Authentic German Hunter Sauce Recipes

JAGER SAUCE (GERMAN HUNTER SAUCE)

Steps:

• Wash the mushrooms and slice them into 0.5 cm thick slices. Peel and finely chop the onion. Chop the parsley finely.
• In a frying pan heat up 1 tbsp butter/oil/lard. Fry the mushrooms until they start to brown. They should not start to "shrink" yet. Remove the mushrooms from the pan and set them aside.
• Using a further tbsp butter/oil/lard fry the onions. Add the tomato paste just when they begin to brown, and fry for a further minute. Deglaze with the vegetable stock/broth and cream.
• Add the mushrooms back in and season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the thyme, parsley and balsamic vinegar and cook the sauce until you achieve the desired consistency.
• If you like the sauce to be thicker, mix 1 tbsp of cornstarch with 2 tbsp of water. Add to the sauce. Bring the liquid back to a boil. If the sauce is too thick for your liking, you can add more vegetable broth or milk.

JAGERSCHNITZEL WITH BACON MUSHROOM GRAVY (JAGER = HUNTER)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Pound pork slices between sheets of plastic wrap to 1/4-inch thickness. In a shallow medium bowl, mix together 3/4 cup flour with salt, pepper, garlic and paprika. In another shallow medium bowl, combine egg, milk and mustard. In another medium shallow bowl, combine cracker and panko crumbs. Dredge pork slices first in flour, then in egg wash, and finally in crumbs. Let set on a baking sheet fitted with a cooling rack for 5 minutes.
• In a medium saute pan over medium heat cook the bacon until crispy. Remove from pan to drain on paper towels. In same pan with bacon fat, add onions and saute for 3 minutes. Add mushrooms and continue sauteing for 2 minutes. Stir in 1/4 cup flour. Cook flour to make roux until light brown, about 2 minutes. Add wine and cook for 3 minutes, reducing by 1/3, then add stock. Continue cooking to reduce by 1/3 again. Season with salt and pepper. Keep warm.
• Heat 1/4-inch oil in thick saute pan or cast iron skillet to 350 degrees F. Cook pork evenly on both sides, about 5 minutes for the first side, 3 to 4 minutes for the second. Remove to platter when done. Add butter to sauce, stirring until it has melted. To serve, cover pork with sauce. Sprinkle with chopped bacon and fresh parsley to garnish.

GESCHNETZELTES (CREAMY HUNTER'S SAUCE)

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a stainless steel skillet over medium-high heat and brown the pork on all sides. Transfer the pork to a plate and set aside.
• Add the onions to the skillet, adding more oil if necessary, and saute until translucent and beginning to brown, about 5-7 minutes. Add the mushrooms and saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Transfer the onion mushroom mixture to pork and set aside.
• Melt the butter in the skillet and whisk in the flour, continuing to whisk until the mixture is a rich caramel brown. Add the milk and heavy cream, whisking continually, until the mixture is smooth and thickened.
• Add the paprika and crumble in the beef bouillon and whisk until smooth.
• Return the meat mixture to the sauce and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add more milk if the sauce is too thick, or add a flour slurry to thicken.
• Serve immediately with hot spaetzle or egg noodles and a fresh green salad.

SEMI-CLASSIC HUNTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Seed the tomatoes, reserving juices. Finely chop the tomatoes and set aside.
• Combine the beef stock in a three-quart saucepan with one cup of the wine, the reserved tomato liquid and the onion, celery, carrots, peppercorns and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for one to one-and-a-half hours, until reduced to about two cups. Strain the liquid into a bowl and discard the solids. Return the broth to the saucepan and hold over a low flame.
• While the broth is reducing, wipe the mushrooms clean and remove any tough stems. Cut the caps into quarter-inch dice.
• Heat three tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced mushrooms and optional mushroom powder and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are tender and lightly browned, about five to seven minutes. Add the Cognac or brandy and cook, stirring, until the liquids are reduced to just a glaze. Set aside.
• Heat the remaining tablespoon of butter and the olive oil in a two-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallots and sage and saute until soft but not browned, about five to seven minutes. Sprinkle with flour and cook, stirring constantly, until the shallots are coated. Raise the heat, pour in warm broth and cook, stirring, until well blended. Add the remaining half cup of wine, the diced tomatoes and sauteed mushrooms. Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, until the sauce is slightly thickened and the flavors are incorporated.
• Serve with roast or sauteed chicken or veal, or over other meats.

HUNTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Saute bacon in 1 tablespoons olive oil until golden brown.
• remove bacon to a bowl and saute onion in drippings until soft.
• remove to bowl with bacon.
• saute mushrooms in remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil.
• return bacon and onions to skillet.
• add tomato paste, thyme, salt, pepper, and paprika.
• stir until tomato paste is dissolved.
• add wine and reduce over medium heat for 5 minutes.
• add beef broth and reduce over medium heat for 10 minutes.
• stir in creme fraiche and parsley until heated through.
• spoon over sauteed chicken breasts or veal/pork scallopine.