pat's Recipe

Ritter's Inn Sauerbraten and Dumplings

Category: German Beef Entrees

Ingredients
1 sirloin tip roast (about 2 lbs.)
4 1/2 C. red wine vinegar (divided)
1/4 C. plus 1 Tbs. pickling spice (divided)
1 C. chopped onion plus 1/4 C. diced onion (divided)
1 C. chopped carrots
1 C. chopped celery
1/2 of a 24-oz.. loaf German rye bread, torn into medium-size pieces
1 C. chicken stock
2 eggs
1 3/4 C. flour (divided)
1 qt. beef stock
1/2 C. white vinegar
4 oz.. gingersnap cookies
1 1/2 C. sugar
3/4 C. vegetable oil

Directions

Marinate meat in mixture of 4 C. red wine vinegar, 1/4 C. pickling spice, 1 C. chopped onion, carrot and celery in covered container in refrigerator 5 days. Remove meat from marinade; reserve marinade. Set meat, uncovered, in medium-size Dutch oven or roasting pan, to which about 1 to 2 Cups of reserved marinade have been added. Marinade should reach a depth of about 1 inch in pan. Bake at 350 degrees 1 1/2 hours. When done, remove meat and cool slightly in order to cut. While meat is cooking, make dumplings and gravy.



To make dumplings, bring pot of water to boil. While water is heating, combine bread and chicken stock in large bowl. Saturate bread well. Add eggs, remaining 1/4 C. chopped onion and 1 C. flour. Stir by hand until stiff dough is formed. Shape into 2-inch balls and drop into boiling water. Cook 15 minutes or until dumplings float to top and are firm.



To make gravy, in 4-quart pot combine reserved marinade, using up to 4 C., with beef stock, remaining 1/2 C. red wine vinegar, white vinegar, remaining 1 Tbs. pickling spice, gingersnaps and sugar. Simmer 30 minutes. Combine oil with remaining 3/4 C. flour; stir until smooth. Gradually add to gravy, stirring constantly until thickened. If gravy is not stirred constantly, it will scorch. Mixture should be the consistency of thick gravy. When done, strain gravy through a sieve and disCard solid pieces. To serve, slice meat and add to gravy in pot. Heat through. When meat is warmed, add dumplings and heat through.

Yields: 6 to 8 servings