Best Sauerbraten With Potato Dumplings And Applesauce Recipes

NOT YOUR GRANDMOTHER'S SAUERBRATEN

Steps:

• Make a bundle with the cheesecloth and the pickling spices, placing pickling spices in a square of cheesecloth and tying it off with cotton string. Mix water, vinegar, ketchup, sugar, and onion powder in a large crock pot (the one I use is a 6-quart model). Add the bundle of pickling spices.
• Put meat in fat side up in crock. Cook until meat is tender (low for 12 hours or high for 7-8 hours).
• Remove spice bundle and throw away. Do not discard the juices nor turn off the crockpot. Take meat out and allow to cool.
• Add 12 crumbled ginger snaps to juices that remain in the crockpot and allow to thicken.
• Slice the meat and return to sauce in the crockpot.

SAUERBRATEN WITH POTATO DUMPLINGS AND APPLESAUCE

Steps:

• Wipe steak with damp cloth; season with salt and pepper.
• Place in earthenware, glass or enamel bowl.
• Combine onions, carrot, celery, cloves, peppercorns, vinegar and bay leaves and pour over meat.
• Cover and marinate in refrigerator for 4 days.
• Boil the potatoes for the dumplings on the night of the 4 day. Leave them in their jackets and let stand for a few hours to overnight.
• On fifth day remove meat from refrigerator and drain, reserving marinade.
• Sauté meat in bacon drippings plus 1 tablespoon butter until seared on all sides.
• Cover with reserved marinade and bring to boil, then lower heat and simmer for about 3 hours.
• Melt remaining 5 tablespoons of butter in a pan and stir in flour to form a roux.
• Blend in sugar and brown to a nice dark color.
• Stir roux into liquid in the pot and add raisins (optional).
• Cover and continue to simmer until meat is tender, about 1 hour longer.
• DUMPLINGS:.
• Peel the potatoes and mash them. Add the eggs and flour.
• Form the mixture into little balls and chill in the refrigerator for about an hour before cooking.
• Bring lightly salted water to just under boiling point.
• To make sure your mixture has the right consistency, cook a single dumpling first. If it does not hold together, add more flour to the mixture.
• Gently drop in a few dumplings, being careful not to overcrowd them.
• When the dumplings are cooked, they will rise to the top.
• Remove the meat to a warm serving platter.
• Stir crushed gingersnaps or starch into the pot juices and cook until thickened.
• Pour over the meat and serve with the dumplings and applesauce.
• Provide melted, browned butter and bread crumbs for the dumplings.
• Red cabbage makes another good accompaniment. A good one is Sweet and Sour and the brand that comes to mind is "Aunt Nellie's". It would probably be the easiest to find in the US. I always get mine at our local Walmart Supercenter.

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.

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.