This is a longtime standby recipe that my mother used to make before I was even born. You can use a less tender cut of meat (in fact I often use moose meat, though good old beef is excellent) and place it in a marinade for two days. In these economic times less expensive meat sure helps the budget. It is slow cooked, then sliced, and its swee-and-sour sauce is complemented by bland potatoes, thin slice of dark bread, and butter.
- Portion size 10 servings
- Credits : dreitza
Ingredients
Gravy:
Method
Two days before you plan to use it, put the beef in a deep glass or pottery bowl. In a saucepan, mix the wine, salt, peppercorns, onion slices, bay leaves and pickling spices with 2 cups water and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat. When it is cool, pour over the beef. Cover the bowl tightly with foil and refrigerate for at least two days, turning the meat in the marinade twice a day.Preheat the oven to 350F (180C). Melt the shortening in a covered roasting pan or casserole. Remove the meat from the marinade, pat it dry with paper towels, and brown it well on all sides in the hot shortening. Drain off the fat, strain the marinade, and pour it over the meat. Cover and cook in the oven for 2-2 1/2 hours, or until tender. Remove the meat and keep warm on a platter. Put the roasting pan on a burner and add the gingersnap crumbs, stirring until the gravy is smooth and thickened. Stir in the sour cream, letting it get hot but not allowing it to boil, lest it curdle. Slice the meat, pour the gravy into a sauce bowl, and serve with the sauerbraten.
