Name: Authentic Schwenkbraten (German BBQ Pork Steaks)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 1460 min
Ingredients: 4 pork neck steaks (about 200 g/ 7oz each 4 You can substitute the pork neck steaks, with pork chop or pork loin steaks. ); 150 ml vegetable oil (5 oz); 2 large onions; 3 garlic cloves; 5 juniper berries; 1 tbsp German mustard (or substitute with Dijon Mustard ); 1 tsp dried thyme; 1 tsp dried oregano; 1 tsp smoked paprika powder; 1 tsp cayenne pepper; 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper

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An authentic Schwenkbraten is one of the highlights at German grill/BBQ parties. These German grilled pork steaks ooze flavour. Paired with a fresh salad and some white crusty bread, this dish makes for a comforting meal. I am excited to share with you the recipe and history of this German steak dish.

Schwenkbraten on a plate. Next to the meat is some german potato sala and lettuce. The Picture is on a wooden surface. — Schwenkbraten with German Potato Salad and Lettuce

What is a Schwenkbraten

Schwenkbraten is a German dish consisting of a marinated piece of meat that is cooked on a grill. This dish originates from the region of Saarland which lies in southwest Germany. The meat is typically grilled on a swinging grill called “Schwenkgrill”. The Schwenkbraten seasoning consists of an array of spices, every German family has different recipes.

These grilled pork steaks are now one of Germany's most popular street foods and you can find them at Christmas Markets and other festivals.

Schwenkgrill - a german grill on a tripod in a garden. On the grill you can see an array of meats

What is a Schwenkgrill?

A Schwenkgrill (also called a Schwenker Grill”) is a German grill, consisting of a tripod from which a swinging grill is attached.

The name “Schwenkgrill'' comes from the German word for swinging “schwenken”. The grill plate is continuously swung over the fire, in order to ensure that the meat is cooked evenly.

Another word for this type of grill is “Schwenker” – literally translated means “swinger”. However, also the person who uses the grill can be called a “Schwenker”. To confuse matters more, sometimes the “Schwenkbraten” is also referred to as “Schwenker”.

Saarland was heavily influenced by the iron and steel industry. Around the 1950s workers would bring some leftover metal home from their work and build their own homemade Schwenkgrill.

For a traditional Schwenkbraten, they say you need three Bs - bread, beer (ideally brewed in the Saarland) and beechwood. Grilling with Beechwood will enhance the smoky flavour. (We did not have any beechwood and grilled our Schwenkbraten with coals).

However, there is another version of this famous dish. Idar-Oberstein is a town near Saarland that was famous for its jewel trade. Traders have said to have brought the “Schwenkgrill” back from Brazil where the Gauchos would grill their meat on a similar “swinging grill”.

On a bbq you can see three pork steaks, one pork belly skewer and onions in a foil.

What is the difference between Idar-Obersteiner Schwenkbraten and Saarländer Schwenkbraten?

The main difference is that in Idar-Oberstein the pork is marinated simply with onion, salt and pepper. The Saarländer Schwenkbraten is marinated with a lot of different herbs and spices.

How to make Schwenkbraten?

Which cut of meat to use for Schwenkbraten?

Schwenkbraten is typically made from pork. Ideally use pork neck steaks or pork collar steaks. This cut of meat contains more fat and thus is more flavoursome. You can also use pork chops or pork loin steaks. However, you need to be aware that this cut of meat is leaner and thus less juicy. However, these cuts might be easier to get hold of abroad.

Ingredients

4 pork neck steaks (about 200 g each) You can substitute the pork neck steaks, with pork chop or pork loin steaks.

Ingredients for the Schwenkbraten Marinade

150 ml/ 5 fl oz vegetable oil
2 large onions
3 garlic cloves
5 juniper berries (affiliate link)
1 tablespoon German mustard (affiliate link) (alternatively use Dijon mustard)
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon smoked paprika powder
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper.

Recipe Steps

Peel and slice the onions finely
Peel the garlic cloves and crush them.
Crush the Juniper berries (affiliate link) with a pestle or mortar or use another heavy item.
Assemble the remaining ingredients for the marinade and place them in a large shallow bowl. With a spoon stir the ingredients to achieve a smooth mass.
Add the pork steaks to the bowl and rub the marinade in. Store the marinated pork chops in an airtight container in the fridge. ( I like to keep them in a zip lock bag, to ensure the pork steaks are fully covered in the marinade.)
Leave to marinate for at least 24-48 hours. Remove the meat from the fridge at least 1 hour before grilling.
Oil your grill plate before making the fire.
With the back of a spoon remove the onions from the pork steaks. You can fry them in a pan on the stove or place them in some foil to cook over the bbq.
Grill each steak for about 10-15 minutes (the exact cooking time depends on the thickness of the steak and the heat of the grill)

Recipe Variations

Prepare your marinated pork steak in a frying pan.

It is not always convenient to prepare a BBQ. Of course, you can prepare this dish in a frying pan as well. It might miss the smoky flavour of grilled meat, but it will still be delicious. As the Schwenkbraten marinade already contains oil, you can fry on medium heat on each side for 10 minutes.

Prepare the Schwenkbraten in an oven

You can also prepare your Schwenkbraten in an oven. Preheat your oven to 180°C/356°F. Place your marinated Schweinesteak on a baking tray and bake for approx. 40 minutes.

How to serve Schwenkbraten.

Serve your Schwenkbraten with white bread. You can also place it in a white crusty roll and serve it as a German Pork Steak Sandwich. This is how you can buy them at Christmas markets and summer fairs.

The Pork Sandwich is made up of a crusty roll, a Schwenkbraten and optional onions on top and some German mustard (affiliate link). As a popular German street food you sometimes get the option of having a garlic sauce or Krautsalat (German Cabbage Salad) in your sandich.

You should also serve it with a side salad. Here is a list of typical German BBQ side salads