A delicious, tender, and juicy spoon roast will keep your guests coming back.
This classic meal has been around since ancient times, but there’s still nothing quite like eating one of these roasted meats.
What Is A Spoon Roast?
Spoon roasts are typically made with beef and lamb cuts that have already had most of their fat trimmed away.
The meat is then cut into smaller pieces before being placed on top of a bed of vegetables (such as onions) in a cast iron pan.
These small pieces can be cooked sous-vide style to ensure uniform cooking throughout and allow them to retain moisture while they finish off cooking on the stovetop.
The result is a flavorful piece of meat that takes less than an hour to cook from start to finish.
A spoon roast is often served with potatoes, carrots, and other root vegetables, all of which add flavor to this easy main course.
If you want to impress your friends and family with something truly memorable, consider making a batch of this tasty dish today!
What Are The Ingredients In A Spoon Roast?
You can buy a whole lamb leg at your local butcher shop, but if you don’t want to spend money on that, you can use a frozen boneless shoulder instead.
For this recipe, we recommend using an organic free-range chicken breast.
The meat should be cooked rare according to USDA guidelines – so check out our guide to how to cook it perfectly!
The main ingredient of a spoon roast is lamb (or beef).
There are also some other key ingredients that go into making this dish.
- Rosemary sprigs – These work really well as they add a little bit of flavor while cooking. You can either put them directly on top of the meat before roasting it or take them off after it’s finished cooking.
- Garlic cloves – Garlic works best when chopped up rather than crushed because it releases more flavors during cooking.
- Dry red wine – Red wine goes really well with lamb and adds another layer of flavor.
- Cranberry sauce – A cranberry sauce makes everything taste better, especially in a holiday or festive meal. If you have any left over from Thanksgiving then you won’t need to waste anything by adding it here.
- Onion – Onions are essential to almost every savory food and add a nice sweetness to the dish.
- Carrots – Carrots give the meat a lovely color and texture.
- Tomato paste – Adding tomato paste gives the meat a deep red color and helps it retain moisture.
- Chicken stock – Chicken stock is used to help the gravy stick to the meat and create a thicker consistency.
There are many variations on what goes inside a spoon roast.
We’ve included just a few of the most common ones below.
Roasted Lamb Shank Recipe
This is probably the easiest way to prepare a spoon roast.
The shank is cut into two halves lengthwise and then each half is split down the center, revealing the bone.
Once split open, both sides of the shanks are rubbed with olive oil and salt and pepper.
Then, the shanks are placed onto a baking sheet and covered with foil.
Roast until done.
For medium rare, allow about 45 minutes per pound.
Check the internal temperature to know when it’s ready.
You’ll see that the juices run clear when you pierce the thickest part of the meat; if not, continue roasting for longer.
Once cooked, remove the bones and serve with onion rings, mashed potatoes, and sautéed spinach.
Spice Rubbed Leg Of Lamb Recipe
If you prefer something less spicy, try this spice rub.
This recipe uses rosemary and thyme to season the meat.
Place all of the spices together in a bowl, mix thoroughly, and apply liberally to the meat.
Allow the meat to marinate overnight before cooking.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
Remove excess liquid and pat dry with paper towels.
Place meat on a rack set over a pan.
Cook until golden brown, approximately 15-20 minutes.
Serve with a side of mint jelly and a simple green salad.
Pork Tenderloin Recipe
Another popular choice is pork tenderloins.
Pork tenderloins are easy to prepare and go very well with vegetables or rice dishes.
They’re usually served cold or room temp.
To ensure tenderness, it’s important to let the pork rest for at least 30 minutes after cooking.
Soak wooden skewers in water for 20 minutes prior to preparing the pork tenderloins.
Season the pork with salt and pepper and place on a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet.
Let sit uncovered until cooled completely.
Next, thread 2 pieces of bacon through the middle of the pork tenderloin.
Then tie the ends of the bacon together tightly.
Repeat with remaining pork tenderloins.
Heat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Grill until no pink remains inside the meat.
Beef Stew With Vegetables Recipe
To create this stew, start by boiling enough water for the veggies in a large pot.
When the water comes to a boil, peel carrots and parsnips and roughly chop them.
Next, dice onions and celery into small cubes.
Peel and slice potatoes into thin strips.
Lastly, wash mushrooms and cut off their stems.
Slice the caps and toss them into the soup along with the other veggies.
Add 1 tablespoon butter to the broth and pour in 1 cup flour.
Stir constantly until smooth and bubbly.
Add milk slowly until desired thickness is reached.
Now add the beef slices and simmer for 10 minutes.
Season with salt and pepper and garnish with fresh parsley leaves.
How Do You Make A Spoon Roast?
Spoons have always been used for roasting meat because they can easily reach all parts of the carcass without burning it on the outside.
The most common technique involves wrapping the entire animal with cheesecloth, tying it up tight, and then cooking it slowly over low heat until done.
You can also use a rack set inside an oven to help evenly distribute the heat throughout the meat.
A rack is simply a metal frame that fits into the bottom of the pan so that you don’t need to worry about unevenly-cooked meat.
If you want to try something new, though, we recommend using a slow cooker.
They work well when making large cuts of beef or pork, as well as smaller pieces of chicken.
Simply place the cut of meat in a bowl and cover it with water, then add seasoning to taste (such as salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, etc.).
Add some fresh herbs if desired, put the lid on, and let it simmer away until done.
What Is The Best Way To Cook A Spoon Roast?
Spoon roasts are made by layering different kinds of meat into a large pan with vegetables on top.
The layer of lean beef is topped off with layers of fat pork and bacon, and then more vegetables before being covered in broth.
You can find recipes that use other types of meat such as lamb, chicken, veal, duck, turkey, and even venison.
But the most common ingredients used are beef and pork.
You may have seen this type of roast referred to as “a pot roast,” though technically they aren’t really pots because they don’t sit inside anything at all.
They’re usually served in a cast iron skillet with a lid so the juices stay in while cooking.
Some people also call them “shanks.”
However you want to refer to them, the main ingredient is always a chunk of chuck steak.
There are many variations on how you cook this particular cut of meat.
The easiest way to prepare this dish is to start out with boneless chuck steak.
To season it properly, first rub it down with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, parsley flakes, thyme, sage, and rosemary.
Then pat the seasoned steak dry with paper towels and let it stand overnight.
Next day, heat up some oil in a large skillet over high heat.
When hot enough, sear the steak until well browned on both sides.
Remove from the pan and set aside while you finish the rest of the steps.
To add flavor and moisture, pour the liquid called for in the recipe (usually water or stock) into the same skillet you just cooked the steak in.
Add half of the onions and carrots and sauté until soft.
Add the remainder of the onions and carrots, along with an additional cup of water.
Bring everything together and cover with foil.
Cook for about 1 hour or until the meat falls apart easily when poked with tongs.
If you prefer not to eat the bone marrow or knuckle, remove those parts after the cooking process is complete.
Remove the lid and turn the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (or lower if using gas).
Place the meaty mixture back onto the skillet and place another piece of parchment paper on top of the meat.
Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 2 hours.
After two hours, uncover and check the internal temperature of the meat.
An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part should read 145 degrees F (62 degrees C).
Once done, allow it to cool slightly before serving with gravy or mashed potatoes and veggies.
How Long Does It Take To Cook A Spoon Roast?
Spoon roasts are traditionally served with Yorkshire pudding (also known as “porridge puddings”), mashed potatoes, sauteed vegetables, gravy, and other condiments such as mustard or horseradish sauce.
You can also serve this tasty meat alongside a salad or even on top of steamed veggies.
The main ingredient in a spoon roast is beef chuck steak.
The cooking time depends on how big you cut your roast into pieces and whether you use an oven-safe pan or not.
- Cutting up the roast
- Cooking the roast
Step 1: Cutting up the roast
First, make sure that your knife is sharp so the blade doesn’t break off when cutting through the tough outer layer of fat and connective tissue on each side of the roast.
Next, remove all the silver skin from the roast by running your knife along the edges where it meets the muscle.
Finally, slice each piece of meat across the grain about 2 inches thick.
Step 2: Cooking the roast
Once your roast is sliced, place it in a large pot over medium heat.
Add enough water to cover the bottom of the pan – just enough to prevent burning.
Let it come to a boil, then lower the flame to simmer until it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Depending on what size piece you have, add more or less water to reach the desired level.
Keep your eye on the clock!
Once the roast starts getting tender, start checking every 15 minutes after that.
After three hours, turn down the heat and let it continue to cook gently for another 30 minutes before serving.
What Temperature Should A Spoon Roast Be Cooked At?
In the past, you might have seen recipes that called for cooking this tasty meat at temperatures in excess of 250 degrees Fahrenheit (121 degrees Celsius).
But today, most people agree that a good spoon roast shouldn’t be cooked above 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees C) because it can dry out the meat.
Instead, you want to aim for an internal temperature of between 145-160 degrees F (63-71 degrees C), which will ensure that your meat will be juicy and flavorful.
The best way to tell if your meat is done is by inserting a knife into the thickest part of the roast and seeing how easily it comes away from the bone.
If you see any pink juices on the blade, then the roast needs more time.
You need to let it rest before carving so that the juices stay inside until they reach safe levels.
If you prefer to use a food thermometer instead, insert it into the thickest part of the roast and hold it there for about 5 minutes.
The reading should read 160 degrees F (71 degrees C).
If it doesn’t hit this mark within 10-15 minutes, remove the pan from the heat and let it sit for another five minutes before checking again.
After resting, carve off as much fat as possible while keeping all of the meat intact.
Remove the bones, slice up the meat, and enjoy!
What Are Some Good Side Dishes To Serve With A Spoon Roast?
Spoon roasts are made from lamb neck bones that have been boned and trimmed before being wrapped in bacon.
The meat on the bone can then be roasted until it becomes incredibly soft and succulent.
The best way to cook this type of food is low-heat cooking, which prevents the meat from drying out too much while also allowing you to fully enjoy its full flavor.
You can use any kind of oven, stovetop, or grill, but we recommend using an electric cooker as it gives you more control over the heat and allows you to cook at lower temperatures without burning the outside of the meat.
If you don’t want to make your own meatballs, you can buy them prepped and ready to go.
They come frozen, so all you need to do is defrost them and add them to your pot of stew.
If you prefer not to eat meatballs, you can always just use the broth that comes along with the meatballs instead of stock.
To get started, take two lamb necks and trim off excess fat.
Then place each one into an individual baking pan.
Wrap each one in strips of bacon, starting by laying down several slices of bacon horizontally across both sides of the bone.
Next, lay another strip vertically down the middle of the bone, crisscrossing it underneath the horizontal ones.
Finally, wrap up the other end of the bone with bacon, securing it with toothpicks if necessary.
Once everything is done, put the pans inside a 350 F degree oven for about 3 hours.
When they’re finished, remove them from the oven, let them cool completely, and cut away any remaining bacon pieces.
At this point, you can either freeze the necks for later consumption or save them for soup recipes.
What Are Some Tips For Making A Perfect Spoon Roast?
Let’s get started by talking about the ingredients that go into this recipe.
Spoon roasts can be made using any type of meat you want, so long as it’s not fatty (like pork).
Pork is fine, but other types of red meats like beef and lamb tend to dry out more quickly than others.
That means they need to be cooked at lower temperatures in order to maintain their juiciness.
The best way to do this is to use a slow cooker.
Spoon roasts are also very forgiving recipes because you can add whatever seasonings you prefer.
There’s no right way to cook them, so if you don’t have all the spices on hand, just improvise!
Another thing to remember is that a spoon roast is best served hot off the grill.
You could try reheating it once it comes out of the oven, but unless you plan ahead and prepare it early enough, it won’t taste nearly as good.
So instead of waiting until after dinner to enjoy your roast, why not prep it earlier in the day?
What Are Some Common Mistakes People Make When Cooking A Spoon Roast?
The biggest mistake that most people make with their spoon roasts is overcooking them!
When they do this, the meat becomes dry and tough rather than soft and flavorful.
The other big problem is not using enough seasoning to offset the blandness of the lean cuts of beef used in spoon roasts.
So if you want to serve up an amazing dish for company, here are some tips on how to get it right.
What Are Some Different Ways You Can Vary A Spoon Roast Recipe?
There are many different variations on the basic spoon roast that we all know and love, so it’s important to be aware of what those changes could look like before attempting them at home.
If you’re new to this style of meat preparation, here are a few tips to help get you started with your first spoon roast.
- Cooking time varies based on how big your pieces of meat are. Large roasts take longer than smaller cuts, so don’t expect them to cook in half the amount of time as a small cut would. Cook larger items until they reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit (about 60 degrees Celsius). Smaller cuts should be cooked until they reach about 120-130°F (48-54°C)
- Trussing is not necessary if you have a very large piece of meat. Trussing helps to seal in juices inside the roast while also making it more attractive. If you plan to serve your roast without trussing, place it skin side down over a rack set into a shallow pan. You may need to add additional liquid during the cooking process to ensure even browning throughout the roast. Don’t forget to turn the heat up towards the end of the cooking period to allow the last bits of moisture to evaporate from the bottom of the pan.
- Don’t overcook your spoon roast! The key is to remove the meat from the oven once it reaches an internal temperature of 130° F (55° C) – 140° F (60° C). Depending on its size, you might want to let it rest for 5 minutes after removing it from the oven to allow the juices to redistribute themselves evenly within the roast.
- For best results, use a slow cooker. Slow cookers provide consistent low temperatures which makes it easier to achieve a properly cooked roast every single time. Just be sure to check the manual for any specific instructions regarding the type of pot you’ll be using.
- If you’d prefer to prepare your own roast instead of buying one ready made, try using a cast iron skillet. These types of pans tend to give off less smoke and are easy to clean because they are nonstick. They also retain heat well, so you won’t need to worry about keeping the lid closed too long.
Equipment
- 1 Oven
- 1 Pan
Ingredients
- 2 cloves garlic mashed and finely minced
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- cayenne pepper
- 3 pounds sirloin beef roast aka spoon roast
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
Instructions
- assemble the components. Oven temperature set at 425 F. A rack is put into a roasting pan that has been lined with foil.
- Add the minced garlic, chili powder, cumin, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper to a small bowl.
- Rub olive oil all over the roast before placing it in the pan that has been prepared. Rub the roast with the spice mixture.
- For 15 minutes, roast the beef in a preheated oven. Roast the meat for a further three hours (approximately 45 minutes to an hour per pound), or until desired doneness, after lowering the oven temperature to 225 F.
- Using a meat thermometer or oven probe inserted in the thickest part of the roast, the beef should read between 130 and 135 degrees Fahrenheit to be considered medium-rare.
- Allow the roast to rest for 10 minutes before slicing it under a loose foil tent.
- Slice and serve with the sides of your choice.
Video
Nutrition
My blog is all about creating delicious meals with ingredients that are easy to find in your local grocery store. I’m passionate about making yummy meals that I can share with my friends and family.