Ingredients

Serves 8

　　a 4-to-5 pound boneless beef rump roast

　　10 garlic cloves, quartered

　　5 medium onions, halved

　　6 cups water

　　1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

　　1/4 cup vegetable shortening

　　

Step 1

Season roast with salt and pepper. Press garlic all over roast and wrap well in plastic wrap. Chill roast at least 12 hours and up 10 1 day.

　　

Step 2

Preheat oven to 350°F. Let roast stand at room temperature 30 minutes.

　　

Step 3

While roast is standing, in a large saucepan simmer onions in water, covered, until tender, about 20 minutes. Pour mixture through a large sieve into a bowl, pressing on solids, and reserve onion broth.

　　

Step 4

Unwrap roast and discard garlic. Dredge toast completely with 1/3 cup flour, shaking off any excess flour. In a large Dutch oven heat shortening over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and brown roast on all sides. Add 1/2 cup reserved onion broth and braise, covered, in oven, turning roast every 40 minutes, 2 hours. Add 2 cups onion broth and braise, covered, 45 minutes to 1 hour more, or until roast is very tender.

　　

Step 5

Transfer roast to a cutting board, reserving braising liquid in Dutch oven, and let stand, covered loosely, while making gravy. In a small bowl stir together with a fork remaining 2 tablespoons flour and 1/3 cup onion broth until smooth. Bring reserved braising liquid to a boil and add flour mixture in a stream, stirring until smooth. Simmer gravy until thickened, adding enough onion broth to thin to desired consistency.

　　

Step 6

Serve rump roast with gravy.