Bison Wellington

Dec 08, 2023Courtney Johnston

Indulge in a flavorful twist on the classic with our Bison Wellington recipe. 

Bison Wellington takes the classic elegance of Beef Wellington and infuses it with the robust, lean richness of bison meat. Known for its slightly sweeter and more intense flavor compared to beef, bison tenderloin becomes the centerpiece of this dish, encased in a layer of earthy mushroom duxelles and enveloped by buttery, golden puff pastry.

If that doesn't sound amazing enough, this recipe can also be prepared with a decadent elk tenderloin or succulent bison bistro filet in place of the Bison Tenderloin. 

 

Bison Wellington

Courtney Johnston

Servings

6-8

Prep Time

60-90 minutes

Cook Time

45 minutes

Cuisine

English

Category

Buffalo Meat

The marriage of flavors between the tender bison, fragrant mushroom mixture, and crisp pastry creates a symphony for the taste buds, offering a gourmet dining experience that's both adventurous and undeniably satisfying. It's a culinary journey that elevates a traditional favorite to a whole new level of indulgence, perfect for special occasions or whenever you're craving a sophisticated yet comforting meal.  

Bison Wellington

Ingredients

  • 1- 3 lb Buffalo tenderloin silver skin removed

  • Salt and black pepper
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 -1 ½ lbs mushrooms (cremini, portobello, shiitake, button or a mixture), finely chopped (about 4 cups)

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp thyme, chopped
  • 1 tsp rosemary chopped

  • 2 shallots chopped

  • ½ cup dry red wine

  • 2 Sheets puff pastry, thawed if frozen

  • 1 egg (for egg wash)
  • 8-10 slices of prosciutto
  • Flaky salt

Directions

  1. Gather your ingredients and prep the meat by trimming off any silverskin,

  2. Using kitchen twine, tie tenderloin in 4 places and season generously with salt and pepper. The twine is optional, but it helps the meat to keep its shape.

  3. Over high heat, coat the bottom of a heavy skillet with olive oil. Sear tenderloin until well-browned on all sides, including the ends, about 2 minutes per side (12 minutes total). Transfer to a plate. When the meat has cooled enough to handle, snip off twine and brush all sides with Dijon mustard. Let cool.

  4. While the meat is cooling, make duxelles: In a food processor, pulse mushrooms, shallots, garlic thyme and rosemary until finely chopped.

  5. To skillet, add butter and melt over medium heat. Add mushroom mixture and cook for about 10 min, add ½ cup of red wine, deglaze the pan and then continue to cook until liquid has evaporated; about 15-20 more minutes. Season with salt and pepper, then let cool.

  6. Place plastic wrap down on a work surface, overlapping so that it’s twice the length and width of the tenderloin. Lay out 1 sheet of puff pastry, make sure it’s big enough to cover the whole tenderloin. Arrange the prosciutto on top into a rectangle

  7. NOTE: If using a second sheet of puff pastry goes against what you believe is a classic Wellington, go ahead and just lay the prosciutto out on the plastic wrap and move on to the next step. I like the extra substance a second sheet adds; there is no right or wrong here.
  8. Spread the duxelles evenly and thinly over the prosciutto.

  9. Season the tenderloin with some salt and pepper, then place it at the bottom of the prosciutto. Roll into a “log”, using plastic wrap to roll tightly. Tuck the ends of the prosciutto and pastry as you roll, then twist the ends of the plastic wrap tightly and transfer to the fridge to chill for about 20 min (this helps it maintain its shape).

  10. Heat oven to 425°. Lightly flour your work surface, then spread out puff pastry and roll it into a rectangle that will cover the tenderloin roll you just made. Brush the the pastry with egg wash, Remove the tenderloin from the plastic wrap and place it on the bottom of the puff pastry, then tightly roll.

  11. Once the log is fully covered in puff pastry, trim any extra pastry, then crimp the edges to seal well. Wrap the roll in plastic wrap to get a really tight cylinder, then chill for about 20 minutes.

  12. Remove plastic wrap, then transfer the roll to a foil-lined baking sheet. Using a paring knife, score the top of the pastry in several places, brush with egg wash and sprinkle with flaky salt.

  13. Bake until pastry is golden and the center registers 125°F for medium-rare, about 40 minutes. Let the Wellington rest for 10 minutes before carving into thick slices and serving.

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