Roast beef for dinner or special occasion is easy and impressive. A whole strip loin, makes a great centerpiece. Served with roasted potatoes and parsnips and horseradish sauce, it is the quintessential Anglophone meal.
Ingredients
Yield: 8 to 10 servings
For the Roast
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
6 allspice berries
2 tablespoons sea salt
2-2.5kg strip loin roast, tied at 2-inch intervals (ask your butcher to do this)
4 cloves garlic, grated
2 bunches rosemary, thyme or savory
1.5kg medium white potatoes, peeled
1.5kg medium parsnips, peeled, cut in 3-inch length
113g unsalted butter, melted
1 large bunch watercress, for garnish (optional)
Preparation
Step 1
Coarsely grind peppercorns and allspice together in a spice mill. Combine with salt in a small bowl. Sprinkle mixture evenly over exterior of roast. Add the grated garlic and rub in all over.
Step 2
Line a roasting pan with herb branches and set roast on top. Leave to absorb seasonings for at least 1 hour at room temperature, or refrigerate overnight (bring back to room temperature before proceeding). Heat oven to 400 degrees.
Step 3
In a large pot of well-salted boiling water, cook potatoes until just done, about 15 minutes. Remove with a spider or slotted spoon and place in an earthenware baking dish. In the same water, simmer parsnips until just done, about 8 minutes. Remove and add them to potatoes in baking dish. Pour melted butter over the potatoes and parsnips and use a brush to make sure they are well coated.
Step 4
Roast the beef, uncovered, for about 1 hour. Check with an instant-read thermometer after 45 minutes. For medium-rare, take the roast out of the oven when thermometer registers 120 degrees (residual heat will cause roast to continue cooking as it rests). Remove the roast, tent it with foil, and let it rest for 15 minutes; the temperature should rise to 125 degrees. About 15 minutes after the roast goes into the oven, put in the baking dish of potatoes and parsnips, uncovered, and roast until beautifully golden brown, about 30 minutes.
Step 5
Slice the beef into ¼-inch-thick pieces and arrange on a warmed platter, garnished with a big bunch of watercress. Pass the roasted vegetables and horseradish sauce separately.