baking, at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.
• Heat the oven to 425 degrees. In a small dish, whisk the egg until homogenous and, using a pastry brush or your fingers, evenly coat the entire outsides of the chilled Wellingtons with the egg. Bake until the pastry is golden brown, 17 to 20 minutes. The internal temperature of the steak should read 120 degrees for medium-rare (it will continue to cook as it rests).
• Transfer the Wellingtons to serving plates. Let them rest for about 15 minutes before serving.