Sauer Braten = Happy Germans

Sauer Braten is a German pot roast, it has a sour taste to it and when cooking it you can really smell the red wine vinegar. We really enjoy it, if it's been a while since I've made it my family requests it like this: We better have Dad (or Grmpa) over for supper and you can make Sauer Braten. They all help-alot, and are more than willing to peel alot of spuds.

Sauer Braten

3-4 lbs bottom round roast
4 tbls. oil
salt & pepper to taste
4 cloves garlic-finely chopped (I use a garlic press)
2 large onions thinly sliced
2 bay leaves
1/2 can tomato paste
1/4 cup ketchup
1 cup red wine vinegar
2 cups red cooking wine
2 cups water
1-2 tsp. Lawrys
1/2 cup sour cream

What you see below is a doubled recipe--feeding teenage boys. When I double this I don't always double the cooking wine, I just use 1 bottle of red wine vinegar and 1 bottle of cooking wine. No one has ever noticed the difference or complained.

Braze the roast, 2 tbls. oil, salt, and pepper. Set aside.

Slice onions very thin.

Saute 2 tbls oil, garlic, and onions in stock pot until almost golden, but not to tender.To the stock pot of sauteed garlic and onions add: brazed roast, bay leaves, tomato paste, ketchup, red wine vinegar, red cooking wine, water, and Lawrys. Simmer 1 hour, turn roast, and simmer 1-2 hours.

Remove roast and slice a bit less than 1/2 inch, return to stock pot, bring to boil then reduce to simmer for 1/2 hour. Most of the onions will cook into the mixture.

Add 1/2 cup sour cream, stir in well. You can pull the bay leaves out if you wish, I don't bother.

Serve over mashed potatoes or egg noodles, my family prefers mashed potatoes . I have never served instant potatoes with Sauer Braten, I think they would be to mushy. I mash the potatoes on the dry side because the sauce is not thick and the potatoes will get soupy. This meal is worth the work. Sometimes I will prepare it part way, refrigerate over night and then finish the process the next day, especially if we have it for dinner (dinner as in the noon meal).