Beef Tournedos

With so many cuts of beef, cooking techniques, seasonings and sauces to choose from, quick and easy beef recipes are a top choice when it comes to dinner. And while you might reflexively reach for ground beef when cooking a weeknight meal, steak recipes like beef tournedos can be just as effortless.

While tournedos of beef are lean, they’re also super tender and flavorful. Grilling the meat while basting it with a simple-yet-complex sauce full of sweet, tangy and savory flavors enhances them. These steaks pair well with everyday side dishes like roasted potatoes and steamed asparagus, but are sophisticated enough to serve at a dinner party with a more elaborate spread.

What are beef tournedos?

Beef tournedos is not the name of a recipe but a specific cut of beef. Tournedos are round steaks cut from the thinner end of the beef tenderloin, which is one of the best cuts of meat. These steaks might be on the smaller side, but they’re no less tender or full of savory meatiness. Filet mignon also comes from the tenderloin; it’s cut from the center of the loin and generally has a larger diameter due to the shape of the muscle.

Ingredients for Beef Tournedos

• Steak sauce: The blend of ingredients in steak sauce captures a wide range of flavors all in one condiment. Use either store-bought or homemade steak sauce.
• Ketchup: Ketchup is thick, sweet and salty, and many ketchup recipes capitalize on its versatility beyond its role as a partner to a burger and fries. In this recipe, ketchup thickens the sauce and balances the tangy and sweet flavors of the other ingredients.
• Orange marmalade: Bits of rind in orange marmalade set it apart from other jams or preserves, adding a touch of bitterness to the glaze.
• Lemon juice: Fresh lemon juice has enough acidity to cut through the sweetness of the other ingredients in the sauce without making it taste sour.
• Onion: Finely chopped onion adds sharpness and balance to the sauce without making it taste heavily oniony. Since it’s a small amount, any type of onion will work.
• Garlic: A little bit of fresh garlic really punches up the sauce’s flavor.
• Beef tenderloin steaks: Look for beef tenderloin steaks that are around 6 ounces each. You can easily use filet mignon in this recipe, or other lean cuts of beef.

Directions

Step 1: Make the sauce

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In a small bowl, combine the steak sauce, ketchup, marmalade, lemon juice, onion and garlic. Set aside 1/4 cup of the sauce for serving.

Editor’s Tip: Mix the sauce in a measuring cup to easily see how much to reserve.

Step 2: Cook the beef tournedos

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Lightly oil a grill rack. Grill the steaks, uncovered, over medium heat, or broil them 4 inches from the heat for five to seven minutes on each side or until the meat reaches the desired doneness. A meat thermometer should read 135°F for medium-rare, 140° for medium, and 145° for medium-well. Baste the steaks frequently with the remaining sauce as they cook.

Editor’s Tip: When grilling steaks, a good meat thermometer is your best friend.

Step 3: Glaze the tournedos

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Brush the steaks with the reserved sauce and serve them.

Editor’s Tip: To avoid cross contamination, use a fresh brush or spoon for the final glaze instead of the one used during cooking.

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Beef Tournedos Variations

• Grill one large steak: Instead of smaller pieces of beef, try one larger cut. Skip the marinade and baste a grilled flank steak with the tournedos sauce while it cooks. Let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes, then thinly slice it across the grain for the most tender bites.
• Ramp up the heat: Replace regular ketchup with spicy ketchup or add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the sauce for a capsaicin kick.
• Try a different meat: This flavorful glaze would pair well with lean and mild pork. Of all the cuts of pork, pork chops—boneless or bone-in—would be the best substitutes.
• Pepper the steaks: Sprinkle some crushed black, red or green peppercorns over the steaks before grilling them to add another layer of flavor.

How to Store Beef Tournedos

Store beef tournedos in the refrigerator in a sealed food storage container in a single layer. Avoid storage bags or stacking the steaks; that way the sauce won’t get left behind.

How long do beef tournedos last?

Uncooked red meat lasts up to five days in the refrigerator and up to a year in the freezer, when well-wrapped. Once cooked, the beef tournedos will be good for up to four days.

How do you reheat beef tournedos?

To reheat steak successfully without burning the sugar in the glaze, warm the whole tournedos in the microwave or in a skillet over moderate heat with a few tablespoons of water or broth, turning them frequently.

Beef Tournedos Tips

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Do you need to wrap or tie beef tournedos?

Because beef tournedos come from the tip of the tenderloin, they might not be perfectly round. Some recipes recommend using butcher’s twine (or even a strip of bacon, like in this bacon-wrapped steak recipe) to hold the meat together, but it’s not required. If you want to tie it, be sure to remove any twine or toothpicks before serving.

How else can you cook beef tournedos?

Grilling or broiling beef tournedos allows you to gradually lacquer layers of sauce onto the meat to build a crust. Still, you can get a similar effect using a skillet or air fryer, keeping an eye on the timing to avoid overcooking the meat.

What can you serve with beef tournedos?

Glazed beef tournedos are not super heavy, so you can pair them with hearty sides like Brussels sprouts with bacon, roasted red potatoes, garlic bread or rice pilaf. Also great is a mushroom and spinach saute, or a delicious green salad for something lighter. If none of these are quite what you’re in the mood for, there are endless steak side recipes that would also be delicious.