Spice encrusted roast beef recipe

Serve up this delicious roast beef covered in a spice rub for an alternative Christmas Day centrepiece or Boxing Day meal. It's also the perfect Christmas accompaniment for salads and sandwiches, served either hot or cold. See method

Serves 6-8
10 mins to prepare and 1 hr 25 mins to cook, plus resting time
386 calories / serving

Ingredients
1·6kg (3lb) topside beef joint
1 onion, thickly sliced
6-8 bay leaves
For the spice rub
1 tbsp sea salt
1 tbsp ground black pepper
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp chilli flakes
1 tbsp cumin seeds
1 tbsp coriander or mustard seeds
few sprigs thyme, leaves picked
3 tbsp sunflower oil

Method
Preheat the oven to gas 6, 200°C, fan 180°C.
In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients for the spice rub, then massage into the beef. Arrange the onion slices and bay leaves in a roasting tin and lay the beef on top – it should fit snugly.
Roast the joint for 55 minutes for medium rare; 1 hour 5 minutes for medium; and 1 hour 35 minutes for well done. Baste the beef with the pan juices every 20 minutes or so. Remove the beef from the oven and leave to rest for 30 minutes, before carving.