Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding
Instructions:
- 1.8kg/4lb joint of beef
- splash of red wine
- 300ml/10fl oz reduced beef stock
- salt and freshly ground
- black pepper
- For the Yorkshire pudding
- 175g/6oz plain flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 300ml/10fl oz cold milk
- 3 eggs, beaten
- 60g/21â„2oz beef dripping
- To prepare the Yorkshire pudding batter, sift the flour into a mixing bowl with the salt. In another large bowl, mix together the milk and 150ml/10fl oz water, and whisk with the beaten eggs. Add this to the flour in a thin stream, whisking to a smooth batter. Leave to stand for 60 minutes at room temperature.
- Preheat the oven to 240°C/475°F/Gas mark 9.
- Season the joint of beef heavily with salt and pepper, rubbing it in all over. Sit the joint on a rack in a roasting tin, and roast in the oven for 25 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 200°C/400°F/Gas mark 6 and continue roasting for a further 25 minutes. It is important not to open the oven door for more than a few seconds at any time from start to finish.
- Remove the meat from the oven and allow to rest on its rack for about 30 minutes in a warm place, covered with foil. Increase the oven temperature to 230°C/450°F/Gas mark 8.
- While the meat is resting, cook the Yorkshire pudding. Put the beef dripping into a metal pan at least 6.5cm/21â„2in deep, and put in the oven until smoking hot. Give the prepared batter a final whisk, and pour into the fat. Bake for 25–30 minutes, when the pudding will be well risen with a crisp, golden crust.
- Make a gravy by pouring off the fat from the roasting tin. Place the pan over a high heat, and deglaze it with a splash of red wine. Add the stock and boil fiercely, scraping the stuck-on sediment with a wooden spoon. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
- Serve the roast beef cut in slices, accompanied by the gravy, Yorkshire pudding and roasted vegetables.
- serves 6–8