Roast Beef with Trimmings

BEEF INGREDIENTS

• 3 x rib of beef on the bone, weighs about 5kg (11 lb)
• ½ tsp olive oil
• Sea salt
• Black pepper
• 3 onions, peeled and each sliced into four circles

ROAST POTATOES INGREDIENTS

• 1.3kg (3 lb) potatoes, such as Maris Piper
• Oil, goose fat or beef dripping
• Yorkshire Puddings Ingredients
• 115g (4 oz) strong plain flour, sieved
• 2 free range eggs, beaten
• 300ml (½ pint) milk
• Pinch of salt
• Black pepper
• Oil or beef dripping

Serves 8-10

METHOD

ROAST BEEF:

1. Take the meat out of the refrigerator an hour before cooking this will allow it to come to room temperature.
2. Massage the olive oil into the fat of the meat, which will help the seasoning to ‘stay put’. Grind seasoning over the fat. Place the onion slices into the base of the large AGA roasting tin and the meat on top of the onion.
3. Slide the roasting tin onto the lowest set of runners in the roasting oven. Cook the ribs for 12-15 minutes per 500g plus 30 minutes – this size roast should take about 2-2½ hours. The shorter time gives a rarer inside. When cooked remove from the oven, place on a warmed plate, cover with foil and leave for 30 minutes to rest. If you prefer the meat can be moved down to the baking oven after cooking for 1½ hours so that roast potatoes,
4. parsnips and Yorkshire Puddings can be cooked in the roasting oven.
5. Make the gravy by adding two tablespoons of flour to the fat and onions in the roasting tin, stir well then add 600ml stock or a mixture of red wine and stock. Whisk together. Pour the liquid into a saucepan and bring to boiling whisking continuously, strain through a sieve and serve separately.

ROAST POTATOES:

1. Peel the potatoes and cut into even sized pieces. Parboil in salted water on the boiling plate for 3-5 minutes then drain well. Fluff the potatoes up slightly by shaking them in the saucepan with the lid on.
2. Heat the fat in a roasting tin or AGA baking tray on the flat floor grid of the roasting oven until very hot. Add the potatoes and roast, turning occasionally, for about 1-1¼ hours, depending on their size, until they are golden and crisp.

YORKSHIRE PUDDINGS:

1. Sift the flour into a bowl, make a well in the centre and pour in the eggs and half of the milk, whisk until all are incorporated then whisk in the remaining milk, the batter should resemble the consistency of single cream. Place into a jug and leave to stand until you are ready to use it.
2. Heat a little fat in a 12-hole muffin tin on the floor of the roasting oven, until very hot. Whisk the Yorkshire pudding batter again then pour it into the hot fat. Return to the roasting oven on the third or fourth set of runners down and cook for about 20 minutes or until risen and golden.