grandma's braised beef

(1 rating)
Recipe by
Janet Rivenbark
Bolivia, NC

This was my grandmother's recipe. It was a "Depression" version of a German dish that her mother cooked.

(1 rating)
yield 4 - 6

Ingredients For grandma's braised beef

  • 1-1 1/2 lb
    mostly lean beef, any cut, the cheaper the better
  • olive oil, to coat the bottom of the pan
  • 3 Tbsp
    pickling spices, in a teaball or tied in a piece of cheesecloth
  • 1 -2 lg
    bay leaves
  • beef broth
  • 15 oz
    catsup

How To Make grandma's braised beef

  • 1
    In a Dutch oven, add enough olive oil to coat the bottom of the pan. Brown the meat well on all sides.
  • 2
    If using a crockpot, transfer meat to crockpot at this point. In either pot, add all ingredients, except the catsup. Add broth to cover meat.
  • 3
    Simmer covered, over low heat until meat is tender. This can vary with the cut of meat, usually anywhere from 2 to 4 hours (all day in the crockpot.) If using the Dutch oven check every hour or so and keep adding broth to keep meat covered.
  • 4
    Add catsup and cook for and additional 45 minutes to an hour.
  • 5
    My grandmother served it with egg dumplings, but it can be served with egg noodles or potato dumplings. I usually serve it with Gnocchi. They are Italian, but are made the same way as the German potato dumplings, only they are smaller.
  • 6
    What ever you choose to serve it with, cook according to your recipe or the package directions. I put the noodles, or dumplings or Gnocchi in the bottom of a flat soup bowl and ladle the braised beef over. If you are worried that it isn't a balanced meal (no veggies) it is also good with carrots added. I will occasionally steam a package of sliced carrots and add them to the top in the bowl just before I serve.

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