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Chef James FORCED Me to React to These INSANE Chef Showdowns is a hard British recipe that serves 4. 820 calories per serving. Recipe by Vincenzo's Plate on YouTube.
Prep: 52 min | Cook: 39 min | Total: 1 hr 46 min
Cost: $26.80 total, $6.70 per serving
Ingredients
- 600 g Beef Tenderloin (center‑cut, trimmed of excess fat)
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil (for searing; use a neutral oil if preferred)
- 1 tsp Salt (coarse sea salt for seasoning beef)
- ½ tsp Black Pepper (freshly cracked)
- 2 tbsp English Mustard (spreads a thin layer over the hot beef)
- 4 slices Parma Ham (thinly sliced, high‑quality)
- 200 g Chestnut Mushrooms (cleaned and roughly chopped)
- 1 clove Garlic (minced)
- 2 tbsp Unsalted Butter (for sautéing mushrooms)
- 50 g Chestnuts (cooked, peeled) (roughly chopped; adds sweet, nutty flavor)
- 1 tsp Fresh Thyme (leaves only, optional)
- 1 sheet All‑Purpose Flour (store‑bought puff pastry, thawed)
- 1 Egg Yolk (beaten with a splash of water for egg wash)
- 2 tbsp Flour (for dusting) (light dusting on work surface)
Instructions
Season and Sear the Beef
Pat the beef tenderloin dry, season all sides with salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a heavy‑bottom sauté pan over high heat until shimmering. Sear the beef for about 2 minutes per side until a deep brown crust forms. Remove from pan and let rest for 2 minutes.
Time: PT5M
Temperature: high heat
Apply Mustard
While the beef is still hot, brush the entire surface with 2 tbsp English mustard. The heat will help the mustard melt into the meat, adding a subtle tang.
Time: PT2M
Prepare the Chestnut Mushroom Duxelles
In a food processor, pulse the chestnut mushrooms, cooked chestnuts, and garlic until finely minced. Heat 2 tbsp butter in the same sauté pan over medium heat. Add the mushroom mixture, season with a pinch of salt, pepper, and 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves. Cook, stirring constantly, until all moisture evaporates and the mixture becomes a dry, fragrant paste (about 10‑12 minutes). Transfer to a bowl and let cool.
Time: PT15M
Temperature: medium heat
Wrap Beef with Parma Ham
Lay a sheet of plastic wrap on the work surface. Arrange the 4 slices of Parma ham side‑by‑side, slightly overlapping, to form a rectangle large enough to encase the beef. Spread the cooled duxelles evenly over the ham. Place the mustard‑coated beef on top and, using the plastic wrap, roll the ham tightly around the beef, forming a tight cylinder. Twist the ends of the wrap to secure and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
Time: PT10M
Encase in Puff Pastry
On a lightly floured surface, roll out the puff pastry sheet to a rectangle about 1/4‑inch thick, large enough to fully wrap the beef. Unwrap the chilled beef‑ham roll and place it in the center of the pastry. Brush the pastry edges with beaten egg yolk. Fold the pastry over the beef, trimming any excess, and press to seal. Flip the parcel seam‑side down, brush the entire surface with egg wash, and chill for another 5 minutes.
Time: PT10M
Bake the Wellington
Preheat the oven to 200 °C (392 °F). Place the pastry‑wrapped Wellington on a parchment‑lined baking sheet. Bake for 35 minutes, or until the pastry is deep golden and an internal thermometer reads 55 °C for medium‑rare (adjust time for desired doneness).
Time: PT35M
Temperature: 200°C
Rest and Serve
Remove the Wellington from the oven and let it rest on a cutting board for 10 minutes before slicing. This allows juices to redistribute and makes slicing cleaner.
Time: PT10M
Nutrition Facts
- Calories
- 820
- Protein
- 45 g
- Carbohydrates
- 35 g
- Fat
- 55 g
- Fiber
- 2 g
Dietary info: Contains meat, Contains nuts (chestnuts), Not vegetarian, High‑protein
Allergens: Gluten, Egg, Dairy
Last updated: April 6, 2026






