German Sauerbraten with Gingerbread Gravy

A classic German Sauerbraten with a unique twist – a rich, flavorful gravy thickened and spiced with crushed gingerbread cookies.

Prep Time

30 minutes

Total Time

3 hours 30 minutes

Calories

585 kcal

Difficulty

Medium

Equipment

4 items

Cost

£3.38/serving

Season:

Meal Type:

Cuisine:

Main Ingredient:

Mood:

Ingredients

Servings

3lbsBeef chuck roast(Choose a well-marbled roast)

£15.00

2cupsRed wine vinegar(Can substitute with apple cider vinegar)

£1.50

2cupsWater

1largeYellow onion(Roughly chopped)

£0.50

2mediumCarrot(Roughly chopped)

£0.30

2stalksCelery(Roughly chopped)

£0.40

2Bay leaves

£0.20

1tablespoonJuniper berries(Crushed slightly)

£0.60

1tablespoonWhole black peppercorns(Crushed slightly)

£0.25

1teaspoonAllspice berries(Crushed slightly)

£0.15

6wholeCloves

£0.10

2tablespoonsVegetable oil

£0.10

2tablespoonsAll-purpose flour

£0.05

1tablespoonBrown sugar(Adjust to taste)

£0.05

1teaspoonSalt(Adjust to taste)

£0.01

0.5teaspoonGround ginger(Optional, for extra gingerbread flavor)

£0.05

4cookiesGingerbread cookies(About 2 oz, coarsely crushed)

£1.00

Total Cost

£20.26

£3.38 per serving

Instructions

1.
**Marinate the Beef:** In a large bowl, combine the red wine vinegar, water, onion, carrot, celery, bay leaves, juniper berries, peppercorns, allspice, and cloves. Add the beef roast and ensure it is fully submerged in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 days, turning the roast once a day.
2.
**Prepare the Beef:** Remove the beef from the marinade and pat it dry with paper towels. Reserve the marinade.
3.
**Sear the Beef:** Heat the vegetable oil in a Dutch oven or large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Sear the beef on all sides until nicely browned.
4.
**Sauté Vegetables:** Remove the beef from the pot and set aside. Add the marinated vegetables to the pot and sauté until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
5.
**Make the Gravy Base:** Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Gradually pour in the reserved marinade, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Bring to a simmer.
6.
**Braise the Beef:** Return the beef to the pot. Add the brown sugar and salt. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 2.5-3 hours, or until the beef is very tender.
7.
**Finish the Gravy:** Remove the beef from the pot and set aside to rest. Skim any excess fat from the gravy. Stir in the crushed gingerbread cookies and ground ginger (if using). Simmer for 5-10 minutes, or until the gingerbread cookies have dissolved and the gravy has thickened. Adjust seasonings to taste.
8.
**Serve:** Slice the beef thinly against the grain. Serve the Sauerbraten with the gingerbread gravy. Excellent served with potato dumplings or spaetzle and red cabbage.

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My Notes

Nutrition Information

Nutrition per serving (280g)

585 kcal / 2447 kJ

Carbs

26g

10% of RDA

Fat

28g

40% of RDA

Protein

45g

90% of RDA

Detailed Breakdown

Fibre

3 g

10% of RDA

Sugar

11 g

12% of RDA

Sodium

550 mg

24% of RDA

Saturated Fat

10 g

50% of RDA

Chef's Tips

Marinating the beef for a longer time (up to 5 days) will result in a more tender and flavorful Sauerbraten.

If the gravy is too thick, add a little water or beef broth to thin it out. If it's too thin, simmer it uncovered for a few minutes to reduce it.

For a smoother gravy, you can strain it through a fine-mesh sieve before adding the gingerbread cookies.

Cooking Equipment

Large bowl

Dutch oven or large heavy pot

Tongs

Slotted spoon

Wine Pairings

No wine pairing suggestions available for this recipe.

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Chef's Tips

Marinating the beef for a longer time (up to 5 days) will result in a more tender and flavorful Sauerbraten.

If the gravy is too thick, add a little water or beef broth to thin it out. If it's too thin, simmer it uncovered for a few minutes to reduce it.

For a smoother gravy, you can strain it through a fine-mesh sieve before adding the gingerbread cookies.

German Sauerbraten with Gingerbread Gravy

Ingredients

Instructions