Zwiebelrostbraten or Onion Roast Beef, a popular German feast

Jump to recipe
Zwiebelrostbraten

Zwiebelrostbraten is sliced medium rare Roast Beef, served with fried onions on top, to which the name refers. It is a traditional dish of Swabian and Austrian cuisine and a classic dish in Vienna restaurants

In the Swabian region, the Onion roast beef is often served with Spätzle and is considered a Sunday meal. Regionally, it is also sold under the names “Wiener Zwiebelrostbraten”, “Allgäuer Zwiebelrostbraten” or “Schwäbischer Zwiebelrostbraten”.

Dr. Bernd Gross – Eigenes Foto
Rostbraten Wiener Artmin Tisa (Böhmen)

Preferred is a Top Round Roast, cut similar to the top sirloin in fat and flavor, commonly used for roast beef. I suggest to freeze the meat for about two hours for easier slicing.

For preparation in modern guesthouses, slices of a Top Round beef roast, seasoned with salt and pepper, cut on the edges, turned in flour and possibly rubbed with mustard and garlic, are fried briefly in clarified butter or oil and kept warm. In the same pan, sliced onions, possibly sprinkled with paprika, are roasted and removed. Then add a little flour to the fat in the pan, stir, and extinguish with the stock, broth or wine, so that a slightly creamy sauce is created.

  • Frying onions
  • Fried onions
  • Frying steaks, Zwiebelrostbraten or Onion Roast Beef
  • Making the Gravy
  • Place steaks in gravy
  • Zwiebelrostbraten Von Kobako - photo taken by Kobako, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org

Depending on the recipe, the onions also stay in the sauce, which makes them softer. Finally, meat, sauce and onions are served together with side dishes such as fried potatoes, wide ribbon noodles or like in the Swabian region, Spätzle.