Best German Beef Rolls Recipes

ROULADEN, OR RINDERROULADEN, OR GERMAN BEEF ROLLS

Steps:

• 1. A note on the skirt steaks: You can use roundsteak, cut it into large pieces, and pound until about 1/4" thick. You can also use a flank steak, and cut into thin slices. Whatever is available in your meat department or at your butcher. Just make sure you can pound it pretty thin w/ a meat mallet. It has to be thin enough to be "roll-able". Skirt steak is not a tender cut, but is very flavorful. It becomes very tender when you cook it for awhile, as this recipe directs.
• 2. I use the polypropylene liner bags that are inside cereal boxes, when I tenderize any kind of meat ... they're tough, and they don't fall apart, therefore keeping the meat from spattering all over your counter, etc. Pound the meat into sort of oblong sizes, until it's thin enough to roll multiple times around the filling; set aside.
• 3. Mix together the mustard and the horseradish. You can leave the h/r out, if you're not a fan. It does add a very nice flavor, though, and I think it helps tenderize the meat! Spread the mustard/horseradish mixture over each piece of flattened steak, covering the entire thing.
• 4. Separate the onions into rings, and tear them in long pieces, so you can lay them out across the top of the meat pieces. Across the top of the onion strips, lay (length-wise) a piece of the uncooked bacon. Lay a pickle spear (cross-wise) across one end of the flattened meat. [I used chopped pickle in the photo, because it "rolls" easier].
• 5. Roll each piece up, burrito style, making sure everything is nicely tucked in. Seal w/ toothpicks or cooking string. Season w/ salt and pepper.
• 6. Roll each roulade in the flour, just enough to 'dust' it. Don't coat it heavily.
• 7. In a counter top electric skillet, preheated to about 325°, melt the butter & oil together (I use a little of both, because the oil raises the burning temp of the butter). Brown the rouladen evenly, ensuring that you brown all sides. Tip: It helps to use TWO cooking utensils, like a turning fork and a pair of tongs, when turning these over, so you don't "splash" oil, and so you don't tear apart the rolls.
• 8. When rouladen are nicely browned, pour in the beef broth, red wine, & Worcestershire sauce, all around the rouladen; add the bay leaf and just the tiniest pinch of freshly-ground nutmeg - go easy on the nutmeg! Cover securely, keep on LOW (about 275°), and let them cook gently for about 2 hours, or until very tender.
• 9. After a couple of hours, gently remove the beef rolls to a warm platter. Turn heat up to med-high, or thereabouts ... high enough to bring the mixture to a slight simmer or low boil.Mix together the 2 T. of flour (or cornstarch) and cold water, breaking up all lumps. Stir this mixture into the broth, stirring constantly, until well blended and thickened. Return the heat to LOW! Allow to thicken a bit.
• 10. Place the rouladen back into the pan w/ the gravy, and let them simmer for about a 1/2 hour on LOW. Just before serving, stir the dollop of sour cream into the gravy, and mix it in thoroughly. This will give a nice consistency to your gravy, thickening and enriching it with lots of good flavor. Bring the gravy back up to temp, but DON'T let it boil this time, now that you've added the sour cream! Season with more salt and pepper, to taste, if necessary.
• 11. Serve with noodles or spätzle, a good green vegetable or some simmered red cabbage [Rotkohl], and some warm, chunky applesauce (apfelmus, in German - your basic applesauce that is a typical German accompaniment to roast meats like Schweinebraten or Rouladen). Enjoy!

ROULADEN (GERMAN BEEF ROLLS)

Steps:

• Put the slices of beef between sheets of plastic wrap and pound with a flat mallet without breaking the tissues.
• Lay out pieces of beef in one layer on a flat surface. Spread the top of each with one teaspoon of mustard. Spoon an equal portion of the pork in the center of each piece. Flatten the pork over the center, leaving the margin uncovered. Sprinkle one tablespoon of onion over each portion of pork. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and cover with one strip of pickle. Wrap the meat around the filling, holding and tucking in the ends in envelope fashion. Tie each bundle neatly in two places with string. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Select a skillet large enough to hold the meat, without crowding, in one layer. Heat the oil and, when it is quite hot but not smoking, add the bundles. Cook, turning the bundles occasionally, about three to five minutes or until nicely browned all over.
• Transfer the bundles to a warm platter and pour off all the fat from the skillet. Return the skillet to the heat. Add the remaining one-half cup chopped onion, carrots and celery, and cook, stirring, until the onion is wilted. Sprinkle with paprika and stir. Add the wine and stir to dissolve the brown particles that cling to the bottom and sides of the skillet. Return the meat rolls to the skillet and add the chicken broth.
• Cover and cook five minutes. Transfer the meat rolls to a warm platter. Remove the strings.
• Cook down the pan liquid with vegetables until reduced to about two cups. Blend the cornstarch or arrowroot with water and stir it into the sauce. Cook, stirring, about 10 seconds. Remove from the heat.
• Stir in the sour cream. Strain the sauce, pushing with a wooden spoon to extract as much liquid from the solids as possible. Serve the meat rolls with the sauce spooned over.

GERMAN ROULADEN (BRAISED BEEF ROLLS)

Steps:

• 1. Either have your butcher do this or you can. Slice 4" wide and 1/16" thin at an angle. Set a side. Chill while doing the rest of the preparation.
• 2. Slice your bell pepper in half length wise and then slice medium thick slices, and set a side.
• 3. Cut onion in half length wise and then slice medium thick slices and set a side.
• 4. Next take out enough dill pickle spears out and drain set them a side too.
• 5. Taking one slice of meat at a time. Lightly sprinkle your sea salt and pepper on both sides. The on the side of your meat that you will roll everything up in, spread a thin layer of your mustard on each one.
• 6. Then take each one and place a slice or two of bell pepper and onion slices also.
• 7. Then add one well drained dill pickle to them.
• 8. Roll each one tightly then wrap well with your bacon and secure with a toothpick.
• 9. If using the broiler place on a well greased broiler pan. If grilling place on grill as to not fall through.
• 10. Braise on each side approx 3 minutes. Serve warm or cold.
• 11. You can make these ahead of time the day before and chill over night makes them better to handle and saves time for you.

GERMAN BEEF ROLLS

Steps:

• Season beef slices with salt and pepper.
• Thinly spread mustard on one side of the steaks.
• Sprinkle 2/3 of the onions on the beef steaks. Sprinkle on bacon and pickles.
• Roll the beef up and secure with toothpicks.
• Add beef rolls to a coated medium skillet.
• Saute until well browned, turning as needed .
• Add the remaining onion and saute until light golden brown.
• Add the tomato paste and beef stock.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Cover and simmer for about 1 hour.
• If the sauce needs thickened, combine flour and a small amount of wine. Stir into meat broth. Cook and stir until thickened.
• Plate and remove toothpicks and enjoy.