This standing rib roast is worthy of a special occasion, whether Christmas or Sunday dinner. And it’s so simple it’s practically foolproof. Here’s how to cook it.
A standard standing rib roast is essentially several unsliced bone-in rib eye steaks, standing on end alongside one another in an impressive formation worthy of the most special of occasions. And the taste? Trust us, there are far worse things to tuck into for dinner, whether Sunday supper or a Christmas feast. Here’s how to cook it.–Renee Schettler Rossi
Is there a difference between standing rib roast and prime rib?
Not really. They’re the same luxuriously indulgent cut of meat, which is also, confusingly, sometimes labeled “prime rib roast” or “rib roast.” It’s the same cut of beef that, when sliced into steaks, is known as rib eye, whether it’s left on the bone or boneless.
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Standing Rib Roast
Ingredients
- 1 standing rib roast with 4 bones (at least 3 1/2 lbs [1.6 kg] and quite possibly more), frenched, if desired
- 1 tablespoon coarse sea salt
- 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
- 5 1/2 tablespoons (2 1/4 oz) unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 12 small fresh pearl onions peeled
- 3 cloves garlic finely chopped
- Handful flat-leaf parsley leaves finely chopped
Directions
- Remove the standing rib roast from the refrigerator and place it on a wire rack set on a plate. In a small bowl, combine the salt and pepper and rub it all over the beef. Let rest at room temperature for 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 300°F (148°C).
- In a large, ovenproof skillet or roasting pan over medium-high heat, heat half the butter and half the oil until almost but not quite smoking. Add the beef, top-side down, and sear, without moving, for 4 to 5 minutes.
- Carefully turn it over and cook for another 5 minutes. Remove the meat from the pan and carefully pour off the hot fat that’s in the pan.
- Carefully add the remaining butter and oil to the pan and return it to medium-high heat, tilting the pan and swirling the butter so it sizzles. Add the onions and garlic and toss to coat in the butter.
- Nudge the onions and garlic to the side of the pan and place the standing rib roast in the center, top-side up. Place the pan in the oven and roast, stirring the onions from time to time, until the roast reaches the desired doneness, about 1 hour for medium-rare, or 135°F to 140°F (57°C to 60°C) on an instant-read thermometer.
- Move the standing rib roast to a cutting board, set it in a warm place, and let it rest, uncovered, for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, if desired, spoon any excess fat from the surface of the pan juices and discard. Add the parsley to the onions in the pan and stir to coat with the juices. Return the pan to the turned-off oven to keep the juices warm while the roast rests. Tip any juices from the cutting board into the pan with the onions and stir to combine.
- Carve the roast between the ribs to yield 4 portions of meat with a bone in each. Spoon the onions and juices over the meat or pass them on the side.
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Recipe Testers’ Reviews
This standing rib roast recipe knocked our socks off. It’s so simple and yet prepares a perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned piece of meat. I added small potatoes to the pan with the onions and they came out perfectly cooked. Are you sensing a theme here? This recipe is perfection!
Let me start by saying that I was unable to find a standing rib roast so I got 3 nice-size bone-in rib eyes. I followed the recipe to a T, apart from a slightly shorter time in the oven. The final product was outstanding. Simple in taste and the beef was cooked to perfection.
It’s very easy to make and will definitely wow your family and/or guests. I can see this being the perfect meal for a special occasion such as Thanksgiving (if you’re not into turkey) or Christmas.
Originally published December 22, 2020
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If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #LeitesCulinaria. We'd love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Made this today for our Christmas dinner. Had to improvise because ours turned out being 7 pounds and no French trimming was done but, after cooking it an extra hour we let it rest for half an hour and it was delicious.
Wonderful, Jennifer! We’re delighted that this turned out deliciously and everyone enjoyed it. Please let us know what you make next.
The roast potatoes in the picture look divine
They look like Michael Caines parboiled then roasted potatoes
Sigh……can you post Chef Dobsons potato recipe?
They really do look divine, Jenny! Sadly, we don’t have that recipe, however, you will find it in his book. You are on the right track though. Parboiling the potatoes will ensure soft, fluffy centers, and you want to finish them by tossing them in very hot oil or duck fat and roasting them in the oven.
Thank you Angie, I’m going to try that with our rib roast this Christmas.
Thank you so much. Happy holidays.
Same to you, Jenny!
Recipe calls for bay leaves but they are NOT in the directions?! Where are they used, with the butter and oil?
Patricia, can you confirm where you see bay leaves? I don’t see them in the ingredients.
They mean the flat-leaf parsley. Is it garnish? It’s not mentioned.
Thanks, Kitty. The parsley is mentioned in step 8, where it’s added to the onions.
May I throw a wine recommendation in here? I made this for the 45th time last night and opened a 2016 Duckhorn Merlot. It was like an epiphany in my mouth. Everyone at the table was struck mute by the pairing. Spectacular!
You may! Appreciate you sharing your epiphany so we can share in that!
Yes, there is a way to extend your au jus. Do your roast on a rack over a shallow lipped roasting pan. Into the pan, before you place the rack in place, place a variety of vegetables such as sliced carrot, diced onion, garlic left unpeeled, celery, mushrooms for umami and Worcestershire sauce for more umami, some salt and pepper, beef stock if you have it, or beef bullion granules and water or dry red wine. When you roast the meat the meat juices and fat will drip into the broth. You will have created an au jus and extended the volume yet you will still have the flavor of the meat. I have known kitchens where they save the celery leaves and potato peels and carrot peels, mushroom stems, onion peelings, all of which are cleaned and washed, and this goes into the bottom of the roasting pan with seasonings. After the roast is done roasting, the solids are strained out and the au jus is checked for flavor and is thickened with anything you want, flour, corn starch, arrow root then used as a gravy.
Stu, thank you very much my friend.
I truly appreciate you taking the time to reply and I will be looking forward to making my friend this amazing looking roast.
Regards, Dan
I love when strangers help one another. Love it.