A hearty plate of these tender, bacon and pickle stuffed rouladen is nothing less than comforting.

Heres what you gotta know before you tackle this traditional German recipe at home.

What Is Rouladen?

German rouladen with cabbage and mashed potatoes and gravy on a plate at a table setting with another serving on a plate, a glass with beer, and utensils

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

The ideal measurements are about 7 inches long, 5 inches wide, and 1/4 inch thick.

You will need six pieces for this recipe.

How I Simplify the Pan Sauce

In Germany, most pan sauces are strained so theyre smooth.

German rouladen on a plate with cabbage and potatoes and gravy

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Can You Make Rouladen Ahead of Time?

Rouladen is no exception.

This may take up to 30 minutes.

German rouladen with cabbage and mashed potatoes and gravy on a plate and in the background, a table setting with another serving on a plate and a few glasses of beer

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

The ideal measurements are about 7 inches long, 5 inches wide, and 1/4 inch thick.

Lay a slice of beef on a cutting board.

Season all over with a pinch of salt and pepper.

Rouladen in a Dutch oven next to some spoons on a table napkin

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Add about half a tablespoon of the mustard and smear it all over the beef.

This ensures the fillings will stay inside the rouladen.

Secure with toothpicks or butchers twine.

Making rouladen: bacon, pickles, and onion on a thin piece of beef (on a wooden cutting board next to already rolled rouladen)

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Repeat for all of the rouaden, then season the outsides with more salt and pepper.

Set a Dutch oven over medium-high heat and add the vegetable oil.

Transfer them to a separate plate and turn the heat down to medium.

Making rouladen: edges of beef folded over the filling (on a wooden cutting board next to already rolled rouladen)

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Add the onion and carrots and let cook for about 5 minutes, until softened.

Sprinkle in the flour and stir, letting it cook a little bit too.

Add the beef stock and bring everything up to a simmer.

Making rouladen: starting from one end, beef is rolled over the filling (on a wooden cutting board next to already rolled rouladen)

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Cover and reduce the heat to low.

Let braise for at least 1 hour.

If its not that tender, keep braising, covered, until it is.

German rouladen wrapped in kitchen twine on a cutting board

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Let the pan sauce reduce over medium-high heat until thick, about 10 minutes.

Remove from the heat and add butter and a splash of pickle brine, if you’d like.

Then taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.

Rouladen seared in a Dutch oven until deep brown

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Pour the gravy all over the rouladen and serve immediately with your choice of sides.

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Onions and carrots cooked with tomato paste in the Dutch oven until tomato paste is dark brown for German rouladen recipe

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Red wine added to Dutch oven for holiday rouladen recipe

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Rouladen added to the braising sauce in the Dutch oven

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Overhead view: rouladen brased in the sauce in the Dutch oven

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

A rouladen lifted from Dutch oven and pierced with a knife to check if tender

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Butter added to braising sauce for rouladen recipe

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Rouladen on a platter with some of the braising sauce

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

German rouladen with cabbage and mashed potatoes and gravy on a plate and in the background, a table setting with another serving on a plate and a glass of beer

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe