Roast Beef Recipe

Roast Beef is one of the easiest and yet most delicious ways to enjoy quality beef, especially Hardiesmill 100% Aberdeen Angus Beef.

Ingredients
Allow around 375g beef per person, so for four people you need a joint around 1.5kg, for six, 2.25kg, for eight, 3kg and for 10, 3.75kg.

Roast Beef - Using a roasting bag 
If you own a fan oven it’s worth investigating roasting bags, but you may roast beef in the traditional way if you prefer (basting the joint every half hour). Roasting bags are made from a special plastic which can withstand temperatures from freezing to 200C (Gas Mark 6). The bag prevents the food from drying out by retaining the natural moisture & its tasty juices. When the food gets hot during cooking, the air inside the bag expands and the roasting bag inflates like a balloon, enabling the joint to become self-basting and browning - so there's no need to watch over it every minute of the day!

If you want to use a roasting bag, dust the inside of the bag with heaped teaspoon of flour. Do not oil or grease food. Put the joint inside the bag and turn it until food is evenly coated with flour. Allow sufficient air space around joint, and then tie nylon tie loosely to allow steam to escape from bag. Place food in roasting tin and make one slit in bag. Put roasting tine in oven ensuring it will not touch sides or roof. N.B. It is important to cook food in these bags on the lower shelves of the oven as they must not touch or get near to exposed elements in conventional ovens.

Rib roasts can be done at 180o C (20 min/lb), whilst Topside and Silverside are better slow roasted (30min/lb at 150 o C). Remember when using fan ovens to reduce the oven temperature by 10 o C and time by 10 minutes in each hour.

Roast Beef Meat Temp
Rare               20 minutes per 450 g     60 C
Medium        25 minutes per 450 g      70 C
Well done     30 minutes per 450 g      80 C

After cooking allow joint to REST in bag for 5 minutes then slit open and remove joint.  Use juices to make gravy.

Serving suggestions
A magnificent roast beef needs to be served with roast potatoes and Yorkshire pudding. Also try parsnips. Braised traditional white celery would be good (chop celery and boil in pan of water until soft with a little wine and seasoning). For something different try chunks of roasted squash – roast in olive oil with large slices of red pepper, thyme sprigs and a little dried red chilli flakes.