Description
Traditional German Beef Rouladen begins with top round steak thinly sliced, then spread with mustard, bacon, onions and wrapped around a mini pickle! Brown, then braise in a beef gravy made with vegetable broth.
Ingredients
- 3 pounds Top round steak, sliced 1/2-inch thick, trimmed of all fat, and pounded 1/4-inch thick
- 6 teaspoons Dusseldorf or any German-style prepared mustard
- 1/4 cup finely chopped Onion
- 12 slices lean Bacon, cut into approximate 1/2inch pieces, cook to tender but not crisp (drain)
- 3 Claussen dill pickles (refrigerated section by hotdogs) chop to relish size
- Pepper
- fresh Nutmeg
- 3 tablespoons Lard (or reserved bacon fat)
- 2 cups Water
- 1 cup coarsely chopped Celery
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced Leeks, white part only
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped scraped Parsnip
- 3 Parsley sprigs
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- Ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Butter
- 2 tablespoons Flour
- Kitchen cord or toothpicks
Instructions
PREPPING
- Clean and prep vegetables
- Cook bacon
ROCK 'N ROLL
- Spread each rectangle with:
- A teaspoon of mustard
- Next, sprinkle it with approx. 2 teaspoons of onions
- Then sprinkle lightly with pepper and fresh ground nutmeg
- Now place pieces of cooked bacon down the center
- Lastly, sprinkle about 2 teaspoons of diced pickle
- Roll the meat, jelly-roll style, into a cylinder (tuck sides in as needed as you roll)
- Tie the rolls at each end and in the middle with kitchen cord or tuck with toothpicks
BROWNING
- In a heavy 10-12 inch skillet melt the lard (or use reserved bacon fat) over moderate heat until it begins to sputter.
- Add the beef rolls, and brown them on all sides, regulating the heat so they color quickly and evenly without burning.
- Transfer the rolls to a plate.
SLOW COOKING
- Pour the water into the skillet and bring to a boil, meanwhile scraping in any brown particles that are clinging to the bottom and sides of the pan
- Add the celery, leeks, parsnip, parsley and salt, and return the beef rolls to the skillet
- Cover and reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 1 hour, or until the meat shows no resistance when pierced with a fork
- Turn the rolls once or twice during the cooking period
- Transfer the rolls to a heated platter, and cover with foil to keep them warm while you make the sauce
PREP TO GRAVY
- Strain the cooking liquid left in the skillet through a fine sieve, pressing down hard on the vegetables before discarding them
- Measure the liquid, return it to the skillet, and boil briskly until it is reduced to 2 cups
- Remove from the heat.
MAKING THE GRAVY
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan over moderate heat and, when the foam subsides, sprinkle in the flour
- Lower the heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the flour is golden brown. Be careful not to let it burn.
- Gradually add the reduced cooking liquid, beating vigorously with a whisk until the sauce is smooth and thick
- Add a little ketchup
- Taste for seasoning and return the sauce and the Rouladen to the skillet
- Simmer over low heat only long enough to heat the rolls through
- Serve the rolls on a heated platter and pour the sauce over them
Notes
Make sure to listen to Ruth's episode 168: A Wedding Feast to Last a Lifetime while making your beef rouladen!
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Beef Dishes, Main
- Cuisine: German
Nutrition
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 1.122
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 6
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 65
- Cholesterol: 180