Best Elegant Beef Blue Recipes

ROAST BEEF TENDERLOIN WITH WINE SAUCE

Steps:

• Melt 5 tablespoons of the butter in a medium saucepan. Add the shallots and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent, 7 to 8 minutes. Add the wine, beef broth, thyme sprigs, salt, pepper and sugar, and bring to a boil. Cook over medium heat for about 30 minutes, or until the liquid is reduced by about half.
• While the liquid is reducing, place the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter in a small bowl and soften in the microwave, if necessary (it should be soft but not melted). Add the flour and, using a small spoon, mix into a smooth paste.
• Once the wine mixture is reduced, reduce the heat to low and remove the thyme sprigs. Whisk the flour-butter paste, a teaspoonful at a time, into the simmering liquid, and simmer for a few minutes, until the sauce is thickened. Set aside. (The sauce can be made up to this point and refrigerated up to 3 days ahead of time.)
• Let the beef stand at room temperature for 1 hour before roasting. Set an oven rack in the middle position and preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Season the beef all over with kosher salt and pepper. Heat the oil in an oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat until almost smoking. Cook, turning with tongs, until well browned on all but one side, about 10 minutes total. Turn the tenderloin so that the un-seared side is down, and transfer the skillet directly to the preheated oven. (If your pan isn't oven-proof, transfer the beef to a lightly oiled roasting pan.) Roast until a thermometer inserted into the center of the meat registers 120°F-125° for medium rare, about 15 minutes, or until done to your liking (115°F-120°F for rare, 130°F-135°F for medium). Keep in mind that these temperatures account for the fact that the temperature will continue to rise about 5 degrees while the meat rests.
• Transfer the meat to a carving board (preferably with a well for collecting juices) and let it rest, covered loosely with aluminum foil, for 10 to 15 minutes. Place a dishtowel or oven mitt over the handle of the roasting pan to remind yourself that it's hot.
• Meanwhile, carefully discard the fat from the roasting pan (remember that the handle is hot!). Set the pan on the stovetop and add the ¼ cup of beef broth. Bring the broth to a boil, using a wooden spoon to scrape the fond, or brown bits, from the bottom of the pan. Add the flavorful broth to the red wine sauce, and then bring the sauce to a simmer.
• Carve the tenderloin into ⅓-inch-thick slices. Serve the beef, passing the red wine sauce at the table.

ELEGANT BEEF BLUE

Steps:

• Rub your steaks with chopped thyme, salt, and pepper. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat; add oil.
• Add steaks, and cook 1 to 3 minutes on each side or to desired degree of doneness. Remove steaks, and keep warm; reserve drippings in skillet.
• Stir wine and consomme into drippings; increase heat to high. Cook, stirring often, until reduced to 1/2 cup.
• Stir in half and half,and cook, stirring constantly, till reduced to 1/2 cup or desired consistency. Keep warm.
• Snap off tough ends of asparagus; remove scales with a vegetable peeler, if desired. Cut spears in half, and place in a steamer basket over boiling water. Cover and steam 8 minutes or until just tender.
• Top steaks with asparagus, and sprinkle with cheese.
• Broil 6 inches from heat (with oven door partially open) 2 minutes or until cheese melts. Serve immediately with sauce. Yield: 4 servings.

ROAST BEEF SANDWICHES WITH BLUE CHEESE DRESSING

Steps:

• Using fork, mash cheese in bowl. Whisk in sour cream, mayonnaise and Worcestershire. Season with salt and pepper.
• Spread 8 bread slices with butter. Spread remaining 8 bread slices with cheese dressing; mound beef atop dressing, dividing equally. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Top with peppers, if desired, then arugula and buttered bread slices. Cut sandwiches in half. (Can be made 6 hours ahead. Wrap in foil and refrigerate.)

VEAL CORDON BLEU

Steps:

• If cutlets are thicker than 1/8 inch, pound them between sheets of plastic wrap with flat side of meat pounder. Using cheese plane, shave enough cheese to make a double layer for each of 4 cutlets.
• Pat dry 2 cutlets of the same shape and arrange 1 cutlet on a work surface. Put 1 slice of ham on cutlet, trimming ham to leave a 1/4-inch border of veal around the ham, then arrange a double layer of cheese on ham and top with second cutlet. Lightly pound 1/4-inch border around cutlets' outer edges to seal veal sandwich. Make 3 more sandwiches in same manner.
• Line a baking sheet with wax paper. Stir together bread crumbs, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a large shallow baking dish. Stir together flour, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in another large baking dish. Whisk together eggs, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a third large baking dish.
• Dredge 1 veal sandwich in flour, knocking off excess, then dip in egg to coat, letting excess drip off, and dredge in bread crumbs, patting to help them adhere. Transfer coated sandwich to a rack set on a baking sheet. Dredge and coat remaining sandwiches in same manner. Chill, uncovered, 1 hour, and let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before cooking.
• Heat 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until foam subsides. Add 2 veal sandwiches, then reduce heat to moderate and cook, turning over once, until golden, about 4 minutes total. Transfer to plates and wipe out skillet with paper towels. Cook remaining sandwiches in remaining butter and oil in same manner.