Alton Brown Sauerbraten Recipe Authentic Recipes

CORNED BEEF

Steps:

• Place the water into a large 6 to 8 quart stockpot along with salt, sugar, saltpeter, cinnamon stick, mustard seeds, peppercorns, cloves, allspice, juniper berries, bay leaves and ginger. Cook over high heat until the salt and sugar have dissolved. Remove from the heat and add the ice. Stir until the ice has melted. If necessary, place the brine into the refrigerator until it reaches a temperature of 45 degrees F. Once it has cooled, place the brisket in a 2-gallon zip top bag and add the brine. Seal and lay flat inside a container, cover and place in the refrigerator for 10 days. Check daily to make sure the beef is completely submerged and stir the brine.
• After 10 days, remove from the brine and rinse well under cool water. Place the brisket into a pot just large enough to hold the meat, add the onion, carrot and celery and cover with water by 1-inch. Set over high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and gently simmer for 2 1/2 to 3 hours or until the meat is fork tender. Remove from the pot and thinly slice across the grain.

SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• In large mixing bowl, mix cabbage thoroughly with salt, juniper berries, and caraway seeds, using hands or tongs. If using your hands, make sure that they are very clean prior to mixing. Let stand for 10 minutes.
• Pack cabbage mixture down into a large plastic food container. Top with a lid smaller than the opening of the container and place a glass jar filled with the quart of water on top of the lid. Place in cool area overnight (65 to 70 degrees F). In a day, the cabbage should have given up enough liquid to be completely submerged. The jar serves as a weight to keep the cabbage submerged and away from air.
• Check cabbage every other day for approximately 2 weeks and skim the surface of scum, if necessary. Let stand for 4 weeks. Transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 6 months.

TRADITIONAL SAUERBRATEN

Steps:

• Place beef rump roast, onions, vinegar, water, 1 tablespoon salt, 1 tablespoon black pepper, sugar, cloves, and bay leaves in a large pot. Cover and refrigerate for 2 to 3 days, turning meat daily. Remove meat from marinade and pat dry with paper towels, reserving marinade.
• Season flour to taste with salt and black pepper in a large bowl. Sprinkle flour mixture over beef.
• Heat vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium heat; cook beef until brown on all sides, about 10 minutes. Pour reserved marinade over beef, cover, and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until beef is tender, 3 1/2 to 4 hours. Remove beef to a platter and slice.
• Strain solids from remaining liquid and continue cooking over medium heat. Add gingersnap cookies and simmer until gravy is thickened about 10 minutes. Serve gravy over sliced beef.

ALTON BROWN'S 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 3-5 days. (If the meat is not completely submerged in the liquid, turn it over once a day.). I marinated mine for 5 days.
• After 3-5 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. (The gravy won't thicken until you remove it from the heat.).
• 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.

SAUERBRATEN

Steps:

• Combine the water, vinegars, onion, carrot, salt, pepper, bay leaves, cloves, juniper berries, and mustard seeds in a large saucepan set over high heat. Cover and bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Pat the bottom round dry, then 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, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
• When the marinade is cool to the touch, place the meat in a non-reactive vessel (like a 4-quart stainless-steel pan with a lid) and pour the marinade over it. Place in the refrigerator for 3 days. If the meat is not completely submerged in the liquid, turn it over once per day.
• After 3 days of marinating, heat the oven to 325ºF. Add the sugar to the meat and marinade, cover, and cook on the middle rack of the oven 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 the suace has 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.

CLASSIC SAUERBRATEN

Steps:

• Combine first 8 ingredients in large saucepan and bring to boil. Cool.
• Place beef in bowl slightly larger that beef. Pour marinade over. Cover and chill 2 days, turning beef twice daily.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Remove beef from marinade and place in roasting pan; reserve marinade. Roast beef until tender, about 2 hours. Transfer beef to carving board; cool. Pour any accumulated juices from roasting pan into marinade. Strain marinade (do not clean roasting pan).
• Mix 1/4 cup oil and flour in heavy large skillet. Stir over medium heat until dark brown, about 10 minutes. Gradually mix in 2 cups marinade (discard any remaining marinade) and broth. Boil until thick, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Mix in sugar and cookie crumbs. Pour into roasting pan and place over medium-high heat. Bring to boil, scraping up any browned bits. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Slice beef and arrange in large baking dish. Pour sauce over meat. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and chill).
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Bake beef until heated through, about 15 minutes.

AUTHENTIC SAUERBRATEN

Steps:

• Place the beef roast in a deep ceramic or glass bowl. Add onions, peppercorns, cloves, and bay leaf. Pour white vinegar and cider vinegar over the meat; 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 onions and 1 cup marinade.
• 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 gingersna ps, and simmer covered for 1 1/2 hours. Turn often.
• Add 1 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.
• 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 meat in 1/4 inch slices; add to hot gravy.
• Arrange meat on a heated plater and pour extra sauce over it.