Sauerbraten

Photo by Lynne Calamia

📝 Ingredients

• 2 cups water
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 large carrot, chopped
• 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided, plus extra for serving
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus extra for serving
• 2 bay leaves
• 6 whole cloves
• 12 whole juniper berries
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1 (3 1/2- to 4-pound) bottom round
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 18 dark old-fashioned gingersnaps (2-inch diameter), finely crushed
• 1/2 cup seedless raisins, optional

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Combine the water, vinegars, onion, carrot, 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon of the salt, pepper, bay leaves, cloves, juniper berries, and mustard seeds in a large saucepan set over high heat. Cover and bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
2. 2Pat the bottom round dry, then rub with vegetable oil and remaining 1 teaspoon of salt on all sides. Heat a large saute pan over high heat, add the meat and brown on all sides, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
3. 3When the marinade is cool to the touch, place the meat in a non-reactive vessel (like a 4-quart stainless-steel pan with a lid) and pour the marinade over it. Place in the refrigerator for 3 days. If the meat is not completely submerged in the liquid, turn it over once per day.
4. 4After 3 days of marinating, heat the oven to 325ºF. Add the sugar to the meat and marinade, cover, and cook on the middle rack of the oven until tender, approximately 4 hours.
5. 5Remove the meat from the vessel and keep warm. Strain the liquid to remove the solids. Return the liquid to the pan and place over medium-high heat. Whisk in the gingersnaps and cook until the sauce has thickened, 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Strain the sauce through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any lumps and stir in the raisins. Slice the meat, season with additional salt and pepper, if desired, and serve with the sauce.