Whole Beef Tenderloin with Rosemary Mushroom Bordelaise

About This Recipe

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Rosemary minimizes or eliminates carcinogens formed when meat is cooked.  Scientists at Kansas State University found that seasoning beef with rosemary before grilling or roasting can reduce cancer-causing substances called heterocyclicamines by 30 to 100%.  Danish scientists got similar results when adding rosemary to dough.  Acrylamide, a potentially carcinogenic compound, forms in carb-rich foods when heated above 250 degrees F.  By incorporating 1 tablespoon of dried rosemary for each pound of flour, we reduced acrylamide by more than 50%, says Leif Skibsted, PhD, a professor of food chemistry at the University of Copenhagen.  He believes that the antioxidants in rosemary scavenge the harmful compounds.  

The White Button Mushrooms in the Rosemary Mushroom Bordelaise are a natural aromatase inhibitor.  Research as shown that White button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporous) are a potential breast cancer chemopreventive agent, as they suppress aromatase activity and estrogen biosynthesis.  For men, this also means that Button Mushrooms help to keep testosterone from converting to estrogen.  

Ingredients

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For Roast

• 1 whole Beef Tenderloin (4-5 lbs) trimmed of all silver skin
• 1/2 Cup Olive Oil
• 4 Cloves Garlic (minced or pressed)
• 1 Tbsp. Finely Minced Fresh Rosemary Leaves
• Salt and Pepper

For Sauce

• 1 28-oz Carton Reduced Sodium Beef Stock
• 2 cloves Garlic (left whole and smashed with the back of a knife)
• 1 lb. White Button Mushrooms (cleaned and sliced or quartered)
• ½ Cup Dry White Wine
• ½ Cup Dry Red Wine
• 2 T. Cornstarch dissolved in ¼ Cup Cold Water
• 2 tsp. Finely Minced Fresh Rosemary Leaves
• ½ tsp. Salt
• ½ tsp. Fresh Ground Black Pepper

Directions

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1. One day ahead, combine 4 cloves of minced garlic and the 1/2 Cup of olive oil into a small cup or bowl.  Allow the garlic to infuse the olive oil at room temperature overnight.
   
2. Into a small saucepan combine the beef stock and 2 smashed garlic cloves and gently reduce over medium heat until liquid is reduced to 1-1/2 cups.  This step can be prepared a day or more in advance, and the reduced beef stock refrigerated in a covered container until ready to use.
   
3. Brush the beef tenderloin with HALF the garlic infused oil including half the minced garlic bits.  Sprinkle all sides of roast with the 1 Tbsp. minced rosemary leaves, salt and plenty of fresh ground black pepper to taste.  Place roast diagonally in a shallow roasting pan.  Tuck the thin end under for even cooking.  Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate.  Remove the roast from the refrigerator and let stand at room temperature for 45 minutes prior to roasting. 
   
4. Preheat oven to 500 degrees F.  Roast for 20 minutes without disturbing.  Lower oven temperature to 375 degrees and continue roasting for another 12-15 minutes until a meat thermometer inserted into thickest part registers 135 degrees for rare.  Note that the thickest part of the roast will be rare, while the remainder of the roast will be more medium rare, and the thinner ends will be medium.
   
5. Remove roast from oven and tent with foil.  Allow the roast to rest 20 minutes before slicing.  If you don’t rest the tenderloin, when sliced, all the meat juices will end up on your cutting board and kitchen floor, rather than infused within the meat.  Your finished roast will be dry and ugly.  Always rest all cooked meats and poultry prior to slicing or plating. 
   
6. Make the sauce:    In a large skillet or sauté pan, sauté the mushrooms in remaining olive oil/garlic mixture from step  1, until the mushrooms begin to give up their liquid.  Add the wines and the reduced beef stock, rosemary, salt, and pepper.  Bring to a gentle boil, and then whisk in the cornstarch mixture.  Gently simmer about 5 minutes longer or until the sauce is slightly thickened and satiny.