Salted Eye of the Round Barbecue

SERVES: 8

COOK TIME: 1 Hr 15 Min

This is one of my most-requested meat recipes. It's a particular method of cooking eye of the round where the meat is cooked directly on barbecue coals or on the lava rocks of a gas grill. It takes a little more cooking time than my other recipes, but boy, it's sure worth it! (You need to follow the directions carefully and give it your complete attention.)

What You'll Need

1 eye of the round roast ( 4 to 5 pounds)
4 cups kosher (coarse) salt

What to Do

Heat a charcoal grill and let it burn until there is a good bed of red-hot coals. Or, if using a gas grill, remove the grate and set the heat to high.
Meanwhile, tear off a piece of waxed paper large enough to completely wrap the roast. (Use two sheets if necessary, and overlap them.) Place the waxed paper flat on a countertop, place the roast in the center, and pour the kosher salt over the meat. Use your clean hands to spread the salt evenly over both sides of the meat until it is completely covered and white. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO USE TOO MUCH SALT. Wrap the meat as completely as you can so that all of the salt stays inside the wrapper.
HERE'S WHERE YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL: Place the waxed paper-wrapped meat directly on the hot coals or lava rocks and STAND BACK IMMEDIATELY, as the waxed paper will immediately flame up and burn away. Leave the grill cover off. Let the meat cook for 35 to 40 minutes on one side, then use two long-handled meat forks or long-handled tongs to flip the meat, and cook for 30 to 35 minutes more on the second side. Again, DO NOT COVER THE GRILL. And again, BE CAREFUL!!
Carefully remove the meat from the coals and scrape off any remaining bits of waxed paper and salt. (The outside of the meat will be black.) Place the meat in something shallow for carving, so that the juices can be saved for serving over it. Carve across the roast the short way in thin (about 1/4") slices.

Notes

If you follow the directions carefully, you'll end up with a range of slices from medium-rare to well-done, so that everybody can have moist and delicious roast beef done their own perfect way. Please be sure to keep children away from your fire.