Rescue Roast® Off The Leash Sunday Roast Beef with Espresso & Onion Gravy

Rescue Roast® Off The Leash Sunday Roast Beef with Espresso & Onion Gravy

A proper Sunday lunch with a Rescue Roast® twist. This slow-roasted beef is served with a rich onion gravy made with Rescue Roast® Off The Leash, adding deep roasted flavour, body and just enough bitterness to balance the savoury richness of the meat.

The coffee does not make the gravy taste like a cup of coffee. Instead, it adds depth and intensifies the beefy, caramelised flavours — exactly what you want from a comforting Sunday roast.

Serves

Approximately 6 people.

Ingredients

For the Roast Beef

  • 1.5–1.8 kg beef roast, such as topside, silverside or sirloin roast
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 4 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 2 large onions, thickly sliced
  • 2 carrots, roughly chopped
  • 250 ml beef stock

For the Off The Leash Espresso & Onion Gravy

  • The roasted onions and pan juices from the beef
  • 30 g butter
  • 2 tablespoons cake flour
  • 250 ml beef stock
  • 60 ml freshly brewed Rescue Roast® Off The Leash espresso
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon or English mustard
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste

Method

Prepare the Beef

  1. Remove the beef from the refrigerator approximately 30–45 minutes before cooking.
  2. Preheat the oven to 220°C.
  3. Pat the beef dry with paper towel.
  4. Mix the olive oil, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, thyme, rosemary and crushed garlic together.
  5. Rub the mixture generously over the entire beef roast.
  6. Spread the sliced onions and carrots over the bottom of a roasting dish.
  7. Place the beef on top of the vegetables.
  8. Pour the beef stock around the meat, taking care not to wash the seasoning off the top.
  9. Roast at 220°C for 20 minutes.
  10. Reduce the oven temperature to 170°C and continue roasting until the beef reaches your preferred level of doneness.

Guide to Beef Doneness

  • Medium-rare: approximately 55–57°C internal temperature
  • Medium: approximately 60–63°C internal temperature
  • Medium-well: approximately 65–68°C internal temperature

Remember that the internal temperature may rise slightly while the meat rests.

  1. Once cooked, transfer the beef to a board and loosely cover with foil.
  2. Allow it to rest for at least 15–20 minutes before carving.

Make the Off The Leash Espresso & Onion Gravy

  1. Transfer the roasted onions and pan juices from the roasting dish into a saucepan.
  2. Add the butter and place over medium heat.
  3. Stir in the flour and cook for approximately 1 minute.
  4. Gradually add the beef stock while stirring continuously.
  5. Add the freshly brewed Rescue Roast® Off The Leash espresso.
  6. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar and mustard.
  7. Simmer gently for approximately 5–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the gravy has thickened.
  8. For a smooth gravy, blend it with a stick blender or strain it through a sieve.
  9. Taste and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Why Off The Leash Works in a Sunday Roast

Strong coffee is surprisingly good in savoury cooking, especially with beef.

Rescue Roast® Off The Leash brings roasted, dark and slightly bitter notes that complement browned meat, caramelised onions and rich beef stock.

The coffee adds complexity without making the dish sweet, and its intensity means the flavour remains noticeable even after being combined with stock, gravy and the natural juices from the roast.

It is especially effective here because the dark chocolate and roasted nut character of Off The Leash naturally complements the deep savoury flavours of roast beef.

Turn It Into a Proper Sunday Lunch

Serve the sliced beef generously covered in Off The Leash espresso gravy alongside:

  • Crispy roast potatoes
  • Yorkshire puddings
  • Roasted carrots
  • Green beans
  • Butternut
  • Cauliflower cheese
  • Sweetcorn
  • Or your family's favourite Sunday vegetables

Rescue Roast® Tip

Do not be tempted to add too much coffee. About 60 ml of strong Off The Leash espresso is enough to deepen the gravy without overpowering the beef.

If the gravy becomes stronger than you prefer, simply add a little more beef stock and allow it to simmer for another few minutes.

Sunday roast. Proper gravy. And just enough Off The Leash to make everyone ask what you put in it. ☕🥩🐾

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