Rouladen (2024)

Delicious Beef Rouladen is rolls of tender, braised beef wrapped around bacon and match-sticked carrots, onions and pickles, smothered in delicious gravy. It is traditional German comfort food perfect for a cozy meal on a cold, gray day!

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I’m so excited to add this simple Rouladen recipe to compliation of my favorite International foods. I can thank my Dad (who lived in Germany as a young adult), and some good German friends of ours from growing up, for my love of good German food!

In Germany, Rouladen are often served as Sunday dinner, the way the Brits do a post roast. Both the mustard and the slower, longer cook time with moist heat (braising) make for fall-apart tenderness in the meat. Getting the right meat cut to the right thickness 1/8″-1/4″ and dimensions 8-10″ long and 4-5″ wide is important so it’s best to have your butcher do it for you. Particularly in Pennsylvania and other parts of the Northeast and Midwest traditionally settled by Germans, this dish is popular and butchers know exactly what you need.

As a point of interest, “roulade” is actually French for something that is rolled up and this dish is also popular in neighboring areas that share a culinary history, particularly Poland and Hungary. If you like this kind of cooking you should definitely check out our Porkolt (Hungarian Stew) recipe.

Ingredients for German Rouladen:

  • 2-3 lb. Round Roast (sliced length-wise to an 1/8″ thickness)
  • Bacon, if desired.
  • 1 onion (thinly sliced).
  • 2 carrots (match sticked).
  • 2 dill pickles (match sticked).
  • Mustard: German style if available, or Dijon.
  • Salt and Pepper.
  • Toothpicks.

How to make German Rouladen:

Lay out each slice of beef, pound lightly with a meat tenderizer (optional), schmear generously with mustard and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

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Add fillings: Place a slice of bacon (optional) on each slice of beef and distribute the match-sticked veggies (pickles, carrots and onions).

Roll up tightly and secure with a toothpick or two.

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Brown the rouladen on each side in a hot Dutch oven. Add a little water or broth and simmer for 2 hours.

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Make gravy from the juices. Remove Rouladen and bring juices to a boil.Thicken with cornstarch dissolved in 1 tablespoon of water.

Serve covered in gravy. Reserve some gravy for the Spaetzle or potatoes.

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Alternate Slow Cooker method:

To have dinner almost ready when you get home and for rouladen that are particularly tender, place the browned rouladen in the slow cooker on low and allow to cook while you are at work!

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Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions:

To Make Ahead:

Raw rouladen can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for the next day. Cooked rouladen can be stored in the fridge for several days. Ideally, leave out for half an hour to an hour prior to reheating at 250 degrees for 25 minutes, covered.

To Freeze:

Rouladen can be frozen raw or cooked. Freeze on a cookie sheet or in a roasting pan, then transfer to a freezer bag or other freezer-friendly container and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to use, thaw in the fridge overnight.

What to serve with Rouladen:

Treat your family to an authentic German meal by serving Beef rouladen with Spaetzle and Red Cabbage (Rotkohl)! Germans also serve Rouladen with peeled, halved, boiled yellow potatoes, mashed potatoes or rice. All are exquisite when drenched in the from scratch beef gravy that is a side product of the recipe.

Recipe

Rouladen (7)

4.99 from 50 votes

Rouladen

Delicious Rouladen is rolls of tender, braised beef wrapped around bacon and match-sticked carrots, onions and pickles, smothered in delicious gravy.

Course Main Course

Cuisine German

Servings 8

Calories 273

Cost 7

Prep 15 minutes mins

Cook 2 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

Total 2 hours hrs 35 minutes mins

Save Recipe

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2-3 lbs Round Roast* (have butcher slice thinly- length wise @ ⅛ “ thick)
  • 8-12 slices bacon , optional
  • 1 onion very thinly sliced
  • 2 carrots very thinly sliced, julienne
  • 2 whole dill pickles thinly sliced,
  • 1/2 cup German mustard* or dijon
  • Salt and Pepper
  • toothpicks
  • 2 Tablespoons butter or oil , or a combination
  • 1 cup water or beef broth

Instructions

  • Cut the onion, carrot and pickle in match-stick style pieces.

  • Lay out the thin slices of meat and each spread generously with mustard and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

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  • Place bacon on top (if using) and then pickle, carrot and onion along the meat. Roll up tightly and secure with toothpicks.

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  • Heat a large dutch oven or pot over medium-high heat. Add butter or oil. Add cook, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides.

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  • Add 1 cup water or beef broth to the pot and scape up any browned bits from the pan. Cover pot and simmer on low for 2 hours.

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  • Remove Rouladen to a plate and bring juices in the pot to a boil. Thicken with cornstarch dissolved in 1 Tablespoon of water. Taste gravy and add additional salt, pepper, or beef bouillon granules, if desired.

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  • Remove toothpicks from the Rouladen and serve with gravy spooned on top.

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Notes

Beef for Rouladen: Use top round roast (sometimes called topside or beef round roast) beef for Rouladen, and more importantly, ask your butcher to cut it for you! You want long thin slices about ¼ inches thick and 6-10 inches long and 4-5 inches wide.

Mustard: I’ve found really great German Mustard at Wold Market.

Mushrooms: Could be sautéed and added to (or cooked with) the gravy, if desired.

Serve Rouladen with: Spaetzle and Red Cabbage (Rotkohl) or peeled, halved, boiled yellow potatoes, mashed potatoes or rice.

Make Ahead Instructions: Raw rouladen can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for the next day. Cooked rouladen can be stored in the fridge for several days. Ideally, leave out for half an hour to an hour prior to reheating at 250 degrees for 25 minutes, covered.

Freezing Instructions: Rouladen can be frozen raw or cooked. Freeze on a cookie sheet or in a roasting pan, then transfer to a freezer bag or other freezer-friendly container and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to use, thaw in the fridge overnight.

Nutrition

Calories: 273kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 29gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 85mgSodium: 399mgPotassium: 521mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 2568IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 40mgIron: 3mg

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About The Author

Rouladen (18)

Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

Rouladen (2024)

FAQs

What cut of meat is Rouladen made from? ›

Beef for Rouladen: Use top round roast (sometimes called topside or beef round roast) beef for Rouladen, and more importantly, ask your butcher to cut it for you! You want long thin slices about ¼ inches thick and 6-10 inches long and 4-5 inches wide. Mustard: I've found really great German Mustard at Wold Market.

Can you use bottom round for rouladen? ›

If using beef, you will need 8 large slices of top or bottom round beef. I buy 1½-2 lb. (750-1000g) beef and have the meat department slice it thinly (about ½” thick) as if for scallopini. Choose a piece of beef that doesn't have the silver strip of gristle running through it.

What ethnicity is Rouladen? ›

(As you know since you searched for it) Beef Rouladen is a traditional German dish made for special occasions, like Christmas or a wedding.

Can you bake rouladen in the oven? ›

Deglaze with red wine and cook until the wine is almost gone, or au sec. Pour in the beef stock, season well with salt and pepper, and then add the beef rouladen back into the pan. Bake in the oven at 325 for about 90 minutes or until the beef is very tender.

What does Rouladen mean in English? ›

: a slice of usually stuffed meat that is rolled, browned, and steamed or braised.

What is the best cut of beef for schnitzel? ›

The best beef cuts for making schnitzels are thin beef escalopes or thinly sliced boneless shoulder steak or topside. If you are slicing the meat yourself, you will need to use a meat tenderiser to ensure the meat is extra tender.

What does the word roulade mean in German? ›

noun. roll [noun] a small piece of baked bread dough, used eg for sandwiches. a cheese roll. (Translation of Roulade from the PASSWORD German–English Dictionary © 2014 K Dictionaries Ltd)

Can you freeze Rouladen? ›

To Freeze Rouladen

Simply prepare as directed, place in a single layer on a baking sheet, and freeze. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer bag or air-tight container. To enjoy from frozen, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and cook as directed in the recipe.

What are other names for Rouladen? ›

Interesting Rouladen Facts

Some of the interesting names are beef birds, olive birds, steak birds, bacon rolls, and stuffed rolls. These are filled with a variety of ingredients, such as vegetables, cheese, and other meats.

Do you cook rouladen covered or uncovered? ›

Heat canola oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook beef rouladen on all sides until browned. Add broth and water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer until tender, about 30 minutes.

What wine to serve with rouladen? ›

Which wines pair well with beef rouladen? A full-bodied red wine like a South African Cabernet Sauvignon complements the rich flavors. Alternatively, a German Riesling offers a contrasting acidity that can enhance the experience.

What is the word for rolled up meat? ›

Braciole is an Italian-style roulade, a rolled and stuffed meat. It is also called involtini, or bruciuluni in Sicilian. The etymology of the word translates to slice of meat rolled over coals. The meat — typically beef, veal, or pork — is pounded thin and stuffed with prosciutto, breadcrumbs, cheese, and herbs.

What cut is German roast beef? ›

The roast beef is part of the beef hind quarter. Its distinctly high, soft fat lid protects the meaty meat when roasting. Since, unlike entrecôte, it only consists of a single muscle strand, it is easy to cook.

What cut is rolled beef? ›

Rolled Rib Roast is the same cut as the Standing Rib Roast but with its bones removed and the meat rolled and tied into a cylindrical shape. The Rib-Eye Roast is the boneless center cut of the rib section. Very well-marbled, tender and flavorful, it is the most desirable and the most expensive of the roasts.

What is beef belly meat called? ›

But there is a different cut that is delicious and moreish when prepared correctly – the beef navel. >> RELATED CONTENT: HOW TO MAKE BACON USING BEEF NAVEL. In the United States, what we might call beef belly is also called a navel or a plate. In the UK, they call it navel end brisket.

What is skirt steak called in German? ›

FoodInd. gastr. skirt steakKronfleisch {n}
gastr. braising steakSchmorfleisch {n}
gastr. sirloin steakRückensteak {n}
gastr. butterfly steakSchmetterlingssteak {n}
gastr. steak knivesSteakmesser {pl}
17 more rows

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