Classic 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.

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.

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.

CLASSIC SAUERBRATEN

Steps:

• Combine first 8 ingredients in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Cool. Place beef in a bowl slightly larger than beef. Pour marinade over. Cover and chill for at least 2 days (up to 4 days is better), turning beef twice daily.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 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 of marinade (discard any remaining marinade) and beef broth. Boil until thick, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Mix in brown sugar and cookie crumbs. Pour into roasting pan and place over medium 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 degrees. Bake beef until heated through, about 15 minutes.

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.

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.

SAUERBRATEN

Steps:

• Place meat in a bowl, set aside.
• Combine vinegar, water, peppercorns, bay leaves, cloves, salt and pepper in a sauce pan and heat just to boiling.
• Remove from heat; cool slightly.
• Pour mixture over meat, and let cool.
• Cover bowl tightly and refrigerate for 5 days, turning meat once a day.
• Remove meat from marinade and drain thoroughly.
• Strain and reserve marinade.
• Put pot roast into a Dutch oven (very large covered pot), and brown meat on both sides.
• Add 1 cup of the reserved marinade, the carrots and onions.
• Bring rapidly to boiling, cover tightly and simmer about 2 hours, or until tender.
• If necessary, add more marinade while simmering.
• Remove meat to a warm platter and keep warm.
• Stir the crushed gingersnaps and sugar into the liquid in Dutch oven.
• Simmer the gravy for 10 minutes.
• Serve Sauerbraten with the gingersnap gravy, red or white cabbage and kartoffel balle (potato balls) to complete the meal.