Tenderloin makes a statement as the main course, but it can also be a real highlight in bite-sized appetizers for a group, no matter how many or how few people you’re serving! Here are three new ways to savor this buttery, tender cut of grass-fed beef.
MINI MEAT AND POTATOES
Using crispy potato chips as your “crostini,” this appetizer adds a fun spin to meat and potatoes.
INGREDIENTS:
DIRECTIONS:
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Peel potatoes.
- Using a mandolin, slice potatoes into thin rounds and set aside.
- Brush or spray potato rounds with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt.
- Arrange potato rounds on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes until crispy. Check the chips about halfway through the cooking time and flip them carefully.
- You can also cook potato chips in your air fryer based on your air fryer’s instructions, flipping them midway through the cooking time.
- While the potatoes are cooking, sear tenderloin in a pan. We prefer to cook them medium-rare (internal temperature of 135°F)
- When your potatoes are done, slice your steak against the grain into thin slices.
- Place a slice of steak onto each chip.
- Top with store-bought horseradish aioli. Or combine mayonnaise and horseradish in equal parts for a homemade alternative.
- Garnish with fresh herbs on top.
BACON-WRAPPED FILET BITES
These two-ingredient bites are quick to make and impressive.
INGREDIENTS:
DIRECTIONS:
- Cut tenderloin into bite-sized pieces.
- Take one piece of bacon and wrap it around a piece of steak. Use a toothpick to keep it intact.
- Wrap until you have used up all of your steak and bacon.
- Cook at 400°F for 10-12 minutes for medium-rare or cook in an air fryer at 375°F for 10-12 minutes.
- Serve as is or add a dipping sauce of your choice! Mix honey and mustard in equal parts for a simple honey mustard sauce. Or dip in fig jam, steak sauce, or ketchup.
FRIED HALLOUMI AND STEAK BITES
Halloumi is a semi-hard, brined, unripened cheese. It’s typically made with a blend of goat and sheep’s milk cheeses. Due to its higher melting point, it holds up well when fried. Try it in this Greek-inspired app.
INGREDIENTS:
DIRECTIONS:
- Sear steaks in a pan until medium-rare (135°F) or cooked to your desired doneness. Let rest for five minutes. Then slice it thin against the grain.
- In another pan, heat olive oil to medium heat.
- Slice halloumi into 1/4 inch thick slices.
- When the oil is heated, add halloumi and fry for 1-2 minutes on each side until golden brown.
- Add slices of halloumi to a serving plate. Top with sliced steak, oregano, and a squeeze of lemon juice.