For The Best Pot Roast Of Your Life, Make It German-Style With This Unexpected Ingredient

When making a traditional pot roast, most people imagine classic seasonings that belong in a roast, along with ingredients such as succulent beef paired with carrots, onions, and potatoes in a rich brown gravy. However, there's another way to enjoy pot roast using one particular ingredient that will make the flavor pop in unexpected ways: ginger snap cookies. They make up part of a German-style pot roast recipe that may be your next favorite dish.

This German-style take on pot roast is called sauerbraten, which translates to sour or picked roast. This pot roast is actually a sweet and somewhat sour beef roast that will surprise you with its unique flavor. One ingredient in a recipe for sauerbraten that will stand out is ginger snap cookies. Ground ginger snap cookies act as a thickener for the gravy while also adding a subtly sweet flavor. You may find some recipes for sauerbraten calling for gingerbread cookies; however, there's a subtle difference between ginger snaps and gingerbread. Many consider sauerbraten to be Germany's national pot roast, and it may become your preferred roast for special occasions or dinnertime comfort food. There are a few ways to make sauerbraten; some variations are prepared the traditional way, while there are also quick versions, though they both use ginger snaps.

The traditional version of sauerbraten involves a meat marinating process that was originally used by the Romans, who utilized vinegar and spices to preserve meat. This technique was developed across Germany for centuries, where the recipe evolved in unique ways according to regional variation. Essentially, to make German-style pot roast, meat such as chuck roast (or any tough cut you'd typically use for an American-style pot roast) is marinated for about three days in a combination of broth, red wine, red wine vinegar, spices, and herbs, with some variations calling for raisins or juniper berries. This is one difference from traditional pot roast tips and techniques that are used in the United States, though some cooking methods, such as choosing the right meat and using the best braising liquid, are the same. After marinating the meat for sauerbraten, it should be simmered with the marinade liquid until tender. At this point, the ground ginger snaps are added to the pot and stirred, which will create a sweet, thick gravy.

There's also an easier way to make German-style pot roast using a slow cooker. After searing a beef chuck roast in olive to seal in the flavor, add it to the slow cooker with Heinz-style chili sauce and ginger snap cookies, and heat it for about five hours. An hour before the beef is finished, add carrots. This technique will make a cozy pot roast in the German style that will deliver the sweet ginger snap flavor and the sour, tangy chili sauce along with tender, flavorful beef. Either method you use will make a tender roast with a notable flavor that will be your next star meal.