There’s nothing more celebratory than a beef tenderloin, and because it takes on the intense flavors in the crust, there’s no need for further embellishment. The center cut is the most choice, tender, and lean part of the tenderloin.
Ingredients
- 8 cloves garlic, peeled
- 2 tablespoons coarse salt
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus 2 tablespoons for searing
- 1 tablespoon freshly and coarsely cracked black peppercorns
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
- 1/4 cup fresh rosemary needles from a 3- or 4-inch sprig
- 2 tablespoons grainy mustard
- One 3-pound center-cut beef tenderloin, trimmed as needed
Directions
Step 1
Preheat your oven to 450ºF. In a small food processor, process the garlic and salt until the garlic is finely chopped. Add the 1/3 cup olive oil, black pepper, thyme, and rosemary, and process until the herbs are evenly chopped. Stir in the mustard and set aside.
Step 2
Heat a large cast-iron skillet or Dutch oven on the stovetop over medium-high heat. When hot, add the 2 tablespoons of olive oil and then the beef, searing it on all sides until nicely browned, 3 to 4 minutes per side, making quarter turns with tongs. Transfer the meat to a cutting board and let cool slightly.
Step 3
Coat the meat evenly on all sides with the reserved herb mixture. Transfer the tenderloin to a meat rack set in a roasting pan. Roast the tenderloin until the internal temperature reaches your desired doneness on an instant-read thermometer, about 20 to 30 minutes (depending on its thickness). Let it rest for at least 10 minutes before carving to prevent the juices from running out.
Yields 8 servings