With Valentines Day just around the corner it was time to start coming up with a meal plan and to test it out ahead of time. You can do pretty much anything that you want for a Valentines Day dinner and I like to try to make it a little bit special whether by indulging on quality ingredients or even just by making a meal that takes a bit of extra effort. For some reason, while I was contemplating the menu, I kept coming back to the idea of steak and if I am going to do steak for a Valentines day dinner then it is going to be a nice cut of steak like a filet mignon.
Filet mignon is a really tender cut of beef but it can dry out really quickly if you over cook it so technique is pretty important when preparing it. One way to help keep that steak nice and juicy is to wrap it in a layer of fat. Bacon is a great source of fat and it has the added bonus of adding a bit of flavour and if you use a smoked bacon the smokiness adds another dimension to it. Cooking on the grill would be nice but with it being winter the combination of the stove top and the oven can be just as good. You want to start by quickly searing both sides of the steak at medium-high heat and this caramelizes the outside which in addition to adding flavour it helps seal in the juices. After searing the filet in the pan you finish cooking the it in the oven. Once you pull the filet out of the oven you want to make sure that you let it rest for a while so that the juices trapped inside can redistribute and this way they will not all come pouring out with the first cut. While you let your filet rest it is the perfect opportunity to make a pan sauce taking advantage of all of those caramelized bits of meat left in the pan.
Mushrooms go really well with steak and it is a combination that I find hard to resist. I like to do a simple saute of onions and mushrooms and since it takes some time to properly caramelize the mushrooms, I start cooking them before I start on the steak. The only problem with this approach is that now I have two pans to deglaze! The simple solution is to deglaze the pan that the filet mignon was cooked in and then pour the sauce into the mushrooms and deglaze that pan as well. This time I kept things simple and I simply deglazed the pan with red wine that along with a ab of butter, made an excellent sauce for the mushrooms.
Speaking of red wine, it recently occurred to me that although I like to try to eat locally I had not been paying much attention to local wines. Since then, I have been trying to pick up an Ontario or Canadian wine every once in a while and this was the perfect chance. Red wines go really well with steak and for this dinner I went with a merlot-cabernet that was made on the Niagra pennisula, which is just a short distance south of Toronto. In addition to enjoying a glass with the meal I used the red wine to deglaze the pans and to make the sauce for the mushrooms. (If you are interested in learning more about Ontario wines the Wine Country Ontario site is a good place to look.)
The flavour and texture combinations in this meal are simply amazing! When you fist bite into the filet mignon you get the saltiness and smokiness of the bacon followed by the warm, juicy, melt in your mouth tenderness of the fillet mignon itself. Combine that with just a touch of a creamy and mellow blue cheese and its like heaven in your mouth. Just be sure to try to fit some caramelized mushrooms and onions on your fork to complete the fantastic flavour combinations.
Tip: When buying your filet mignon, go for a the ones with some nice marbling as that marbling is full of flavour and it helps keep the meat nice and juicy and tender.
Double Smoked Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon with Caramelized Mushrooms topped with Blue Cheese
Salty double smoked bacon wrapped fillet mignon seared perfectly medium-rare and served on a bed of caramelized onions and mushrooms with a garnish of tangy blue cheese.
ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 onion, diced
- 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 teaspoon thyme, chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 strips double smoked bacon
- 2 (6 ounce) 1 1/2 inch thick filet mignon, room temperature
- 1/2 cup red wine
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 handful parsley, (optional)
- 1 tablespoon blue cheese, crumbled (optional)
directions
- Melt the butter in a pan over medium heat.
- Add the onion and saute until tender, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the garlic and thyme and saute until fragrant, about a minute.
- Add the mushrooms and saute until they turn golden brown and caramelize, about 15-20 minutes.
- Meanwhile heat the oil in an oven safe pan over medium high heat.
- Season both sides of the filet mignon with salt and pepper and wrap the bacon around holding it together with a toothpick.
- Sear both sides of the filet mignon in the pan until slightly caramelized, about 2 minutes per side.
- Transfer the pan to a preheated 375F/190C oven and cook for 4-6 minutes for medium rare., If your filets are 2 inches thick cook for a minute or two longer.
- Set the filet mignon aside to rest for 5 minutes.
- Add the wine to the pan that the filet mignon was cooked in and deglaze it.
- Transfer the wine to the pan with the mushrooms and deglaze it.
- Add the butter and simmer to reduce the sauce by half.
- Season with salt and pepper, remove from heat and mix in the parsley.
- Serve the filet mignon on the mushrooms and top it with the blue cheese.
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kellypea says
February 10, 2011 at 2:21 amI'm more for cooking for Valentine's Day than going out and know that this would be a great dish. The entire combination of flavors is classic.
Twin Tables says
February 10, 2011 at 2:27 amseriously, if you don't have a date for Valentines I am available. 🙂 Great meal. I can taste it already.
Ninette says
February 10, 2011 at 2:41 amYou've outdone yourself, Kevin, and that's hard to do! Delicious. My husband would love this.
Rosa's Yummy Yums says
February 10, 2011 at 6:28 amFabulous! That dish is really flavorful.
Cheers,
Rosa
The Girlie Blog says
February 10, 2011 at 6:29 amLooks way too yummy!
Rosa's Yummy Yums says
February 10, 2011 at 6:29 amFabulous! That dish is really flavorful.
Cheers,
Rosa
Anonymous says
February 10, 2011 at 9:52 amMinus the blue cheese and this is a perfect meal.
🙂 Mandy
AnaVar says
February 10, 2011 at 10:02 amIt was a good thing I was sitting down, because this picture really hit home. I am so hungry now.
Joanne says
February 10, 2011 at 11:17 amThis is definitely a meal fit for V-Day. What a beautiful piece of meat!
NW Mom says
February 10, 2011 at 11:23 amI rarely cook steak, but that's partly because I haven't really known how. I so appreciate your detailed instructions! and the flavor combination ideas, like the blue cheese and red wine, are just great. Thank you!
Distilled says
February 10, 2011 at 11:25 am"Double Smoked Bacon Wrapped Fillet Mignon with Caramelized Mushroom"…
Oh good god. *faints*
Linda Harding says
February 10, 2011 at 2:38 pmThis is a true work of art. Anything with bacon is a winner in my books. Gorgeous!
Antonietta says
February 10, 2011 at 2:55 pmlooks like the perfect valentine's meal!
Rocky Mountain Woman says
February 10, 2011 at 3:07 pmYeah….babeee…count me in!
Tita Cocina says
February 10, 2011 at 3:14 pmMmm ñami! Your fillet mignon looks terrific! And i love mushrooms!
Greetings from Chile
http://espacioculinario-tita.blogspot.com
anniebakes says
February 10, 2011 at 4:41 pmI would love to be your valentine!! anne
Claudia says
February 10, 2011 at 4:46 pmAnd then you added the blue cheese and I knew I had to make it.
Mushrooms Canada says
February 10, 2011 at 5:43 pmOh seriously decidant!
Stefania says
February 10, 2011 at 5:58 pmE' una favolosa ricetta, ciao
Lori's Glassworks says
February 10, 2011 at 6:18 pmOh my gosh! My mouth is watering just looking at the photo. Thanks for sharing. Cheers!
Heather B. says
February 10, 2011 at 7:45 pmWow! Talk about mouthwatering!
Paper Napkins says
February 10, 2011 at 8:03 pmThis looks delicious
Lauren's Latest says
February 10, 2011 at 9:45 pmWow. This looks and sounds so rich and delicious. My husband would love this and night of the week!
The Food Hound says
February 11, 2011 at 1:48 amYou had me at "double smoked bacon!" YUM!! Bacon and beef go so well together! THe BH would go crazy with this!!
Anonymous says
February 11, 2011 at 3:26 amThis is definitely Valentine's Day done right!
mskutin says
February 11, 2011 at 3:03 pmThis looks like a great dish for my hubby on valentine's day. Thanks so much for sharing this recipe. Everything on your site looks so delicious, I can't wait to tried other recipe.
The Short (dis)Order Cook says
February 11, 2011 at 7:08 pmSTeak and bacon. Life doesn't get better than that, does it? I would love to stamp your sentence about not overcooking filet to my BIL's forehead. He's one of those people who goes to a steakhouse, orders the best steak on the menu and then orders it medium well.
Anonymous says
February 11, 2011 at 8:11 pmThat looks fabulous! perfect for a Valentine's dinner!
Chocolate Freckles says
February 13, 2011 at 2:36 amUfffffffff this looks awesome… I am craving my beef!
Claudie says
February 13, 2011 at 5:46 amThis looks like it was done in one of the finest restaurants. And I think my husband would love to have that. Actually, I'd love to have that too! 😛
Ninette says
February 13, 2011 at 10:07 pmThanks for the inspiration. A dish like yours will be on our table tonight for special Valentine's Day dinner!
Angela says
February 15, 2011 at 4:57 amI've been following your blog for awhile. Your recipes always look fabulous and I love that you make the most of a small kitchen (mine is tiny, too). Tonight I made the Filet and also your recipe for the Molten Chocolate Cake. Both were exceptional! Thanks for sharing and I look forward to trying more of your recipes!
Marisa says
February 15, 2011 at 8:29 amWOW! This sure beats any restaurant meal. Think I'll have to treat my hubby to this.
glorious sandwiches says
February 16, 2011 at 3:52 amgosh knows i love my sandwiches, but i might say beef is where my heart is…
Anonymous says
February 17, 2011 at 2:37 pmI cooked it yesterday evening and … oh god ! … That was so delicious and so easy to cook.
I only changed a little something : I added blue cheese (maybe 1 table spoon or a little less) in the sauce. I wasn't sure if it was a right thing to do or not but anyway, everyone enjoyed it.
Nellie D says
February 20, 2011 at 12:21 amThis was sooooo good. It was one of the best Valentine dinners every and it was cheaper than going to a restaurant. You rock!
Mrs. Stranded says
February 23, 2011 at 2:54 amThis looks delicious and I love the presentation.
Sushi restuarants says
February 23, 2011 at 4:53 pmWow. This really looks great, I love steak and really dont know alot of good recipes to add excitement to my steak dishes. I may have to make a stop at the market on the way home and have this tonight.
Amy Brocato Pearson says
February 6, 2012 at 10:53 pmPerfection
Glass says
March 7, 2012 at 1:35 pmLooks very yummy!
Glass says
March 10, 2012 at 6:06 amVery tasty looking.
Anonymous says
August 29, 2013 at 11:59 pmJust cooked this for my husband and he loved it!!
Anonymous says
October 28, 2013 at 2:50 pmTried this recipe, came out AMAZING!
Courtney says
May 10, 2014 at 12:39 amMaybe a silly question, but should you cook the bacon before wrapping it on the filet?
kevin says
May 15, 2014 at 10:07 amCourtney: No, the bacon will cook in the oven. If you want you can pick pick it up with tongs after searing both sides and hold the bacon sides to the pan to pre cook it a bit and help make sure that it gets nice and crispy.
Angela hopeanjl says
March 8, 2017 at 7:54 amHow long or what temp is it for well done. I just can NOT deal with med rare, bloody meat that moos at me. Every cooking show I watch cooks even roasts to med rare. Why? Surely, there has to be a trick to still have moist, not dry, steak. What's the secret??