Birthday Standing Rib Roast

A bit over two weeks ago I turned 24.  Last year I made an incredibly elaborate meal for my birthday of roasted duck breast, foie gras, with all sorts of sauces and accompaniments.  This year, I decided to return to my favourite meal growing up: standing rib roast.  For most of my life, this meal came accompanied by mashed potatoes, gravy and an apple pie for dessert.  Having consumed far more mashed potatoes than is healthy two weeks earlier for Thanksgiving, and given the fact that my birthday fell on the last night of Hannukah, I decided to make latkes instead.  Rather than go through the extensive preparation that duck requires, a standing rib roast requires very little work.  Its one aspect that keeps me from preparing it with more frequency is its relatively high price.  For my birthday, I was permitted to treat myself.

My butcher cleaned the roast beautifully and gave me a few pieces of beef fat to leave atop the roast such that it would baste itself.  I covered it with a bit of salt and pepper and allowed the oven to do the rest.  Meanwhile, I prepared a mustard-peppercorn-cream sauce and got to work grating my potatoes.  I was joined by my roommate Tal and my good friend Leemor and we delved into our delectable affair.  If you're looking to have a special occasion on which you spend a bit more money, but don't want to go through too much work, this is an excellent choice.

Ingredients:

For the meat

1 4 rib standing rib roast (about 2.5k)

a few bits of beef fat

1 leek, white part only, sliced in half and bits pulled apart (optional)

3/4 cup duck stock (optional)

For the sauce

2 tbls of green peppercorns, soaked in water for 1.5 hours then strained

1 shallot, minced

1 cup of brandy (I used courvoisier)

2 tbls of dijon mustard

1 cup of 15% cream

S+P to taste

For the latkes

2 lbs of potatoes, peeled and grated (large gauge) into a bowl of water with the juice of 1 lemon

1 grated onion (optional)

2 eggs

all-purpose white flour (as much as needed)

S+P

lots of vegetable oil

Directions.

Pre-heat oven to max.  If you choose to use the leaks and ducks stock, place them in the bottom of a roast pan and then place the rack on top of them.  Cover the roast in salt and pepper, then place it atop the rack.  Place the pieces of fat atop the bones and then wrap the top of the bones tightly in tin foil.  Place the roast in the oven for 20 minutes, then lower the heat to 190C/375F.  Remove after 40-50 minutes, or once a thermometer reads 165F in the interior.  Transfer to a warmed platter, tent with tin-foil and allow to rest for 30 minutes.  Slice and serve.

Combine the shallot and brandy in a sauce pan and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat.  Once simmering, add the peppercorns and cook until the shallots are soft.  If the brandy has evaporated before the shallots are soft, then add a bit of water until the shallots have reach the right consistency.  Add the mustard and cream, whisk well, and allow to simmer for another 5 minutes.  Serve immediately.

Completely strain the potatoes so that there is as little liquid in the bowl as possible.  Beat the eggs with salt and pepper in the bottom of a large bowl and add the potatoes, then mix well.  Dust with flour so that the top is just barely covered, then mix in.  If too liquid, add a bit more flour.  Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat and allow to heat through.  Add about enough oil to the pan so it comes about 1/8" up the sides.  Add a test latke to the pan, one serving spoon full, and form in the pan.  The first latke usually doesn't come out very well, so continue to prepare them in batches until the batter is done.  Transfer each batch to a plate lined with paper towel and leave in a warm oven until ready to serve.

B'Teavon!

Comments

[Tammie]

165 degrees, is that a typo? Also, yum. Also, I am going to Colorado for the rest of break and might not be able to Skype like I promised.

[Avi]

Yes, that was most certainly a typo. I meant 145, not 165. Mine actually ready 140, but I like my meat pretty rare...
When are you going to Colorado exactly? Skype today?

[Tammie]

Wednesday, but I still haven't written either of my 10 page papers, and I have to at least write one before I go! Not to mention I'm about to go to the mall! (heinous gift- must return immediately)

[bt]

Belated Happy Birthday. Wish I was there to enjoy it. Looks fantastic.