A traditional roast, in this case elk, served with popovers and gravy made with duck fat pan drippings
Elk Roast With Duck Fat Yorkshire Puddings and Gravy
30 Min
Prep Time
120 Min
Cook Time
5-7
Servings
This traditional recipe is usually made with beef roast, often prime rib, served with airy, savory popover-style rolls and gravy made with the pan drippings from the roast. We like to use elk roast.
Before cooking, use butcher's twine to tie the roast into a tight round for even cooking. We cover the meat with more duck fat, then add a spice rub featuring finely ground coffee for a base.
The difference between popovers and traditional Yorkshire pudding is that the former tend to use melted butter in the pan with the batter, whereas Yorkshire pudding uses pan drippings from the roast. You will often find the two terms used interchangeably, regardless of the fat used in cooking.
You can use a standard muffin pan for the Yorkshire puddings, but a dedicated popover pan with deeper, narrower cups makes for a taller, fluffier roll.
Ingredients
3- to 4-pound elk roast, top or bottom round or a combination
1 cup duck fat
2 carrots, roughly chopped
2 stalks celery, roughly chopped
2 yellow onions, quartered
2 cloves garlic, lightly smashed
Spice Rub
1 tablespoon finely ground coffee
1 tablespoon sea or kosher salt
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
Yorkshire Pudding Popovers
3 large eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3 tablespoons rendered duck fat pan drippings
Gravy
1/2 cup duck fat pan drippings, strained
1 medium shallot, finely diced
4 tablespoons all purpose flour
2 cups beef stock
1/2 cup red wine
Cooking Instructions
Start by mixing the batter for the Yorkshire puddings. Refrigerate until ready for use. You can even make the batter the night before. Simply stir the eggs and milk into the flour and salt. Use a whisk to blend well until all lumps are gone.
For the roast, use butcher's twine to tie the roast into a tight, round shape. Coat the roast with duck fat. Mix the seasoning rub and sprinkle all over the roast.
To a large roasting pan, add 1 cup duck fat along with the carrots, celery, onions, and garlic. Place a roasting rack over the vegetables and add the seasoned elk roast. Roast in a preheated 375-degree oven to an internal temperature of 130 degrees. Remove the roast and cover with foil. Place it in a warm spot while you make the popovers and gravy.
Pour the Yorkshire pudding batter over the pan drippings, filling each cup about two-thirds of the way full to allow room for expansion. Bake for 30 minutes at 375 degrees.
While the puddings cook, make the gravy on the stovetop. To a saucepan over medium-high heat, add 1/2 cup of the reserved pan drippings. Add the diced shallot. Sauté for 5 to 8 minutes until the shallot is cooked through and translucent. Sprinkle on the flour and stir well.
