Beef on a String Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Beef

by: thirschfeld

October4,2022

4

3 Ratings

  • Serves 4 to 6

Jump to Recipe

Author Notes

This recipe is based on one found in the Chez Panisse Cookbook by Alice Waters. Generally speaking you always see beef tenderloin grilled or seared. Here it is poached in a very flavorful broth much like pot au feu but the end results are a very rich and different tasting beef medallion.

You can make the stock right before you want to make this recipe then strain it and proceed but you want a very flavorful broth before you start to poach the beef because the beef will finish cooking well before the stock would reach maximum flavor.

I also allowed the beef a good deal of time to come to room temperature which makes a huge difference in cooking time as does the circumference of the tenderloin. So while I give a time for doneness you may very well find it to be different for you. —thirschfeld

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • 8 cupshome made vegetable stock
  • 1/4 teaspoonfennel seed
  • 1/4 teaspoonSechuan peppercorns
  • 1/2 teaspoonblack peppercorns
  • 8 whole cloves of garlic, peeled and trimmed
  • 8 carrots, washed, peeled and cut into 2 inch long pieces
  • 8 fingerling or small potatoes, peeled
  • 2 celery roots, peeled and cut into 2 inch batons
  • 1 or 2 onions depending on size, trimmed, root end left on then cut into wedges
  • 2 to 2 1/4 poundscenter cut piece of beef tenderloin, trimmed and cleaned of sinew, buyer can do this for you, trussed
  • 2 tablespoonsPommery whole grain mustard
  • 3 tablespoonsMayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoonflat leaf parsley, very finely minced
  • 1/2 to 1 teaspoonsfresh lemon juice
  • kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper
Directions
  1. Remove the trimmed and trussed tenderloin from the fridge and let it come to room temperature. This will take about an hour.
  2. Place a 4 quart heavy bottomed pot onto the stove. Place the tenderloin into the pot and add enough stock to cover it by an inch. You may or may not use all the stock. Remove the beef tenderloin from the stock and place it onto a plate. Pate the tenderloin dry and season it with salt.
  3. Add the garlic, fennel, Sechuan and black peppercorns to the vegetable stock. Season the stock with a teaspoon kosher salt and a few grinds fresh ground black pepper. Bring the stock to a boil then turn off the heat. Now trim all your vegetables and prep everything else while you let the stock steep with the spices.
  4. Combine the mustard, mayo, parsley and lemon juice. Mix it well. Add some salt and pepper. Set aside.
  5. Add the trussed tenderloin to the pot.
  6. If you have big chunks of vegetables and some smaller ones you will want to add the veggies in stages. If the carrots are the largest add them first and so on. If they are all about the same size just add them all.
  7. Turn the heat to medium high and bring the pot to a boil then immediately reduce the heat to a simmer. Set a timer for 10 minutes. At the end of 10 minutes turn the tenderloin if it is floating and check for doneness. Set the timer again for 10 minutes.
  8. The tenderloin will start to look split at the edges and if you look into the cracks and see bright red you need to cook it longer. The usual way of checking the beef by squeezing works ok but the tenderloin is much squishier since it is being poached and therefore harder to gauge.
  9. I found 30 minutes was a perfect medium rare for the tenderloin I cooked but that time may vary a little depending on size. So be careful with your cooking time and don't be afraid to remove the beef to a plate, cover it and let it rest while everything else is finishing up.
  10. Remove the beef from the pot, let it rest covered then slice it into 1/2 inch medallions. Do not ladle hot stock over the top of the beef but instead ladle it on to the plate first. If you ladle it over the top it will cook the beef and it won't look as appealing. Place the medallions onto a platter surrounded by vegetables and and stock. Serve with Maldon salt and the mayonnaise on the side.

Tags:

  • Beef
  • Carrot
  • Fennel
  • Lemon Juice
  • Mayonnaise
  • Mustard
  • Parsley
  • Entree

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • cessi

  • jenniebgood

Popular on Food52

2 Reviews

cessi May 6, 2013

I am a serious beef lover, preferably seared in a hot cast iron pan and a perfect rosy red inside. I took a chance on this and it was a rare flop. I can think of many better uses for beef tenderloin. And I love a boiled dinner in any guise so was surprised this was so blah and such a waste of an expensive cut of meat.

jenniebgood April 11, 2012

Tom you write beautifully! I always look forward to your posts (and recipes)!

Beef on a String Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

Can you cook meat with string on it? ›

Cooking Beef Roast After Trussing

Remember to leave the butcher's twine wrapped around the roast for the cooking process to hold everything together and get an even cook. With the beef roast all trussed up, you'll have plenty of options for how to cook it.

How long should you cook a joint of beef for? ›

For rib, topside or top rump joints
  1. Seal the joint in a hot pan for 3-4 minutes over a high heat before transferring to the oven.
  2. Preheat oven to 180°C/Gas 4 and allow:
  3. 20 minutes per 500g plus 20 minutes (for rare)
  4. 25 minutes per 500g plus 20 minutes (for medium)
  5. 30 minutes per 500g plus 20 minutes (for well-done)

How to cook beef faster? ›

Use high heat to cook meat quickly. Techniques like searing or stir-frying at high temperatures can help cook meat rapidly. Pressure cookers cook food quickly by increasing the internal pressure, which the boiling point of water. This results in faster cooking times for meats.

Can you use string for cooking? ›

Some natural-fiber twines are oven-safe (like linen) while others are made with food-safe materials but burn easily, so they're best for decorative purposes (like jute or hemp). Synthetic twines made from polypropylene and polyester aren't oven-safe, and they should be avoided for cooking.

Do you slow cook meat with the string on? ›

Preheat the oven to 140C fan oven. Into the casserole dish add the onions, carrots, thyme, garlic, tomato puree and bay leaves. Place the brisket into the pot: remove the any string around the meat before cooking, as you don't want it to hold its shape, you want it to break down into the stock.

How do I cook a joint of beef without drying it out? ›

When cooking a roast in the oven, keep it uncovered until roasted to the desired doneness. After removing from the oven, tent with foil and let stand 15 minutes before carving.

How do you know when beef is cooked enough? ›

Use a Meat Thermometer

Also, know your temperatures. The USDA's recommended safe minimum internal temperatures are as follows: 145°F for beef (steaks and roasts), veal, lamb and pork, as well as fish; 160°F for ground beef; and 165°F for poultry.

How do you know when a joint of beef is done? ›

If you don't have a meat thermometer, check your beef is roasted by piercing it with a skewer. The juices should run red for rare, pink for medium and clear for well-done. Also, a meat thermometer should read 40C for rare (it will rise to 54-56C, medium-rare, as it sits) or 48C for medium (it will rise to 65C).

What makes beef taste better? ›

Diet is one of the most influential factors that impacts beef flavor and aroma. This is because the dietary nutrients cattle consume directly impact the fatty acid profile and nutrient profile of their fat. One of the most-common mantras in the meat industry is that fat is flavor.

How do you cook beef so it's tender? ›

To cook it until it's so tender it falls apart, you'll need to choose a joint like chuck and blade or beef brisket and either braise, slow roast or slow cook it for at least a couple of hours.

How do I make my beef tender and juicy? ›

Find out how below, and don't forget to ask your butcher about these cuts.
  1. Physically tenderize the meat. ...
  2. Use a marinade. ...
  3. Don't forget the salt. ...
  4. Let it come up to room temperature. ...
  5. Cook it low-and-slow. ...
  6. Hit the right internal temperature. ...
  7. Rest your meat. ...
  8. Slice against the grain.
Jan 26, 2018

What is the secret ingredient to make beef tender? ›

Baking soda. Here's where it gets science-y: The baking soda raises the pH on the outside of the meat as it marinates, in a process known as velveting (which can also be done with a cornstarch slurry). This makes it so the proteins have a harder time bonding to each other when it's time to cook the meat.

Does beef get more tender the longer you cook it? ›

Your meat will be juicier and more tender

The longer cooking time and the low heat complement each other perfectly. As a result, even though the meat is cooked for far longer, it doesn't dry out because the temperature is low. As a result, this is the best way to retain all the natural juices of the meat.

Why is my beef still tough after slow cooking? ›

If you consistently notice tough beef, Carli says your slow cooker may not be working hard enough. “Try cooking for longer, or at a higher temp,” she advises.

Should I take the string off meat before cooking? ›

Don't remove any string around the joint until after it's been cooked and rested. Snip it off when you're ready to slice and serve.

Can you cook steak with string around it? ›

1 Answer. Cook it with the string on, then remove the string when you eat it. It is there to hold it altogether while cooking.

Do you leave string on steak when cooking? ›

Will the meat cook tied or untied? Sure it will. The difference is, it won't cook evenly. The ends will cook before the middle and–especially with steak–you want it the way you want it.

What kind of string is safe for cooking? ›

Butcher's twine, also known as cooking twine and kitchen twine, is durable, low-stretch, oven-safe, and often made of cotton, polyester / cotton blend, or linen. Uses: Butcher's twine is perfect for trussing poultry, tying roasts to ensure they keep their shape, securing stuffed meats, and tying off a bundle of herbs.

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