Pancetta Studded Beef Tenderloin Recipes

PANCETTA-STUDDED BEEF TENDERLOIN

Steps:

• Roast beef:
• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Pat beef dry and cut 1/2-inch-deep slits at 1-inch intervals all over roast, then insert 1 piece of pancetta into each slit. Sprinkle beef with kosher salt and pepper. Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over high heat until just smoking, then brown beef on all sides, about 5 minutes. Transfer beef to a small roasting pan, reserving skillet.
• Roast beef in middle of oven until an instant-read thermometer inserted diagonally 2 inches into center registers 120°F, about 25 minutes. Transfer beef to a cutting board and let stand, loosely covered with foil, 25 minutes. (Beef will continue to cook as it stands, reaching 130°F for medium-rare.)
• Make sauce while beef stands:
• Heat reserved skillet over moderately high heat until oil is hot but not smoking, then saut é shallot until golden, about 2 minutes. Add red wine and Marsala and deglaze skillet by boiling, stirring and scraping up brown bits, until liquid is reduced by about one third. Add demiglace and jelly and briskly simmer, whisking, until jelly is incorporated, about 2 minutes. Add butter, 1 bit at a time, whisking until incorporated, then remove from heat. Whisk in salt and pepper. Pour sauce through a fine sieve into a bowl, pressing on solids.
• We use Demi-Glace Gold, available in specialty foods shops, some supermarkets, and by mail order from More Than Gourmet (800-860-9385) or the demiglace/brown sauce from Citarella (212-874-0383).

PANCETTA STUFFED BEEF TENDERLOIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F; position the oven rack in the center of the oven.
• In a large skillet, cook pancetta slices, over medium heat, in batches, for 3 minutes, remove pancetta slices to a plate, and set aside.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in same skillet on medium.
• Season tenderloins with salt and pepper, then brown the outside, all over, in skillet about 6 to 8 minutes; remove to work surface to cool.
• Meanwhile, in the same skillet, cook chopped pancetta in remaining tablespoon of oil, stirring, until golden, about 5 minutes.
• Add butter and transfer chopped pancetta to a medium bowl.
• Add 1/4 cup water to skillet and continue to cook while scraping up any browned bits; add liquid to the bowl.
• To the bowl, add bread crumbs, parsley, thyme, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; reserve skillet.
• Slice tenderloins, lengthwise, 3/4 of the way through, then open like a book, cut side up.
• Beginning in the center, slice each side on the diagonal 3/4 of the way through and open again like a book. You are trying to get a flat piece of meat that you can roll up.
• Spread half of the stuffing mixture in center, leaving a 1 inch border, roll tenderloins up over the stuffing mixture, arrange half the pancetta slices over the top in an overlapping pattern, and tie with kitchen string at 2 inch intervals; repeat with other tenderloin.
• Roast stuffed tenderloins until they register 120 degrees F with meat thermometer, about 25 minutes.
• Transfer to a cutting board and tent with foil.
• Pour the pan juices into the reserved skillet, add mushrooms, season with salt and pepper, and cook over medium high heat until browned, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in the port wine and cook an additional minute.
• To serve, slice roasts and spoon mushrooms and sauce on top.

PANCETTA-WRAPPED BEEF TENDERLOIN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425°F. Line cookie sheet with waxed paper. Sprinkle beef with salt and pepper. In 12-inch skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium-high heat. Cook beef in oil 10 minutes, turning once, until browned. Cool 5 minutes.
• On large sheet of waxed paper, arrange pancetta slices in 2 rows, overlapping to form rectangle the same length and width as tenderloin. Place beef on edge of one long side of pancetta. Sprinkle beef with garlic and rosemary. Roll up tightly, using waxed paper as a guide. Discard waxed paper. Tie beef with heavy kitchen string, securing at 1-inch intervals. Place on cookie sheet. Brush with remaining 1 tablespoon oil.
• Bake 30 minutes or until pancetta is crispy and beef is of desired doneness. Let stand 10 minutes. Remove string before slicing.