SAUERBRATEN (German Pot Roast)
Serving Size : 12
6 pounds Beef Top Round Roast
MARINADE 1 cup Cider Vinegar 1 quart Beer (I like Henekin or St Pauli Girl) 1 each large onion -- sliced 1 large carrots, coarsly chopped 2 stalks celery, coarsly chopped 2 each Bay Leaves 4 each Cloves, Whole 1/2 teaspoon Thyme 1/4 teaspoon Ginger 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon teaspoon pepper 1/2 tablespoon Garlic -- minced 1/2 cup Olive Oil 1/4 cup Sugar Marinade From Beef 1 Cup Beef Stock 1/2 cup Red Wine 1/4 cup Sour Cream Roux if needed
[1) Mix Vinegar, Beer and Seasonings, bring to a boil. Pour over Beef and Marinate 2-3 days in refrigerator. Turn twice each day. 3 or 4 days is even better.
[2) Remove meat from marinade and pat meat dry. Brown Meat in Olive oil on all sides. Sprinkle a little sugar over beef and brown. The browning does not seal in juices as many think - what browning does is develop more complex flavors - so brown it well and don't skip this step.
[3) Pour marinade into large pot and add the browned beef. Add beef stock to just barely cover meat about 2/3 or more. SIMMER 3 - 4 hours, covered, until meat is 160 to 180 °F internal temperature.
[4) When done, remove meat; Strain liquid, pressing vegetables to get all the juices. Add Red Wine to cooking liquid and reduce till flavor is correct. Add Sour Cream and mix in; thicken with roux if needed.
For a stronger and more intense flavor: * You may leave out the ginger and use crushed ginger snap cookies instead of roux to thicken the gravy. Or do both. ** You can also press cloves into the meat before marinating, 20 to 30 cloves. Be sure to remove them before cooking.
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