Rheinische Sauerbraten: It is probably the sweetest of the recipes. Not only are differences in the recipes but also differences in the sides that are served with the Sauerbraten. Similar recipes can be found in Baden, Bavaria, Westfalia, and Saxony. Regional DifferencesĪlthough the Rheinische Sauerbraten is the most famous dish, it is not the only way to prepare it. However nowadays beef is the cut of meat of choice. Originally they used horsemeat or game for this dish. Locals loved this dish and so the Rheinische Sauerbraten was born. The raisins for the sauce he already had in his pockets, as he brought them with him from Tuscany. So he asked to conserve his meat in vinegar. During their march from Bonn and Cologne to Aachen, his army encountered unexpected hot weather. According to a popular legend, no one less but Julius Cesar came up with the idea. The origin of the Sauerbraten recipe is believed to have a Roman influence. The name 'Sauerbraten' literally translates as 'Sour Roast', where 'Sauer' is the word for 'sour' in German and 'Braten' is the word for 'roast meat'.

To achieve the sweet and sour taste it is additionally sweetened with sugar, honey, or lebkuchen (gingerbread cake). Once the meat is cooked, the roasting juices and marinade are boiled down to a delicious sauce. The meat is slowly roasted in the marinade which is thinned with broth. Sauerbraten is a traditional German dish, where the meat is marinated in vinegar and wine marinade for up to 10 days.

This recipe was brought to me by my friend Dana who comes from Düsseldorf, which lies in the Rhineland - one of the regions associated with Sauerbraten. Yes, you need to marinate it for a minimum of four days and it takes about 2.5 hours in the oven, but apart from that the recipe is actually really easy to make! A slow-cooked marinated beef roast served with a delicious sweet and sour sauce. This German Rheinischer Sauerbraten recipe has been a hit ever since I introduced it to my family.

Sauerbraten recipe crock pot