California Consomme Recipes

Steps:

• In the bowl of a food processor, combine the ground meat with the onions, leeks, celery, carrots, thyme, tarragon, parsley, garlic, and black pepper. Puree on high speed.
• In a bowl, combine the egg whites with the pureed meat mixture. Stir well to blend.
• Place the stock in a large pot and add the "raft" (the pureed meat-egg white mixture). Bring to a boil, stirring constantly to prevent the raft from sticking to the bottom and sides of the pot. (Once the stock has come to a boil, do not stir again.) Reduce to a simmer and puncture a hole in the center of the raft for the stock to circulate through and clarify. Simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat. Gently poke a hole in the raft large enough to fit a ladle. With a ladle, gently scoop out the consomme into a clean pot or bowl. Strain through a layer of cheesecloth to finish clarifying.
• Serve hot with desired garnish. Alternatively, transfer consomme to a shallow bowl or roasting pan and cool to room temperature. Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, covering with plastic wrap only when the consomme is cool enough that no condensation forms on the plastic. When the consomme is completely cooled, cut it into 1/2-inch cubes and divide between consomme cups. Garnish with sour cream, chopped chives, and a lemon slice and serve with toast points.

Steps:

• Some Traditional Garnishes: Brunoise-Consomme garnish with small cubes of carrots, turnips, leeks, celery, peas, and chervil
• Cheveux d'anges-Chicken Consomme garnished with very small vermicelli and grated Parmesan cheese
• In a mixing bowl, whip the egg whites slightly. Combine the lean meat, vegetables, tomato puree, herbs, and spices together. Mix in the egg whites. In a spigot stock pot, blend the cold chicken stock with the meat mixture. Place the stock pot on medium heat. Stir the liquid occasionally until the raft forms. (the liquid should reach 160 degrees F) Simmer the soup for 1 1/2 hours, making sure the raft does not break or sink. Remove the first cup of the consomme from the spigot to remove sediment and discard. Line a china cap with 5 layers of cheesecloth. Strain the liquid slowly. If the liquid is cloudy, strain the consomme again with fresh cheesecloth. Season with salt, hot sauce, and garnishes.

Steps:

• Whip egg whites until frothy.
• Combine egg whites, beef, mirepoix, and tomatoes in a stockpot.
• Add COLD beef broth, mix well.
• Put spices, except salt, in cheesecloth, tie to seal, and put in broth.
• Add salt to taste to broth.
• Bring mixture to a simmer (DO NOT BOIL) you should see a little steam over the surface of the broth, but no bubbling, or as few bubbles rising to the surface as possible.
• Stirring occasionally.
• The beef and vegetable mixture will eventually harden and rise to the top.
• Do not stir after this has happened.
• Break a hole in the beef mixture to allow broth to bubble through.
• Simmer approximately 90 minutes.
• Strain through cheesecloth, degrease.
• Adjust seasoning.

Steps:

• Reduce the beef stock by boiling down to half in a large stockpot over medium heat with semi-open lid.
• Set the 2 onion halves on aluminum foil on a hot burner and caramelize the surfaces for approx 10 min minimum.
• They need to burn black, while doing so, do not lift off the foil to check. The rim of the onion will turn black and then you can check.
• This will not influence the taste of the consommé, but make the color dark brown.
• Chop all the vegetables (not the spices!) in the food processor till very coarse.
• Add the beef cubes and pulse several more times, but do not puree!
• Put the mix into a bowl and add the 3 egg whites. Incorporate the mixture well and add the spices.
• Whisk the mix into the warm beef stock reduction and let simmer without boiling.
• Carefully stir mixture and scrape the bottom of the pot to prevent burning, until the egg foam starts to rise to the top, about 30 minute.
• When the egg foam starts to solidify, make a small hole into the middle with a wooden spoon, this will keep the mass compact and easier to handle later.
• Continue to simmer, until the egg foam mixture is solid, about another 30 minutes.
• Remove pot from heat.
• Skim the egg foam mix carefully off the top with a slotted ladle.*.
• Line a sieve with dampened cheeseclothes or a cotton dishtowel and ladle the consommé 1 spoonful after another through the sieve into a big sauce pan.
• If for any reason the consommé is NOT clear at this stage, reheat and add 3 more egg whites to the consommé. This should pick up any left over particles in the liquid.
• Always move the fluids slowly and carefully.
• Repeat the sieving process, if necessary.
• Heat consommé gently and season with salt to taste.
• The consommé should be of a warm brown color.
• Best as a soup in a French gourmet dinner.
• * Do not discard the leftover solid foam etc, but let it cool down and let your pooch have a healthy, yet luxurious Sunday treat!