Ingredients: for 4 people
800 g beef fillet, centre cut (Pustertaler Sprinze)
1 tsp coarse salt (level)
2 garlic cloves, lightly crushed
freshly ground black pepper
400 ml beef stock from a jar, not a stock cube
200 g coarse polenta (South Tyrolean maize)
400 ml milk + 100 ml to loosen at the end
50 g mountain cheese, grated
600 g carrots, parsnips, Brussels sprouts, beetroot (beetroot pre-cooked, vacuum-packed)
Take the fillet out of the fridge 1 hour before searing and pat it dry. Soak the porcini in 200 ml lukewarm water for 30 minutes, squeeze them out and chop finely. Strain the soaking water through a fine sieve and keep it.
ROASTED VEGETABLES, FIRST ROUND
Preheat the oven to 200 °C (conventional, top and bottom heat). Peel the carrots and parsnips and cut them into 3 cm pieces, halve the Brussels sprouts and cut the beetroot into wedges. Toss with the oil, thyme, salt and pepper and spread out on a baking tray – keep the beetroot in one corner, otherwise it colours everything.
Roast for 30 minutes, turning once. Take out the tray and set it aside. Turn the oven down to 120 °C and leave the door open for two minutes so it cools faster.
Bring the milk, water, porcini soaking water and salt to the boil in a heavy-based saucepan. Slowly pour in the polenta, stirring constantly. Turn the heat to the lowest setting and simmer for 40 minutes, stirring right down to the bottom every 5 minutes – with milk, polenta catches quickly. Finally fold in the porcini, cheese, butter and a hint of nutmeg. Cover and keep warm.
Season the fillet all over with the coarse salt. Heat the clarified butter in a heavy-based frying pan until very hot and sear the fillet for 1–2 minutes on each side until deep brown all over. Add the thyme and garlic, tilt the pan slightly and baste the meat with the fat for 1 minute.
6 Place the fillet on a rack set over a tray, insert the thermometer into the thickest part and put it in the 120 °C oven. Cook to a core temperature of 54 °C, 35–45 minutes depending on thickness – the clock is only a guide, the thermometer decides. Don’t wash the pan.
Pour off the fat, leaving one spoonful. Sweat the shallot in the pan juices, add the honey and caramelise briefly. Deglaze with the Lagrein, scrape up the browned bits and reduce to a third. Add the stock, juniper and bay leaf and reduce to about 200 ml – the jus should coat the back of a spoon. Strain through a sieve into a small pan and set aside.
RESTING AND VEGETABLES, SECOND ROUND
Take the fillet out at 54 °C – even if it gets there early – place it on a board, cover loosely with foil and leave to rest for 10 minutes: the core temperature rises to about 57 °C, which is pink. Turn the oven up to 220 °C and put the vegetables back in for 8 minutes – they heat through and turn crisper than the first time.
Warm the jus without letting it boil. Take it off the heat and swirl in the cold butter piece by piece until the sauce is glossy. Season with salt and pepper. Stir 50–100 ml warm milk into the polenta until smooth again.
Cut the fillet into four thick slices and season the cut surfaces with a little coarse salt and pepper. Spread the polenta on warmed plates as a base, place the fillet on top and the vegetables alongside, spoon the jus around the meat and scatter over a few thyme leaves.