Roast Beef & Yorkshire Puddings
The UK's favourite Sunday roast is surprisingly easy to prepare at home.
Equipment
- Heavy-based, oven-proof frying pan or a metal roasting tin
- Muffin tin
- Meat thermometer (recommended, but not essential)
Ingredients
- 1 kg beef roasting joint such as rump, sirloin, or silverside (avoid using cuts such as brisket for this recipe as they require slow-cooking)
- 4 garlic cloves
- Small bunch fresh thyme
- 250 ml red wine
- 500 ml beef stock
- 1-2 tbsp plain flour
- Salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Neutral oil such as vegetable, rapeseed, or sunflower oil
For the Yorkshire puddings
- 3 large eggs
- 285 ml milk
- 115 g plain flour
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 240C/Gas 9.
- On the hob, heat a drizzle of the oil in a heavy-based, oven-proof frying pan or a metal roasting tin. Generously season the beef joint with salt and black pepper and sear each side until the beef has a good amount of colour all over. Pour 150ml of the red wine into the pan, followed by the garlic cloves and the fresh thyme.
- Transfer the pan to the oven and cook for 20 minutes before turning the oven down to 190C/Gas 5. For rare beef, continue to cook for 30 minutes; for medium, cook for 40 minutes, or cook for an hour for well-done beef. If using a meat thermometer, cook the beef to 125F for rare; 135F for medium-rare; 145F for medium; 150F for medium-well; or 160F for well-done.
- To make the Yorkshire puddings, whisk 3 eggs, 285ml milk, 115g plain flour, and a pinch of salt to form a smooth batter. Put in the fridge for the final 30 minutes of the beef’s cooking time.
- Once cooked to your preference, rest the beef for 30 minutes and reserve the other contents of the pan.
- Increase the oven’s heat to 220C/Gas 7 and heat 1 tbsp of vegetable or sunflower oil in each hole of a muffin tin for 5-10 minutes. Once the oil is extremely hot, quickly-but-carefully add batter to fill each hole of the muffin tin and return to the oven. Cook for 20 minutes or until golden brown, keeping the oven door closed for the entire cooking time to prevent the Yorkshire puddings from drooping and becoming soggy.
- While beef is resting, heat the pan with the juices from the beef on the hob until simmering. Add 1-2 tablespoons of plain flour and stir with a large spoon to form a roux. Cook over high heat, constantly stirring, until the smell of raw flour dissipates and slowly add 100ml of red wine to the pan. Cook until the alcohol smell has gone, stirring occasionally.
- Keep on high heat while slowly adding beef stock and continue to cook until the gravy reaches your desired thickness. Strain to remove any lumps of undissolved flour.
- Carve the beef and serve with the Yorkshire puddings and gravy, plus roast potatoes, vegetables of choice, and horseradish or mustard.
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