Sauerbraten With Sour Cream Gravy Wienerwald Style Food

SAUERBRATEN WITH SOUR CREAM GRAVY, WIENERWALD-STYLE

Steps:

• Heat 2 cups water and 2 cups vinegar in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add salt, cinnamon sticks, peppercorns, mustard seeds, ginger, allspice, and cloves. Bring to a simmer; immediately remove from heat. Stir in brown sugar until dissolved. Add Marsala wine. Let mixture steep until pan is cool enough to touch, at least 20 minutes.
• Place beef top round in a 1 1/2-quart resealable zip-top bag. Pour liquid around the beef. Pour in remaining water and vinegar and seal bag, removing as much air as possible. Place bag in a leak-proof container and refrigerate for 4 days, turning once a day.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Remove meat from bag and transfer into a roasting pan; reserve the marinade.
• Strain spices out of the marinade and discard. Pour 1/2 of the liquid into the pan with the meat and reserve the rest, about 4 cups, in a saucepan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part reads 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), about 1 1/2 hours. Transfer to a platter and let rest.
• Bring the 4 cups of remaining marinade to a simmer. Stir in sour cream and cook until thickened to your preference, 6 to 10 minutes. Slice beef against the grain and spoon the gravy on top.

SAUERBRATEN

Steps:

• The marinade - 48 to 72 hours in advance: Place the peppercorns, juniper and allspice into a mortar or small plastic bag, or fold up a piece of waxed paper. Crush with the pestle if using the mortar or a rolling pin or hammer if using the bag or paper. Transfer the crushed spices to a small saucepan. Add the bay leaves, cloves, salt, vinegar, wine, and onion slices and bring to a boil. Transfer the marinade to a large bowl and let cool to room temperature. (I prefer a glass or stainless steel bowl. Whatever you use, don't use plastic: the acidic marinade will absorb flavors from plastic.)
• Tying and marinating the meat: Using kitchen string, tie the beef into a neat, compact shape. As soon as the marinade is cool, add the beef to the bowl and roll in the marinade to coat all sides. Cover, refrigerate and marinate for 2 to 3 days, turning the meat once or twice a day. (There is no special timing here for turning the beef in the marinade. You just want to make sure that over the course of the 48 or 72 hours, the meat is turned 3 or 4 times so it marinates evenly.) Heat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• Browning the meat: With tongs, lift the meat out of the marinade, scraping any onion slices or spices that stick to the meat back into the marinade, and transfer it to a plate. Reserve the marinade. Pat the meat thoroughly dry all over with paper towels. Heat the butter and oil in a large Dutch oven or other braising pot over medium heat. Add the meat to the pot and brown well on all sides, 20 to 25 minutes total. (You may need 2 implements to turn the meat: try tongs and a large metal spatula. Lift the meat from the pan with the spatula, grab with the tongs, and turn.) Transfer the meat back to the plate. Pour off all the fat from the pan, and deglaze the pan with the reserved marinade, scraping any browned bits to loosen. Bring the marinade to a simmer and add the meat. Cover with parchment paper, pressing down so it nearly touches the meat and the edges of the paper hang over the sides of the pot by about 1-inch. Set the lid firmly in place, and transfer to the lower third of the oven.
• The braise: Braise the meat at a gentle simmer for 1 1/2 hours. Check after about the first 10 minutes to see that the liquid is not simmering too energetically; if it is, lower the oven by 10 to 15 degrees. After 1 1/2 hours, turn the meat over, using the tongs, and metal spatula, and continue braising gently for another 1 1/2 hours, or until fork-tender.
• The finish: With the tongs and metal spatula, transfer the meat to a cutting board with a moat and cover loosely with foil to keep warm. Strain the cooking juices into a saucepan and let sit for a minute. Gently tilt the pan and skim off the fat with a large spoon. Whisk in the gingersnap crumbs and sugar, place the pan over medium-high heat, and bring to a boil. Gently boil the sauce for 5 minutes, whisking often, to reduce and thicken it slightly. Lower the heat to low and whisk in the sour cream until smooth. Heat through, but do not let the sauce boil, or the sour cream will curdle. Taste the sauce for salt.
• Serving: Remove the strings from the meat, and pour any accumulated juices into the sauce. Carve the beef into thick slices. If the slices crumble, which they sometimes will, just cut into irregular pieces and arrange on a platter. Spoon the sauce over the beef and serve.

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.

SAUSAGE AND CHEDDAR SOUR CREAM GRAVY

Steps:

• Cook and crumble sausage in a medium skillet over medium heat if not using precooked sausage. When no longer pink add all spices.
• Add butter to skillet and melt. If your sausage had more fat, you may not need all/any butter. Sprinkle flour over pan and whisk to get rid of any lumps and mix with butter. Cook 1 minute.
• Add all milk at once, whisking to ensure gravy stays smooth. Reduce heat to med-low.
• Add sour cream and cheese. Continue cooking til cheese is melted. Serve over hot biscuits.

SAUERBRATEN V

Steps:

• Rub the roast with salt and pepper and place in a large non-metal bowl. In a medium saucepan, combine wine, vinegar and 2 cups water and bring to a boil. Stir in garlic, onion, bay leaves, peppercorns, sugar and cloves and pour the marinade over the beef. Cover and refrigerate 12 hours or overnight.
• Remove the meat from the marinade and thoroughly pat dry. Dredge in 1 cup flour (may use more or less if necessary). Heat bacon grease in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown roast in drippings on all sides. Pour in half the marinade, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until tender, 3 hours.
• Remove meat to serving platter. Increase heat to medium-high; mix 2 tablespoons flour with 2 tablespoons water and add to pan, stirring until gravy thickens. Stir in sour cream. Pour sauce over sliced meat.

RICH SOUR CREAM GRAVY

Steps:

• Pour drippings from the roast poultry into a 2-cup glass container. Skim off the fat.
• Return 1/4 cup of fat to roasting pan.Blend 2 tablespoons of flour into the fat in the pan.
• Cook and stir 1 to 2 minutes. Loosening bits crusty bits in pan.
• Add Worrcestershire sauce, basil, onion, salt and pepper to juices in the glass measuring cup.
• Add enough water to make 2 cups.
• Stir into mixture into roasting pan. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly
• Stir the remaining 2 tablespoons of flour into the sour cream.
• Gradually blend 1/2 cup of hot mixture into the sour cream. Stir the sour cream mixtujre into the gravy.
• Cook and stir until bubbly about 1 minute more.

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.

SAUERBRATEN

Steps:

• Season beef well with salt and pepper. Tie meat tightly every 2 inches with kitchen twine, and once from end to end, to help keep meat intact. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large, heavy casserole over medium heat. Brown meat evenly on all sides, including the ends. Transfer to a plate, and set aside.
• Reduce heat to medium low, add remaining 2 tablespoons oil, garlic, and onions. Cook, stirring often, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add bay leaves, tomato paste, ketchup, red-wine vinegar, and red wine. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Return beef to pot, and add 2 cups water. (The liquid should come halfway up the side of the beef.) Cover with a tight-fitting lid. Reduce heat to simmer. Cook for 1 hour, turn beef, and continue to cook until fork-tender, another 1 1/2 hours.
• Remove pot from heat. Let cool slightly, and transfer beef to a cutting board with a well. Remove twine, and let beef rest for 15 minutes. Skim the fat from the surface of the sauce in the casserole. Taste the sauce, and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Stir in sour cream. Slice meat across the grain into 1/4-inch slices. Place meat back into sauce. Transfer to a large serving platter; ladle over sauce. Serve immediately.

SAUERBRATEN WITH GINGERSNAP GRAVY

Steps:

• 1. Place the roast in a deep ceramic or glass bowl. Most crock pots have a removable one. Add onions, peppercorns, cloves and bay leaf. Pour white vinegar, water and cider vinegar over teh roast. Chill, covered, for 4 days. Turn meat twice each day. Remove the meat from the marinade. dry it well with paper towels and strain the marinade into a bowl. Reserve the onions and one cup of marinade.
• 2. In a Dutch oven, brown the meat on all sides in hot vegetable oil. Sprinkle meat with salt. Pour boiling water around the meat, sprinkle in crushed gingersnaps and simmer, covered for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Turn often. Add one cup of reserved marinade and cook meat 2 hours or more until tender. Remove the meat and keep it warm. Strain the cooking juices into a large saucepan.
• 3. In a small bowl, mix sour cream with flour. Stir it into the cooking juices and cook, stirring until sauce is thickened and smooth. Slice the meat into 1/4 inch slices. Add to the hot gravy. Arrange meat on a heated platter and pour extra sauce over it. Makes 8 to 10 servings.

GERMAN SAUERBRATEN

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine salt and ginger; rub over roast. Place in a deep glass bowl. In a large bowl, combine the water, vinegar and sugar. Pour half of marinade into a large saucepan; add half of the onions, pickling spices, peppercorns, cloves and bay leaves. Bring to a boil. Pour over roast; turn to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 2 days, turning twice a day., To the remaining marinade, add the remaining onions, pickling spices, peppercorns, cloves and bay leaves. Cover and refrigerate., Drain and discard marinade from roast; pat roast dry. In a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, brown roast in oil on all sides. Pour 1 cup of reserved marinade with all of the onions and seasonings over roast (cover and refrigerate remaining marinade). Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 3 hours or until meat is tender., Strain cooking juices, discarding onions and seasonings. Add enough reserved marinade to the cooking juices to measure 3 cups. Pour into a large saucepan; bring to a boil. Add gingersnaps; reduce heat and simmer until gravy is thickened. Slice roast and serve with gravy.