Chocolate Roast Beef + Tutorial {Keto, Paleo, Whole 30, Gluten-Free}

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Searching for the perfect Easter recipe? Or maybe the perfect impress-the-family recipe? Or perhaps the perfect ‘I really want good food’ recipe?

Folks, good news. I’m going to show you how to make roast beef that ticks all those boxes.

This roast beef (which I’ve named ‘Perfect Roast Beef with Chocolate’) is covered with an amaaaaaazing Mexican-inspired spice rub with all of this good stuff:

• Smoked paprika
• Oregano
• Cumin
• Coriander
• Cocoa powder (the ‘secret ingredient’ that makes this an ideal recipe for Easter… because chocolate = Easter)
• Garlic
• Chipotle powder
• Salt

All mixed in with some oil to give it some sticking power, rubbed on a gorgeous cut of beef, put into the oven – and out comes the perfect Easter supper, impress-the-family meal and I-want-good-food dish.

The hint of chocolate flavour in the spice rub really does make this an ideal recipe for Easter supper. It will certainly make an appearance on our table this year and I couldn’t be happier about it.

Sometimes I’m not sure what is better when it comes to making meals like this – tucking into the delicious, juicy meat or the smells coming from the oven that permeate every corner of the house. (And of course the leftovers – if we can keep ourselves from eating every last bite.)

Enough chat from me – let me show you how to make roast beef (so you can have a perfect Easter whilst you impress the family and eat good food).

How to Make Roast Beef – Step-by-Step Tutorial

If you’ve been frantically Google-ing ‘how to make roast beef,’ don’t worry – I’ll show you how in this tutorial.

Step 1. Preheat oven to highest setting.

Step 2. Combine all the ingredients from paprika to oil and mix into a paste.

Step 3. Add beef to a roasting tray and rub chocolate-spiced paste all over.

Step 4. Add beef to preheated oven. Reduce oven to fan assisted 210C / 230C / 450F / gas 8 and roast for 20 mins.

Step 5. Then turn down to fan assisted 160C / 180C / 350F / gas 4. Tip: If you open the oven door for a few seconds it cools faster.

Step 6. Cook for about 10 minutes per 500g/1.1lb if you want it rare.

Step 7. Check with your thermometer when it should be done. It will be about 50C / 122F in the middle (rare), 60C / 140F (medium) and 70C / 158F (well done). A few degrees each side doesn’t matter.

For this step, I use a SuperFast Thermapen® 4 Thermometer which I have been using for years. It is a fab thermometer that covers temperatures from as low as -49.9 to as high as 299.9C (all you will ever need) and it gives you the temperature in 3 seconds flat – perfect for busy cooks (and impatient folks).

Step 8. Take out of oven and leave in a warm place to rest. See ‘How to Make Roast Beef – The Most Important Step’ for an explanation of why this is so important.

Note: A joint like this is cooked nice and rare. However there is still enough well-done meat on the ends to satisfy those who like their meat well-done.

To serve: Carve and enjoy. See ‘What to Serve with Your Roast Beef Dinner’ for side dish ideas.

How to Make Roast Beef – The Most Important Step

If you want to know how to cook roast beef correctly, there is one step you must always follow. What is it? Resting.

Resting is possibly the most important thing you can do. A good resting period allows the temperature to even out, the juices (which have been driven out of the surface) to redistribute and the whole texture of the joint to be improved. More roasts have been spoiled by not resting than by under- or over-cooking.

What is the Ideal Roast Beef Cooking Time?

The ideal roast beef cooking time depends on the size of the roasting joint and how well you want it cooked.

You will always start with your oven at the highest temperature (prior to adding the roast). Then you will add the roast and reduce to fan assisted 210C / 230C / 450F / gas 8 for 20 mins. And then you will turn the oven down to fan assisted 160C / 180C / 350F / gas 4 and cook for 10 additional mins per 500g/1.1lb if you want it rare.

If you don’t want it rare, add a bit of additional time. Your thermometer will guide you (see ‘What is the Ideal Roast Beef Temperature?’).

What is the Ideal Roast Beef Temperature?

This depends on how well you want your roast beef cooked. Use these temperatures:

50C / 122F for rare

60C / 140F for medium done

70C / 158F for well done

Test your roast beef just before the last 15 mins of cooking time is up and roast a little further if the temperature readings are not as you desire. A few degrees each side doesn’t matter.

To check your roast beef temperature, make sure to use a quality meat thermometer like the SuperFast Thermapen® 4 Thermometer.

What are the Best Roast Beef Cuts?

Knowing how to make roast beef also comes with knowing the best roast beef cuts. Some of the best cuts for roast beef include:

• Topside (what I used)
• Ribeye roast
• Chuck eye roast
• Fore ribs

Tip: It is best to go to a butcher instead of the supermarket as they will be able to help you find a quality cut of beef.

What to Serve with Your Roast Beef Dinner

After you learn how to cook roast beef, you have to decide what to serve with it. If you’re like me, mains are soo easy to decide on and then I spend far too much time trying to pick the best sides. To help you out, here are a few easy side dishes for Perfect Roast Beef with Chocolate:

• Yorkshire pudding
• Easy Instant Pot Mashed Potato Recipe {Gluten-Free}
• Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes {Vegan, Paleo, Gluten-Free}
• Grilled Vegetables via Slender Kitchen.

More Beef Recipes

Shish Kebab via Low Carb Africa.

Thank you for reading my Perfect Roast Beef with Chocolate recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue dreaming up recipes, traditional African recipes, African fusion recipes, Sierra Leone recipes, travel plans and much more for you.

Here is how to cook roast beef. Please do try it and if you do make it then please do tag #recipesfromapantry on Instagram or Twitter so that I can pop over and have a look. It is really, really awesome for me when you make any one of my recipes. You can also share it on my Facebook page.

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