This sauerbraten is a recipe my mom would make for holidays, letting the meat meld in wine and vinegar for days. You can get away with using poorer cuts of meat, like chuck roast, because of the long marinating time and slow cooking. Sauerbraten is often paired with red cabbage (rotkohl).
Prep Time10mins
Cook Time10hrs
Total Time10hrs10mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: German
Servings: 8Servings
Calories: 579kcal
Author: AndreAnna McLean
Ingredients
For the roast:
2cupswater
2cupsdry red wine
1cupred wine vinegar
2large carrotspeeled and roughly chopped
3medium celery stalkschopped
1large sweet onionhalved and sliced
3garlic clovessmashed
1tablespoonwhole black peppercorns
1tablespoonjuniper berries
1tablespoonmustard seeds
2bay leaves
4-5poundsbeef chuck roast
1-2tablespoonsextra-virgin olive oil
For the gravy:
4tablespoonsunsalted butter or fat of choice
3tablespoonsarrowroot starch/flour
Splash of dry red wineoptional
Kosher or fine sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
In a large saucepan, combine the roast ingredients except the meat and oil. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Remove from heat. Cool completely.
Place the meat in a large bowl or the insert of a 6-quart slow cooker and cover with the liquid. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3 days, turning at least twice daily. When ready to cook, remove the meat (reserve the liquid).
Heat oil on high in a cast iron or other high-heat skillet. Quickly sear the meat for 3-5 minutes on all sides. Place into the slow cooker insert with the liquid and cook on low for 8-10 hours. Remove the meat and place on a serving dish. Reserve and strain 3 cups of the cooking liquid.
To make the gravy, heat butter in a saucepan on medium. Once melted, whisk in the arrowroot to form a roux. Slowly whisk in the reserved cooking liquid and wine (if using) until smooth. Cook on low until it reaches the desired thickness. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Pour over meat and serve.
Notes
The unusually dark color of the meat comes from marinating and cooking it in wine.