Standing Rib Roast, otherwise known as prime rib, is a classic holiday dinner. It's especially popular on Christmas night. Of course, prime rib is a favorite menu item in restaurants year round so any time you serve it to guests, they're getting a special treat. It is a pricey cut of meat, and that probably accounts for the special occasion status this roast has. Beyond price, don't be intimidated by prime rib. Preparation can be extremely simple, as it is here, and most of the work is done in the oven, much like a chicken or turkey.
There are plenty of fancy recipes for standing rib roast. Feel free to experiment with spices and other flavors, but it is the beef itself that shines here. Save the special effort for a cut of beef that needs help, and let this one do the work for you. Plain salt and pepper would be seasoning enough for this beef.
Potatoes
A classic side dish would be potatoes. A simple baked potato served with sour cream is a crowd pleaser. Just scrub the potatoes and pop them in the oven during the last hour the roast is cooking. Or they would be delicious cut into large chunks along with cut onions, tossed with olive oil, salt, pepper and rosemary, then roasted in a small casserole dish for one hour. For something different, try serving mashed turnips.
Greens
Don’t forget to include some greenery. An elegant salad of mixed lettuces, thinly sliced cucumber, Kalamata olives, spring onion and a bit of feta cheese would be delicious with this dinner. Roasted asparagus or Brussels sprouts are another good green choice.
All of these menu items can be prepared well in advance, with some simple last minute cooking on the vegetables, making life a lot easier for the host. The asparagus could also be roasted in the oven 10 minutes before serving.
Sauce
The beef can be served as is, or a simple sauce can be made from the pan drippings. Remove roast to a carving board, cover in foil and let rest. Meanwhile, set the roasting pan over the stove and turn to medium high. Pour about 1 cup of red wine into the roasting pan and stir to scrape up any roasted bits. Add about 1/2 cup of beef broth, stir and bring to a boil. Reduce for a few minutes, then season with salt, pepper and rosemary. Serve on the side as an "a jus". Enjoy.
The recipe
- 1 Prime Rib Roast, about 5-6 pounds
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1 generous bunch fresh thyme sprigs or 2 tablespoons dry
- Salt and pepper
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix all ingredients (except roast) in processor. You could also chop the garlic by hand and whisk everything in a bowl. Be very liberal with the salt and pepper. Spread well over the roast. Put in oven and roast approximately 20-22 minutes per pound for medium. Remove roast and let rest about 10 minutes. Makes 6-8 servings.
