Warm Anchovy Dressing with Roast Beef Rump
Introduction
Warm anchovy dressing is anchovy fillets and garlic melted into butter and olive oil, finished with lemon and parsley, and it seasons sliced roast beef with deep, savoury flavour.
Here it goes over a whole grass fed beef rump, seared hard, roasted to a blushing medium-rare, then rested and carved into generous slices. The dressing is in the bagna cauda style and turns silky as it meets the warm beef.
The anchovy never reads as fishy. It melts into the olive oil and deepens everything around it, giving the rump a rich, almost roasted-garlic umami that makes each slice taste seasoned right through.
Rump is one of the most rewarding cuts for this, full of beefy flavour with a firm texture that holds up to a bold dressing. Cut the roast from a whole grass-fed rump primal and the rest of the piece gives you steaks for the week ahead.
It looks like you fussed for hours. You did not.
One tray, one small pan and a sharp knife are all it takes, and it serves six without fuss.
Ingredients
For 6 servings
- 1.5kg grass fed beef rump roastat room temperature
- 2 tbsp olive oilfor searing
- 1 tsp sea salt flakes
- 1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
- 8 anchovy fillets in oildrained
- 3 garlic clovesfinely grated
- 80ml extra virgin olive oil
- 30g unsalted butter
- 1 lemonzested and juiced
- 1 large handful flat-leaf parsleyfinely chopped
- Pinch of dried chilli flakes (optional)
Utensils
8 items to gather · Tap to tick off
- Heavy ovenproof frying pan or roasting tray
- Meat thermometer
- Small saucepan
- Carving board
- Sharp carving knife
- Microplane or fine grater
- Tongs
- Serving platter
Cooking Steps
Bring the beef to room temperature
Take the grass fed beef rump roast out of the fridge 45 minutes before cooking and pat it dry all over. Cold beef sears poorly and cooks unevenly. Preheat the oven to 200°C.
Season and sear
Rub the rump with olive oil, then season generously with the sea salt and cracked pepper. Heat a heavy ovenproof pan over high heat and sear the beef on every side, including the ends, for 8 to 10 minutes total until deeply browned. This crust is where the flavour lives.
Roast to medium-rare
Transfer the pan to the oven and roast for 25 to 30 minutes, until a meat thermometer reads 55 to 58°C in the thickest part for medium-rare. Start checking early, as rump can vary in thickness.
Rest properly
Lift the beef onto a board, cover loosely with foil and rest for 15 minutes. The internal temperature will climb 2 to 3°C as it rests and the juices settle back through the meat. Do not skip this.
Make the warm anchovy dressing
While the beef rests, melt the butter with the extra virgin olive oil in a small pan over low heat. Add the anchovy fillets and grated garlic and stir gently for 2 to 3 minutes until the anchovies dissolve into the oil. Pull off the heat, then stir through the lemon zest, lemon juice, parsley and chilli flakes if using.
Carve and dress
Slice the rump against the grain into thin slices and fan them across a warm platter. Spoon the warm anchovy dressing generously over the top so it pools into the slices. Serve straight away with any resting juices poured over.
Nutrition
Per Serving
Recipe serves 6Nutritional values are estimates only and may vary based on specific ingredients, brands, cuts, cooking method, and portion sizes. For medical or dietary purposes, please consult a qualified nutritionist.
Tips and Pairing
People Also Ask
What is warm anchovy dressing? +
Warm anchovy dressing is a bagna cauda style sauce made by gently melting anchovy fillets and garlic in butter and olive oil, then finishing it off the heat with lemon zest, lemon juice and parsley. Spooned over sliced roast beef, it pools into the meat and adds a rich, savoury depth that seasons every slice.
Will the anchovy dressing taste fishy? +
No. Cooked slowly in warm oil and butter, the anchovy fillets melt completely and lose any fishy edge. What they leave behind is deep, savoury umami that seasons the beef from the outside in. Most people cannot identify the anchovy at all and simply notice how rich and well-seasoned the rump tastes.
What can I use instead of anchovies? +
A teaspoon of good fish sauce or a spoonful of anchovy paste gives a similar savoury depth if you have no fillets on hand. Add it to the warm butter and oil with the garlic, then finish with lemon and parsley as usual. Whole anchovy fillets still give the richest, most rounded result.
How long should roast beef rest before carving? +
Rest it for at least 15 minutes, loosely covered with foil. Resting lets the juices redistribute through the meat instead of running out the moment you carve, so every slice stays moist. A 1.5kg roast holds plenty of heat, so it will still be warm when you spoon over the dressing and serve.
Should roast beef be sliced with or against the grain? +
Always slice against the grain. Rump has clear, long muscle fibres, and cutting across them shortens those fibres so each slice is tender rather than chewy. Look at the direction the lines run on the surface, then bring your knife down across them. Thin slices work best for soaking up the warm dressing.
Can I prepare any of this ahead? +
Yes. Bring the beef to room temperature and season it up to an hour ahead, and prep the dressing components, the grated garlic, lemon zest, juice and chopped parsley, in advance. Make the dressing itself just before serving so it stays warm and glossy. The roast is best carved fresh, though leftovers are excellent cold the next day.
