Herb-Crusted Beef Rib Roast with Roasted Fennel and Horseradish Cream Sauce

Sometimes you just need to impress your friends. The classic Rib Roast gets the royal treatment with a fresh herb crust, a creamy horseradish sauce and roasted fennel.

Cook Mode

Ingredients:

Brine:
  • 6 quarts water
  • 1 cup kosher salt
  • 3/4 cup sugar
Seasoning:
  • 3 tablespoons freshly ground peppercorn medley
  • 2 tablespoons kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons minced garlic
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh tarragon leaves
Roasted Fennel (optional):
  • 4 large fennel bulbs (about 3-1/2 pounds)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Sauce:

Cooking:

  1. To prepare brine, combine water, salt and sugar in 20-quart food-safe container; stir to dissolve salt and sugar. Cool water 1 hour; add beef roast. Cover and refrigerate overnight or up to 24 hours.
  2. Cook's Tip: Make sure you prepare space in your refrigerator to store the roast while it brines.
  3. Preheat oven to 350°F. Remove roast from brine; discard brine. Pat dry roast with paper towel. Combine Seasoning ingredients in small bowl; press evenly onto all surfaces of roast. Place roast, fat-side up, in shallow roasting pan. Insert ovenproof meat thermometer so tip is centered in thickest part of beef, not resting in fat or touching bone. Do not add water or cover. Roast in 350°F oven 2-1/2 to 3 hours for medium rare; 3 to 3-1/2 hours for medium doneness.
  4. Meanwhile, prepare Roasted Fennel, if desired. Trim off and save fronds from fennel bulbs; cut off stems to within 1 inch of bulbs and discard stems. Cut each bulb lengthwise into quarters. Place on rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil; toss gently to coat, keeping fennel pieces intact. Season with kosher salt; arrange cut-sides down. About 1-1/2 hours before roast is done, place fennel in lower third of oven. Roast for 1-3/4 to 2 hours or until tender and lightly browned, turning and rearranging once. Just before serving, toss fennel with 1/4 cup chopped fennel fronds.
  5. Remove roast when meat thermometer registers 135°F for medium rare; 150°F for medium. Transfer roast to carving board; tent loosely with aluminum foil. Let stand 15 to 20 minutes. (Temperature will continue to rise about 10°F to 15°F to reach 145°F for medium rare; 160°F for medium.)
  6. Carve roast into slices; season with salt, as desired. Serve with Horseradish Cream Sauce and Roasted Fennel, if desired.
  7. Cook's Tip: Horseradish Cream Sauce:

    Combine 1 cup reduced-fat dairy sour cream, 1/4 cup thinly sliced chives, 1/4 cup prepared horseradish and 1 teaspoon chopped fresh tarragon in small bowl; cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Nutrition Information

Safe Handling Tips

Beef Checkoff

Bourbon Blueberry & Brie Bacon Cheeseburger

Brian Capps of Louisville, KY, has been crowned the 2021 Derby Burger Champion in the 10th Annual Derby Burger Challenge. Capps’ burger, made with 100% Kentucky Cattlemen’s ground beef is packed with flavor. The patty is topped with brie, thick-cut bacon, a blueberry bourbon sauce and arugula - all on a brioche bun.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound Kentucky Cattlemen’s Ground Beef
  • 4 Slices Bacon, thick sliced
  • 1/4 inch Sliced Brie Cheese, rind removed
  • 1 pint Fresh Blueberries
  • 1 Lemon, halved
  • 1/8 cup White Sugar
  • 2 tsp. Cornstarch
  • 1 1/2 tsp. Bourbon
  • 2 Brioche Buns
  • 2 Tbsp. Salted Butter
  • Arugula 
  • ¼ tsp. Kosher Salt
  • ¼ tsp. Black Pepper

Recipe

1. Form Two Patties and Set Aside.

2. Preheat your skillet over medium high heat. Add butter, and sliced buns. Cook until golden brown, set aside.

3. Salt and pepper both sides of the burger patty, cook over medium high heat. Cook until internal temperature of 160°F (USDA recommended), add cheese before taking off heat until melted.

4. Add blueberries, sugar, and lemon juice into a small pot. Cook on medium to low heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Mix cornstarch with water to make a slurry. Slowly add your slurry mixture to thicken blueberry sauce. Remove mixture from heat and stir in your bourbon.

5. Build your burger. Place your burger patty with melted cheese, cooked bacon, blueberry sauce on the bottom bun. Top the burger with arugula and add the top bun.

6. Enjoy!

Find more delicious recipes and other ways to be involved in the Derby Burger Challenge HERE!