Roast Beef Tenderloin with Wine Sauce

• For the sauce:

• 115 g unsalted butter, divided
• 180 ml finely chopped shallots, from 2-3 large shallots
• 1 -1/4 cups red wine
• 720 ml beef broth
• 6 fresh thyme sprigs
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 16 g all-purpose flour

• For the beef:

• 1 (2 - 3 lb) centre-cut beef tenderloin roast
• Kosher salt (1/2 teaspoon per pound of beef)
• Freshly ground black pepper (1/4 teaspoon per pound of beef)
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 60 ml beef broth

FOR THE SAUCE: 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.

1. 1

   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.

2. 2

   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.) # FOR THE TENDERLOIN: 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 205 °C.

3. 3

   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 centre of the meat registers 48.9 °C-125° for medium rare, about 15 minutes, or until done to your liking (46.1 °C-48.9 °C for rare, 54.4 °C-57.2 °C 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.

4. 4

   Transfer the meat to a carving board (preferably with a well for collecting juices) and let it rest, covered loosely with aluminium 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.

5. 5

   Meanwhile, carefully discard the fat from the roasting pan (remember that the handle is hot!). Set the pan on the stovetop and add the 60 ml 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 flavourful broth to the red wine sauce, and then bring the sauce to a simmer.

6. 6

   Carve the tenderloin into 1/3-inch-thick slices. Serve the beef, passing the red wine sauce at the table.