Once again the Instant Pot saves the day! Make this Instant Pot Sauerbraten and you will never want to make it the traditional way ever again. It's simple, tender, and absolutely delicious in a fraction of the time and effort of the traditional method of cooking.
Sauerbraten is a traditional German roast dish. It translates as sour roast because it's made with pickling spices as well as traditional roast ingredients. It can be made with a variety of different meats, but for this recipe I use beef.
Traditionally, this dish would take anywhere from 3 days to marinate, and another 5 hours to prepare and cook. Using your Instant Pot you can shave hours off that time, making this dish much more accessible as a meal and not just a special occasion dish.
Instant Pot Sauerbraten Recipe
This Instant Pot Sauerbraten is definitely a roast recipe you will want to try. This comes out incredibly tender and has a flavor like no other roast dish you've had. The ginger snaps at the end give it such an aromatic and sweet quality that you will love!
So the first thing you're going to ask me is, why did I not marinate the Sauerbraten for 3 days like any reasonable person would?
Well, I did. I marinated one batch for 3 days, another for 1.5 days and the third batch, I made with no marinating at all. And guess what?
They all tasted the same.
None of us four testers could pick out which Sauerbraten Recipe was which one. So of course, in the interests of #ruthlessefficiency, I have written the recipe so that you can slap it together on any day at all, with almost no pre-planning.
IF YOU LIKE THIS RECIPE, TRY MY INSTANT POT MALAYSIAN BEEF RENDANG RECIPE!
If you're looking for more great German recipes, check out my Instant Pot German Red Cabbage. Make this delightfully sweet and sour side vegetarian dish right in your Instant Pot.
I love cooking this in the Instant Pot because it's simple enough for a weeknight dinner, but also nice enough to present to guests. Serve it with mashed potatoes or spaetzle for the most traditional pairing. Or, if you are doing low carb, you could serve it with riced cauliflower, or steamed veggies.
? DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? DON'T FORGET TO GIVE IT A STAR RATING BELOW! JUST CLICK ON THE STARS IN THE RECIPE CARD TO RATE.
Ingredients
For the Spice Packet
- 3 tablespoons (3 tablespoons) pickling spices
- 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) juniper berries
- 2 (2 ) Bay Leaves
For the Meat
- 3 pounds (1.36 kg) beef rump roast, cut into 3 large pieces
- 2 cups (320 g) Sliced Onions
- 1 cup (128 g) large chopped carrots
- 1 cup (235 g) Chicken Broth
- 1/2 cup (119.5 ml) Red Wine Vinegar
- 1 tablespoon (1 tablespoon) Minced Ginger
- 1 tablespoon (1 tablespoon) Brown Sugar
- 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) Kosher Salt
- 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) Ground Black Pepper
For Finishing
- 1/2 cup (56.5 g) crushed gingersnaps
- 1/2 cup (115 g) sour cream, optional
- 2 tablespoons (2 tablespoons) Coarse-Ground Mustard
Instructions
- For the spice packet: Place pickling spices, juniper berries, and bay leaves into a cheesecloth bag and place into the inner liner of the Instant Pot or pressure cooker.
- Place the beef into the inner liner of the instant pot. Add onions, carrots, ginger, sugar, salt, and pepper. Pour over the red wine vinegar and chicken broth.
- Set the Instant Pot at High pressure for 40 minutes. When cook time is complete, let the pot sit undisturbed for 10 minutes, and then release all remaining pressure.
- Open the lid and remove the beef to a serving tray. Cover with foil and let it rest. Discard cheesecloth bag.
- Add in in crushed gingersnaps (if using), sour cream (if using) and mustard. Use an immersion blender to blend the vegetables until a rough sauce forms. Pour over the meat and serve.
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Nutrition
Don't forget to check out my Instant Pot Fast & Easy Cookbook!
This book is full of all kinds of boldly flavored and internationally-themed recipes–Mexican, Thai, Moroccan, and more–with Instant Pot Fast & Easy, fully authorized by Instant Pot. Just like you have come to expect, my recipes will work perfectly every time, and of course taste great too. And because these are Instant Pot recipes, dishes like Japanese Chicken Curry, Chinese Steamed Ribs, and Mexican Pulled Pork are ready in a fraction of the time they would take using traditional cooking methods. As with all of my recipes, the focus is on whole foods instead of artificial convenience ingredients, so the recipes are delicious, easy, and healthful too.
Karl
I made the recipe but only had a 1.2lb London Broil. I kept all other quantities per the recipe. I have made other versions that seared the meat first. I believe not searing made all the difference. I believe that not searing allowed the meat to absorb the marinade better.
I I didn't use mustard or sour cream since my mother never did.
This was the best since my German mother's version.
Deb
Made this for supper today following your exact recipe.It was so easy to made and turned out delicious! Will definitely make this recipe again. Will mark this A+ on this recipe page in your cookbook!
Will
Wunderbar!!! So easy and so delicious.
Darla
Easy and delicious!
Gth
Awesome Recipe! My dad every year made a similar version but
The old way and it took four days.
I served this to him tonight and he said it was better!
Always grind your cookies and add them slow after 10.
I don't grind the veg in gravy!
Works great as a Venison Recipe!
Thank You
Gth
URVASHI PITRE
Oh this makes me so happy! The seal of approval from someone who knows what the recipe should taste like! I’m so glad to hear this.
Deb Whitten
Absolutely amazing! Loved it! The spices just went crazy blending together and made such an incredible dinner - served over mashed potatoes! WOW!
URVASHI PITRE
This makes me very happy ?
Shamarie Horn
Fantastic recipe. Made it exactly as written. I wasn't expecting so much gravy. But will be great with other things later.
Tina
Is there a substitute for Red wine vinegar? Couldn't find it locally and really want to try this recipe.
Jim Tomczak
Many very old recipes,my grandmother’s (birthday 12/15/1898) mother’s recipe calls for white vinegar.
John b
The recipe says to make the cheesecloth bag, and then to discard it. It does not say where to use it.
Micha
I was just about to put the same comment.
I'm under the assumption it gets tossed in with the veggies? But the post should certainly be edited to include this information.