Chateaubriand for 2
Source: By Rebecca Franklin, About.com Guide
Chateaubriand is a juicy-on-the-inside, seared and roasted beef tenderloin with wine sauce frequently ordered for a table of two at French restaurants. This chateaubriand recipe is the traditional version of the restaurant favorite, seasoned very simply, roasted to perfection, and then sliced on the diagonal. Be sure to make the quick shallot and wine sauce and serve the meal with chateau potatoes for authenticity.
1 center cut beef tenderloin (approx. 1 lb)
2 T butter
2 T olive oil
Salt
Ground black pepper
1 shallot, finely chopped
1/2 cup dry red wine
1/2 cup demi-glace
1 T butter, softened
2 tsp dried tarragon (1 T fresh)
Preheat the oven to 375F. Melt the butter and olive oil together in a large skillet set over medium-high heat until the mixture turns a bit cloudy and bubbly. Season the beef with salt and pepper to taste.
Place the meat in the pan and do not move it at all for at least 3 minutes. Using tongs, carefully turn the tenderloin on its side and brown it for 3 minutes. Repeat the same browning process on all exposed surfaces of the meat.
Place the tenderloin onto a rack in a roasting pan in the oven. Roast the beef 15 minutes for medium-rare, 20 minutes for medium, and 23 minutes for medium-well. Transfer the chateaubriand to a warmed serving platter, lightly tent it with a single layer of foil, and allow it to rest, untouched, for 15 minutes.
While the tenderloin is resting, make the wine sauce. Sauté the chopped shallots in the leftover pan juices in the skillet. Once the shallots are softened and translucent. Pour the wine into the skillet and bring the sauce to a boil, scraping up all the browned bits on the bottom of the pan.
Continue boiling the sauce until it reduces by half. Add the demi-glace to the sauce and continue boiling the mixture until it becomes slightly thickened. Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the tarragon and softened butter.
Serve the chateaubriand, sliced on the diagonal, with the wine sauce and chateau potatoes.
This chateaubriand recipe make 2 to 3 servings.