Roast beef with caramelised onion gravy

A WEEKEND wouldn’t feel like a proper weekend without a really good roast lunch, and roast beef is our absolute favourite. When cooking, the quality of the ingredients is very important and never more so than when roasting meat . . . buy the best beef you can afford and you are halfway there. Resting the meat is equally essential, so don’t be tempted to cut this short. Be patient and you will be rewarded with juicier, more tender results. If you like, roast the beef on a bed of root vegetables. SERVES 6-8

1 head of garlic (about 12 cloves), cut in half horizontally

5 thyme sprigs, leaves picked, plus 1 whole sprig extra 1.8kg beef sirloin 3-4 tbsp olive oil 4 large onions, sliced 150g plain flour 500ml red wine 1.5 litres hot beef stock rUB the garlic halves and thyme leaves all over the beef. Place the joint in a large dish, drizzle over the olive oil, then rub it into the meat all over.

Cover and leave to marinate in the fridge for 1-2 days before you cook it (you don’t have to marinate the beef in advance, but it does make it super tasty! — see tip, above left).

take the beef out of the fridge about an hour before cooking, to let it come up to room temperature. Preheat the oven to 190c/170c fan/gas 5. Preheat a dry frying pan until very hot, then sear the beef over a high heat until it’s coloured on all sides.

Place the beef in a large, hob-proof roasting tray with the garlic halves and the thyme sprig and roast for about 45 minutes for medium rare (or until it reaches 45-47c in the centre, if you have a meat thermometer).

add 10-12 minutes (or until it reaches 55-60c in the centre) for medium, or add about 20 minutes (until it reaches 6570c in the centre) if you like it well done.

transfer the beef to a warm platter, cover loosely with foil and leave to rest for at least 20 minutes, and anything up to 40 minutes, before serving.

Meanwhile, to make the gravy, place the roasting tray over a low heat on the hob, add the onions to the juices in the tray and cook gently for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until really soft and caramelised.

Stir in the flour until combined, then whisk in the red wine, making sure there are no lumps.

Bring to the boil, whisking, then bubble rapidly until the red wine has reduced by half. Stir in the hot stock, then cook over a medium heat for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until reduced to a thick gravy.

Carve the beef thinly and pour the gravy into a warm jug. Serve w i t h Yorkshire puddings and steamed chard.