Traditional Sauerbraten Recipes

SAUERBRATEN

Steps:

• Marinate the meat for about 5 to 10 days before you want to serve this dish.
• Rinse the meat and pat dry with a paper towel.
• Add the red wine vinegar and the red wine to a large bowl.
• Add all spices and the garlic paste and mix well.
• Coarsely chop the root vegetables and add them to the bowl as well.
• Slice the onion and add half of the slices to the bowl.
• Place the meat into the bowl and cover it with the other half of the onion slices.
• The meat should be fully submerged in the liquid. If it is not, use a smaller bowl or add up to 2 cups of beef broth.
• Cover the bowl airtight and let the meat marinate in the refrigerator for at least 5, and up to 10 days.
• Remove the meat from the marinade and pat dry.
• Melt lard in a large pot.
• Strain the vegetables from the liquid and set both aside.
• Sear the meat on all sides.
• Add the vegetable and about 2/3 of the liquid to the pot.
• Stir the honey into the liquid and bring to a simmer.
• Simmer for about 2 hours covered on medium high heat, turn the meat every half hour.
• Remove the meat from the pan and strain the vegetables from the liquid. Discard the vegetables and set the liquid aside.
• Melt butter in a pan, add the flour and brown.
• De-glaze with the liquid, salt and pepper to taste.
• Bring to a boil and simmer for about 10 min.
• Add the meat back to the pot to keep warm until you serve it.
• Serve with a vegetable dish and bread dumplings or Spätzle.

SAUERBRATEN

Steps:

• In a large saucepan over high heat combine the water, cider vinegar, red wine vinegar, onion, carrot, salt, pepper, bay leaves, cloves, juniper, and mustard seeds. Cover and bring this to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Pat the bottom round dry and rub with vegetable oil and salt on all sides. Heat a large saute pan over high heat; add the meat and brown on all sides, approximately 2 to 3 minutes per side.
• When the marinade has cooled to a point where you can stick your finger in it and not be burned, place the meat in a non-reactive vessel and pour over the marinade. Place into the refrigerator for 3 days. If the meat is not completely submerged in the liquid, turn it over once a day.
• After 3 days of marinating, preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Add the sugar to the meat and marinade, cover and place on the middle rack of the oven and cook until tender, approximately 4 hours.
• Remove the meat from the vessel and keep warm. Strain the liquid to remove the solids. Return the liquid to the pan and place over medium-high heat. Whisk in the gingersnaps and cook until thickened, stirring occasionally. Strain the sauce through a fine mesh sieve to remove any lumps. Add the raisins if desired. Slice the meat and serve with the sauce.

SAUERBRATEN

Steps:

• Combine 2 cups broth, the wine, vinegar, 1 chopped onion, the crushed garlic, thyme sprigs, bay leaves, juniper berries, peppercorns and cloves in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 5 minutes. Cool to room temperature. Place the beef in a large resealable plastic bag and pour in the marinade. Seal the bag and refrigerate for 2 to 3 days, turning daily.
• Preheat the oven to 350. Remove the meat from the marinade and pat dry; season with salt. Strain the marinade, discarding the solids. Heat a large ovenproof pot over medium heat and add the olive oil. Add the meat and brown on all sides, 10 to 12 minutes, then transfer to a plate. Add the carrots, celery and the remaining onion to the pot and cook until slightly softened, 5 minutes. Stir in the chopped garlic and chopped thyme and cook 1 minute. Sprinkle in the flour and cook 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the strained marinade and the remaining 1 cup broth and bring to a simmer. Return the meat to the pot, cover and cook in the oven until tender, 2 hours 30 minutes.
• Remove the meat and transfer to a plate. Bring the sauce to a simmer over medium heat. Whisk in the gingersnaps and simmer until thickened; season with salt and pepper. Thinly slice the meat; serve with spaetzle, the vegetables and sauce and sour cream, if desired. Top with parsley.

TRADITIONAL SAUERBRATEN

Steps:

• Place beef rump roast, onions, vinegar, water, 1 tablespoon salt, 1 tablespoon black pepper, sugar, cloves, and bay leaves in a large pot. Cover and refrigerate for 2 to 3 days, turning meat daily. Remove meat from marinade and pat dry with paper towels, reserving marinade.
• Season flour to taste with salt and black pepper in a large bowl. Sprinkle flour mixture over beef.
• Heat vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium heat; cook beef until brown on all sides, about 10 minutes. Pour reserved marinade over beef, cover, and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until beef is tender, 3 1/2 to 4 hours. Remove beef to a platter and slice.
• Strain solids from remaining liquid and continue cooking over medium heat. Add gingersnap cookies and simmer until gravy is thickened about 10 minutes. Serve gravy over sliced beef.

SLOW-COOKER SAUERBRATEN

Steps:

• Mix first six ingredients. Place roast in a 5-qt. slow cooker; add water. Pour ketchup mixture over top. Add cookie crumbs. Cook, covered, on low until meat is tender, 6-8 hours., Remove roast from slow cooker; keep warm. Strain cooking juices; skim fat. Transfer 4 cups juices to a saucepan; bring to a boil. Mix cornstarch and water until smooth; stir into cooking juices. Return to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, 1-2 minutes. Serve with roast.

TRADITIONAL GERMAN SAUERBRATEN

Steps:

• Wipe beef with a damp cloth and season with salt and pepper. Place seasoned beef in a large glass bowl.
• Combine vinegar, carrots, onion, peppercorns, cloves, bay leaves, and parsley in a bowl; pour over beef. Cover dish tightly with a lid or plastic wrap.
• Refrigerate beef, turning daily, for 3 to 7 days.
• Drain meat, reserving liquid and vegetables. Rub flour over all sides of beef.
• Heat butter in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat; brown beef on all sides, 5 to 10 minutes. Add onions, carrots, and 2 cups reserved liquid. Cover Dutch oven, lower heat to medium-low, and simmer until meat is tender, about 2 hours. Transfer beef to a serving platter.
• Stir gingersnap crumbs and sugar into the liquid in Dutch oven; cook and stir until sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes. Pour sauce over meat.

SIMPLE SAUERBRATEN

Steps:

• Trim steak and cut into 1 inch cubes or slices.
• Brown in hot oil.
• Remove from skillet and place in 1 1/2 quart casserole dish.
• Add gravy mix and water to skillet and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
• Stir in remaining ingredients (except the noodles).
• Cover and bake at 325F (160C) for 1 1/2 hours.
• Remove bay leaf and serve sauerbraten piping hot over noodles.
• Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley as garnish.
• This can be prepared the night before and cooked in a crock pot on low all day.
• Or you can brown the meat, then finish it in a pressure cooker in 25 minutes after work.

EASY SAUERBRATEN

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the water, vinegar, cloves, bay leaves, salt and brown sugar. Remove 2 cups to a small bowl; cover and refrigerate. Pour remaining marinade into a 2-gal. resealable plastic bag. Add roast; seal bag and turn to coat. Refrigerate for 1-2 days, turning twice each day., Discard marinade and spices. Pat roast dry; dredge in flour. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown roast in oil on all sides. Transfer to a small roasting pan. Add the onion, carrots, celery and reserved marinade. , Cover and bake at 325° for 3 to 3-1/2 hours or until meat is tender. With a slotted spoon, remove meat and vegetables to a serving platter. Strain cooking juices; thicken if desired.

TRADITIONAL BAVARIAN BEEF SAUERBRATEN

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan combine vinegar, 1 1/2 cups of the red wine, and the onions. Wrap the parsley stems, peppercorns, bay leaves, and cloves in a double layer of cheesecloth and tie shut. Add this to the saucepan, and bring mixture to a boil. Turn off the heat, and cool to room temperature.
• Prick the top round on all sides with a fork. Put it into a large resealable plastic bag and pour the marinade over it. Close bag and turn upside down a few times to cover meat well with marinade. Marinate, turning the bag once or twice a day, for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator.
• When ready to cook, bring marinated beef to room temperature, about 2 hours. Remove beef from marinade and pat dry. Strain marinade, reserving the liquid and onions; discard the cheesecloth bag.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Combine the flour, salt, and black pepper on a large plate, mixing well.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a heavy, ovenproof pan with a lid, large enough to hold the roast, over moderately high heat. When the oil is hot but not smoking, dredge meat in flour mixture, then sear well on each side, about 5 minutes per side. Pour extra fat out of pan.
• Place 1 cup of the marinating liquid, the remaining 1/4 cup red wine, and tomatoes in the pan along with the reserved onions from the marinade. Add enough of the water so that the liquid comes about one third of the way up the side of the beef. Bring liquid to a boil and boil for 5 minutes. Cover beef pan with the lid, and braise in the oven, turning sauerbraten every 30 minutes or so and spooning braising liquid over it, until meat is very tender, about 3 hours. Remove beef from pan and keep warm, covered with foil.
• Strain and degrease the braising liquid, and discard the solids. Place the braising liquid in a small saucepan, and add the remaining marinade along with the sherry and the 1 tablespoon brown sugar. Boil the liquid until it is reduced by half, about 10 minutes. Add the additional brown sugar, if desired, and/or lemon juice to taste. Adjust seasoning.
• Carve roast against the grain into slices that are about 3/8 inch thick. Arrange slices on a serving platter, spoon sauce over them, and garnish with parsley sprigs. Top with a dollop of sour cream, if desired.

CLASSIC SAUERBRATEN

Steps:

• Combine first 8 ingredients in large saucepan and bring to boil. Cool.
• Place beef in bowl slightly larger that beef. Pour marinade over. Cover and chill 2 days, turning beef twice daily.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Remove beef from marinade and place in roasting pan; reserve marinade. Roast beef until tender, about 2 hours. Transfer beef to carving board; cool. Pour any accumulated juices from roasting pan into marinade. Strain marinade (do not clean roasting pan).
• Mix 1/4 cup oil and flour in heavy large skillet. Stir over medium heat until dark brown, about 10 minutes. Gradually mix in 2 cups marinade (discard any remaining marinade) and broth. Boil until thick, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Mix in sugar and cookie crumbs. Pour into roasting pan and place over medium-high heat. Bring to boil, scraping up any browned bits. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Slice beef and arrange in large baking dish. Pour sauce over meat. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and chill).
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Bake beef until heated through, about 15 minutes.