How to Cook Beef Tournedos in the Oven for a Show-Stopping Meal

Beef tournedos are the ultimate elegant, impressive entrée for special occasions. These tender medallions of beef tenderloin deliver incredible rich flavor when properly prepared. While often seen in upscale restaurants, you can easily make these restaurant-quality tournedos at home in your own oven.

In this guide, I’ll provide tips on selecting, prepping, seasoning, and cooking beef tournedos in the oven With just a few simple techniques, you can achieve tender, juicy perfection every time. Let’s dive in!

What are Beef Tournedos?

Tournedos refers to small round medallions of beef cut from the tenderloin. They are typically 1.5 to 2 inches thick and 2 to 4 ounces each. The tenderloin is the most tender cut of beef, making tournedos incredibly luxurious and melt-in-your-mouth tender when cooked properly. Their petite size makes them perfect individual portions.

Wrapping tournedos in bacon, called larding, is also common. The bacon adds lovely fat marbling that bastes the meat during cooking, keeping it extra moist and infusing tons of smoky, salty flavor.

Benefits of Cooking Tournedos in the Oven

There are several advantages to roasting tournedos in the oven versus pan frying:

• Oven roasting cooks the meat evenly from all sides.

• You can cook multiple tournedos at once, perfect for entertaining.

• The oven’s dry heat helps achieve a beautifully browned, flavorful crust.

• Hands-off cooking after the initial sear – just pop it in the oven!

Follow these steps for foolproof oven-roasted tournedos.

Selecting and Preparing Tournedos

Choosing the Right Cut

The most tender cuts for tournedos include:

• Filet mignon – The most tender and popular choice. Delicate texture.

• Chateaubriand – Cut from the center tenderloin. Slightly firmer than filet.

• Ribeye – Richly marbled for great flavor. Trim fat cap before cooking.

• Sirloin – Budget-friendly option. Tender when cooked properly.

For best results, choose fresh, high-quality beef with good marbling where possible.

Prepping the Meat

• Pat the tournedos extremely dry with paper towels.

• Generously season all over with salt and pepper.

• Allow to come up to room temp before cooking, about 30 minutes.

Now the beef is ready to transform into a sensational centerpiece entrée!

Step-by-Step Oven Instructions

Follow these simple steps:

1. Preheat Oven and Pan

Preheat oven to 350°F. Place a heavy oven-safe skillet or pan in the oven as it heats.

2. Sear the Tournedos

In a hot skillet, sear seasoned tournedos for 1 minute per side to get a nice crust.

3. Roast in Oven

Transfer seared tournedos to the preheated oven pan. Roast for 10 minutes for medium rare, 15 minutes for medium.

4. Rest and Serve

Let rest 5 minutes before slicing into the perfectly cooked tournedos.

Be sure to use an instant-read thermometer to check doneness. Medium rare is 125°F and medium is 135°F.

Infusing Flavor Through Seasoning and Sauces

Boosting the flavor of mild, tender tournedos is easy with these seasoning ideas:

• Coarse salt and cracked pepper – a classic!

• Herb rub – garlic, rosemary, thyme – infuses fragrant notes.

• Mustard coating – adds a zingy kick.

• Marmalade glaze – sweet, tangy and totally unique.

Pairing tournedos with a rich sauce is also a must. Options include:

• Red wine reduction – simmered until syrupy.

• Creamy béarnaise – egg yolks, butter, tarragon.

• Peppercorn sauce – cracked peppercorns flambéed in brandy.

• Mushroom sauce – sautéed mushrooms in veal or beef broth.

Kick your tournedos up a notch with specialty seasonings and luscious sauce partners!

Achieving the Perfect Tournedos

Cooking beef tournedos in the oven results in incredibly tender, evenly cooked results. Follow the steps above for searing, roasting, resting and sauce pairing. Checking temperature with a meat thermometer prevents overcooking.

Serve your elegant oven-roasted tournedos with sides like roasted potatoes, sautéed mushrooms, or fresh asparagus. You’ll impress everyone at the table with these melt-in-your-mouth restaurant-worthy medallions.