Description
Poor Man’s Prime Rib is a budget-friendly beef eye of round roast recipe that mimics the rich flavor and tenderness of prime rib. This simple yet flavorful dish uses a combination of spices and a unique cooking method involving roasting at high heat followed by a long resting period in the oven to achieve a perfectly cooked medium roast with a delicious crust.
Ingredients
Scale
Seasonings
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
- ½ tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ½ tablespoon garlic powder
- ½ tablespoon onion powder
- ½ tablespoon paprika (regular or smoked)
Main
- 3 pound beef eye of round roast (room temperature)
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat your oven to 500°F. In a small bowl, combine salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika, mixing well to create your seasoning blend.
- Season the Roast: Sprinkle the mixed seasoning evenly over the beef eye of round roast. Rub the spices thoroughly to coat all sides of the roast to ensure maximum flavor infusion.
- Roasting Setup: Place the seasoned roast into a baking dish or roasting pan without covering it or adding any liquid; this allows a good crust to form during roasting.
- Initial High-Heat Roast: Insert the pan into the preheated oven, immediately lowering the temperature to 475°F. Roast the beef for 7 minutes per pound—so for a 3-pound roast, cook for about 21 minutes. Watch the crust; if it darkens too fast, tent loosely with foil to prevent burning.
- Residual Cooking: After roasting, turn the oven off and do not open the door. Let the roast remain inside for 2 to 2.5 hours undisturbed. The retained heat will gently finish cooking the meat while keeping it tender and juicy.
- Finish and Serve: Once rested, remove the roast from the oven. The internal temperature should be approximately 145°F, indicating medium doneness. Transfer the roast to a cutting board placed on a folded bath towel to catch juices, then slice thinly and serve immediately for best taste.
Notes
- Bring the roast to room temperature before cooking to ensure even cooking throughout.
- Do not cover the roast while roasting to allow a flavorful crust to develop.
- If the crust darkens too quickly, tent the roast with foil to prevent burning.
- Keep the oven door closed during the resting period to trap heat for residual cooking.
- Use a folded bath towel under the cutting board to catch juices and keep counters clean.
- Slicing thinly helps mimic the texture and serving style of prime rib.
