Authentic German Rouladen Recipes

OMA'S AUTHENTIC GERMAN BEEF ROULADEN RECIPE - JUST LIKE OMA

Steps:

• Prep meat accourding to recipe instructions, cook until tender and make gravy.

ROULADEN

Steps:

• Peel the onion, then chop it into small cubes. Also, cut the baby dill pickles into small cubes.
• Peel the carrot and cut it into slices. Wash the celery and leek (make sure to wash it well - leek can be quite dirty), then cut those into slices/rings as well. Set the vegetables aside for now.
• Wash the meat and trim the excess fat (if applicable). Place one piece of meat between two pieces of cling film, then pound it thin using the smooth side of a meat hammer.
• Remove the cling film. Salt and pepper on both sides of the meat, then evenly spread one of the sides with mustard (approximately 1 tablespoon per roulade). Add one slice of bacon as well as some of the cut-up onion and pickles. Be sure to place the onion and pickles in the middle of the beef with room at the edges - you'll need this space for rolling/tucking the beef.
• Now roll up the piece of meat and try tucking in the edges. Secure the roll of meat either with toothpicks (we like using a whole toothpick in the middle and a half toothpick for each end) or cooking twine (you can tie the beef roll as you would ribbon in four directions on a present). Set the roulade aside on a plate and repeat the steps with the other pieces of meat.
• Preheat your oven to 310 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Once you have rolled all the pieces of meat, heat oil in a pan/pot with high sides. Alternatively, you can also use a Dutch oven or similar that you can put in the oven. Add the rouladen and sear the meat on high heat on all sides (so make sure to rotate them!). Once all the sides are browned, remove the meat from the pan.
• Turn down the heat to medium and add the vegetables to the pan. Sauté them for around 5 minutes, then add the tomato paste and the sugar. Give everything a stir.
• Now add 1/2 cup of red wine to the pot and wait until it reduces. Then add the other 1/2 cup and wait for it to reduce and thicken again.
• Add the beef broth to the pan/pot and bring everything to a simmer. Then pour the contents of the pan into a roasting pan for the oven or leave them in the pan/pot if it is oven safe.
• Place the meat on top of the evenly spread out sauce and vegetables and put the roasting pan with the lid off into the oven. After 30 minutes, take the pan out of the oven, flip the rouladen and place them back in the oven. Bake them for another 30 minutes, flip them again, and put the lid on at the 1-hour mark. This way, they get a nice dark color. If you don't want them to be that dark, place them into the oven with the lid on from the beginning - but still flip them every 30 minutes.
• Test if the meat is tender after 90 minutes. If it is, remove the pan from the oven. If not, put it back in to continue cooking the beef.
• Once the meat is tender, remove the rouladen from the roasting pan and set them aside.
• Pour the sauce through a sifter to capture the cooked vegetables.
• To thicken the sauce, you have two options. Either blend approximately 1/2 of the cooked vegetables with some of the liquid from the sauce drippings. Then add it back to the strained liquid and bring this mixture to a simmer on the stove in a pot. Add salt and pepper to taste. Alternatively - if you don't want to use any vegetables to thicken the sauce - thicken the sauce with approximately 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch dissolved in a little bit of cold water and discard the cooked vegetables or eat them on the side.
• Serve the meat and gravy with potato dumplings, bread dumplings, spaetzle noodles, or potatoes. German red cabbage and a green side salad are also popular additions.

GERMAN ROULADEN

Steps:

• Cut the flank steak into thin filets; about 1/4 inch thick and 3 inches wide.
• Generously spread one side of each filet with mustard to taste. Place bacon, onions and pickle slices on each filet and form into a roll. Use string or toothpicks to hold the roll together.
• Heat a skillet over medium heat and melt butter. Place the rolls in the butter and saute until browned.
• Pour in 2 1/2 cups of water and add the bouillon cube; stirring to dissolve the bouillon cube. Simmer the rolls for about an hour.

GERMAN BEEF ROULADEN

Steps:

• Cut steak into six serving-size pieces; pound to 1/4-in. thickness. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place a bacon strip down the center of each piece; arrange a pickle half on one edge. Roll up and secure with a toothpick. , In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Brown beef on all sides. Add the water, onion, parsley and bouillon if desired. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until meat is tender. Remove to a serving platter and keep warm. , For gravy, skim fat from drippings. Combine the flour, water and browning sauce if desired; stir into drippings. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Serve with beef.

GERMAN BEEF ROULADEN

Steps:

• Spread 1/2 tablespoon mustard over one side of each piece of meat. Sprinkle the onion, paprika, salt, and pepper evenly over the steaks. Lay one slice of bacon on each piece. Roll the steaks jelly-roll style and secure with toothpicks.
• Heat the canola oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook meat on all sides until browned. Add the beef broth and water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low; cover and simmer until tender, about 30 minutes.
• Remove the meat rolls. Strain the broth mixture and return liquid to the skillet. Whisk together the cornstarch and 1 cup of water. Slowly pour the cornstarch slurry into the skillet, stirring continually until the sauce has thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the sour cream. Return rolls to the sauce; serve immediately.

MOM'S TRADITIONAL GERMAN BEEF ROULADEN (RINDERROULADEN)

Steps:

• Spread 1 tablespoon mustard evenly on one side of each pounded steak.
• Sprinkle salt and pepper over mustard.
• Evenly sprinkle chopped bacon, onion, and pickles over mustard side of each steak.
• Roll up firmly jelly roll fashion (with filling to inside, starting at narrow end), and secure each rouladen shut (so filling stays in) with wooden toothpicks, cooking twine, or white sewing thread.
• In a large dutch oven, heat the cooking oil over medium-high heat. When hot, carefully add the rouladen rolls. Fry until nicely browned, turning once (about 7 minutes per side).
• Add enough hot water or broth to almost cover the rouladen. Add bay leaf. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil.
• Cover and reduce heat to low.
• Simmer, covered, for 1 1/2 hours on low heat, checking once halfway through to give a stir and see that meat is covered with sufficient liquid (you may add a little hot water at this point, if necessary).
• With a large slotted spoon, carefully remove the rouladen from the hot broth to an oven-proof dish; cover with foil and keep warm in the oven while making the gravy.
• To Make Gravy:.
• Add the flour to 1 cup of water in a large measuring cup, whisking briskly with a fork to blend.
• Pour the flour mixture all at once into the hot broth, using a wire whisk to blend. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan, and stir them into the gravy.
• Increase heat to medium-high, and bring gravy mixture to a boil, whisking constantly. Continue to whisk and boil for two to three minutes, until gravy thickens. Reduce heat to low, and remove the bay leaf. Adjust seasoning to taste.
• To Serve:.
• (Note: Remove toothpicks and twine or thread before serving).
• Using a large slotted spoon, carefully place the rouladen into the hot gravy; cover, and warm through for a few minutes.
• Remove from heat and serve.
• Good sides are boiled new potatoes or potato dumplings sprinkled with fresh snipped parsley,and German Rotkohl (Red Cabbage) or Country Green Beans with Bacon and Onion.