1 9-pound prime rib beef roast (about 4 ribs), excess fat trimmed
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1½ tablespoons minced garlic
2½ tablespoons mixed whole peppercorns, coarsely crushed
1/4 cup minced shallots
3½ cups canned low-sodium beef broth
1/3 cup Brandy
Salt to taste
Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 450°F. Place beef, fat side up, in shallow roasting pan. Sprinkle beef with salt. Mix mustard and garlic in small bowl. Spread mustard mixture over top of beef. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons crushed peppercorns over mustard mixture.
Roast beef 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 325°F. Roast until meat thermometer inserted into center of beef registers 125°F. for medium-rare, tenting loosely with foil if crust browns too quickly, about 2 hours 45 minutes. Transfer beef to platter. Tent with foil to keep warm.
Pour pan juices into 2-cup glass measuring cup (do not clean pan). Freeze juices for 10 minutes. Spoon fat off top of pan juices, returning 1 tablespoon fat to roasting pan. Reserve juices.
Melt fat in same roasting pan over medium-high heat. Add shallots and sauté until tender, scraping up any browned bits from bottom of pan, about 2 minutes. Remove pan from heat. Add canned beef broth, then Cognac (liquid may ignite). Return pan to heat and boil until liquid is reduced to 2 cups, about 15 minutes. Add pan juices and remaining crushed peppercorns. Add salt if desired. Transfer pan juices to sauceboat.
Carve roast and serve with juices.
--Adapted from Bon Appetit