Slow Cooker Beef Roast

Slow cookers are a fantastic way to cook a traditional roast. It’s an inexpensive way to cook, require no watching, is very forgiving, and produces the most succulent roast joint!

Give it a try, you won’t regret it.

My roast – we like it “well-done” 🫣

Wot u need
1.1 kg – 1.3 kg Aberdeen Angus beef roasting joint (any cut) (we use a 30 day matured roast from LIDL)
8 tsp Bisto in two cups of cold water
1 tsp light soy sauce
10 splashes Worcestershire sauce
20 twists of cracked black pepper
1 cube frozen garlic (or 2 cloves finely slices, or 2 tsp puree)
1 tbsp tomato puree
1 onion roughly cut
1 carrot roughly cut

Wot u do
I use the Instant Pot therefore I have a ‘saute’ function. I add 2 tbsp of veg oil and sear all six sides of the beef – this takes 10 mins (you could do this in a frying pan or miss this step completely. I like the colour it gives.) Chuck everything else in with the beef once it’s seared. Slow cook for 5 hrs at low and 1hr at high. Add more water if gravy thickens too much (and it will). Strain final gravy and discard veg. Rest beef for 30 mins before slicing.

Gravy can be stored in the fridge, then fat removed when cold, and stored in the freezer – I got three good portions for future use.

Murphy’s Ham Casserole

This is a fantastic dish that brings together a good few textures and tastes in one. The white sauce make the dish moist and delicious. It’s as good in summer as it is in winter. Give it a try – you won’t be disappointed!

Wot u need
4 baked potatoes (cut into 3 or 4 cms pieces)
2 x 200g tins cooked ham (I use M&S lean ham)
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp plain flour
2 cups milk
1 tsp salt
1 tsp dried parsley
Cheddar cheese (I like red coloured cheese for this dish)
Olive oil

Wot u do
Boil the potatoes, drain and leave to cool. Slice ham and chop into little chunks and set aside. Slice one medium onion into thin crescent slices.

Fry the ham in the olive oil at med/high for five mins, add the onion and fry at med/low till translucent (another 5 mins). Transfer the potatoes to an ovenproof dish and cover with the ham mix. In a separate pot, melt the butter and add the flour and mix till the flour is incorporated and bubbling – < 1 minute. Add the milk, reduce heat to med/low and stir till thickened. Add 1 tsp of salt and some black pepper to the sauce. Add the parsley. Pour over the hot white sauce and sprinkle the top generously with the cheese. Oven bake at 190 degrees c fan for 40 mins.

Serves 4 (average portion) or 3 (large portions). Serve with garden peas.