Beef on Weck

Ingredients

• 3 lb beef top round roast
• 1 tbsp kosher salt
• 2 tsp coarsely ground black pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 cups beef stock
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 6 kaiser rolls
• 1 tbsp cornflour
• 1/2 cup cold water
• 1 tbsp caraway seeds
• 1 tbsp coarse pretzel salt or flaky sea salt
• 1/2 cup prepared horseradish

Before you cook

• Take the beef out of the fridge 1 hour before cooking.
• Pat the beef dry with kitchen paper.
• Mix the kosher salt, black pepper and garlic powder together.
• Rub the seasoning over every surface of the roast.
• Whisk the cornflour into the cold water until no lumps remain.
• Set a wire rack inside a roasting tin.

Steps

1. Heat the oven to 450F.
2. Heat the oil in a heavy frying pan over high heat until it just starts to smoke.
3. Sear the roast for 2 minutes on each side, including the ends, until it is browned all over.
4. Set the roast on the rack in the roasting tin and put it in the hot oven for 15 minutes.
5. Turn the oven down to 250F and roast the beef for about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
6. Pull the roast out when a thermometer in the centre reads 125F for rare.
7. Tent the beef loosely with foil and let it rest for 30 minutes.
8. Pour the beef stock and Worcestershire sauce into the roasting tin and set it over medium heat.
9. Scrape up the browned bits and simmer the jus for 5 minutes, then season it and keep it hot.
10. Turn the oven up to 375F.
11. Brush the tops of the kaiser rolls with the cornflour slurry.
12. Sprinkle the caraway seeds and coarse salt over the wet tops so they stick.
13. Bake the rolls for 6 minutes, until the topping has dried into a glassy crust.
14. Carve the rested beef against the grain as thinly as you possibly can.
15. Add any juices from the carving board to the jus.
16. Split the rolls and dip the cut face of each top half into the hot jus.
17. Pile the sliced beef onto the bottom halves and spread horseradish on the dipped tops.
18. Close the sandwiches and serve with a small bowl of jus alongside for dipping.