Authentic German Rouladen
User Reviews
5
488 reviews
Excellent
-
Prep Time
30 mins
-
Cook Time
1 hr 55 mins
-
Total Time
2 hrs 25 mins
-
Servings
4 servings
-
Calories
392 kcal
-
Course
Main Course
-
Cuisine
German
Authentic German Rouladen
Report
Authentic German Rouladen features thinly pounded beef slices rolled around a filling of bacon, mustard, pickles, and onions. The beef rolls are browned before being braised in a richly flavored gravy made with vegetables, red wine, and beef broth, resulting in tender meat wrapped around savory fillings. This traditional dish highlights the contrast between smoky bacon, tangy pickles, and tender beef.
Description
To prepare, beef top round slices are pounded thin and spread with yellow German mustard, then topped with bacon strips, sliced pickles, and chopped onions before being rolled tightly and secured. The rouladen are browned in butter and oil to develop flavor and texture.
The gravy is made in the same pot by sautéing onions, garlic, leek, carrots, and celery, then deglazing with dry red wine and adding beef broth, tomato paste, bay leaf, and seasoning. The rouladen are returned to the pot to braise until tender, allowing flavors to meld and the beef to soften. The gravy is finished with butter and thickened to a smooth consistency.
This dish is served with rich gravy coating the rouladen, making it suitable for hearty dinners. Typically, two rouladen per person are served, but larger rouladen are an option if preferred.
Share:
Ingredients
- For the Rouladen:
- 8 top round beef ask your butcher), gently pound the slices with a meat mallet until they're a little thinner than 1/4 inch (be careful not to pound holes into them, slices about 4x6 inches and 1/4 inch thick (*see note
- 1/3 cup yellow mustard German
- 8 lices Bacon
- 8 medium pickles sliced lengthwise, German style
- 1 medium yellow onion , chopped
- salt freshly ground
- black pepper freshly ground
- For the gravy:
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon neutral cooking oil I use avocado oil because it's ideal for high heat, generic cooking oil
- 1 medium yellow onion , chopped
- 1 clove garlic , minced
- 1 small leek , chopped, rinsed and drained in colander
- 1 large carrot , chopped
- 1 large celery chopped, stalk
- 1 cup red wine dry
- 2 cups beef broth strong
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
- 4 tablespoons butter chilled
- cornstarch depending on how much gravy liquid there is you'll need about 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch dissolved in 2-3 tablespoons of water or 2-3 tablespoons flour dissolved in 1/4 - 1/3 cup water, or flour dissolved in a little water for thickening
Instructions
- Lay the beef slices out on a work surface. Spread each beef slices with about 2 teaspoons of mustard and sprinkle with a little salt and freshly ground black pepper. Place a strip of bacon on each beef slice so it's running the same length as the beef. Place the sliced German pickles and chopped onions on each beef slice. Roll up the beef slices, tucking in the sides as best you can and securing the beef rolls with toothpicks or cooking twine.
- Heat the butter and oil in a heavy Dutch oven or pot (make sure it's oven-safe if baking in the oven) and generously brown the rouladen on all sides. Browning them well will ensure a rich and flavorful gravy. Set the rouladen aside on a plate.
- *Do not remove the browned bits in the bottom of the pan (important for a flavorful gravy): Add the onions to the pot and a little more butter or oil if needed. Cook the onions until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute. Add the leek, carrots and celery and cook for another 5 minutes. Pour in the red wine, bring to a rapid boil for one minute, reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 2-3 more minutes. Add the beef broth, tomato paste, bay leaf, sugar, salt and pepper.
- Nestle the beef rouladen in the pot. Oven or Stovetop: You can cook the rouladen, covered, on the stovetop on low for about 90 minutes or until fork tender, but for the most even cooking we recommend transferring the pot (make sure it's oven-safe) to the oven preheated to 325 F and cook it there for about 90 minutes or until fork tender.
- To Make the Rouladen Gravy:When the beef is fork tender, remove the rouladen from the pot and set aside. Pour the liquid and vegetables through a strainer and reserve the liquid. (You can eat the veggies on the side or puree them in the blender and then return them to the gravy.) Return the strained liquid back to the pot and bring to a simmer. Thicken the gravy either with either a cornstarch slurry (for a clear/translucent gravy) or flour slurry (for an opaque gravy). For a creamy gravy you can also add a few tablespoons of heavy cream at this point. Simmer, whisking constantly, until the gravy is thickened.Add the chilled butter, whisking constantly, until the butter is melted and incorporated. Add salt, pepper and mustard to taste. Note: If you prefer a creamy gravy you can stir in some heavy cream.Carefully remove the toothpicks or cooking twine from the rouladen and return them to the gravy and heat through.
- Serve the rouladen and gravy with Homemade Rotkohl and either Homemade Spätzle, Homemade SemmelKnödel (or Kartoffelknödel) or boiled potatoes.
Equipments used:
Notes
- This recipe yields approximately two rouladen per person, which can be adjusted for appetite or serving preferences.
- For larger servings, consider making one large rouladen per person instead of two smaller ones.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Serving
2rouladen
Calories
392kcal
(20%)
Carbohydrates
12g
(4%)
Protein
39g
(78%)
Fat
26g
(40%)
Saturated Fat
11g
(55%)
Cholesterol
97mg
(32%)
Sodium
1121mg
(47%)
Potassium
360mg
(8%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
3g
(6%)
Vitamin A
2073IU
(41%)
Vitamin C
5mg
(6%)
Calcium
54mg
(5%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 392 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 2rouladen | |
| Calories | 392kcal | 20% |
| Carbohydrates | 12g | 4% |
| Protein | 39g | 78% |
| Fat | 26g | 40% |
| Saturated Fat | 11g | 55% |
| Cholesterol | 97mg | 32% |
| Sodium | 1121mg | 47% |
| Potassium | 360mg | 8% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 3g | 6% |
| Vitamin A | 2073IU | 41% |
| Vitamin C | 5mg | 6% |
| Calcium | 54mg | 5% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
488 reviews
Excellent
Other Recipes
You'll Also Love
