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Beef Bouillon

Beef bouillon was not served only at times of mourning. It was and still often is a base for matzo balls, it is served with noodles, and it is perfectly delicious as a broth, served hot, or cold as consommé gelé (aspic), at the beginning of any meal.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    about 10 cups

Ingredients

2 pounds beef shanks or other beef bones
1 onion
4 whole cloves
3 leeks, light-green and white parts chopped, dark-green top parts left whole
3 carrots, peeled and diced
1 turnip, peeled and diced
1 parsnip, peeled and diced
Bouquet garni made of sprigs of fresh thyme and parsley and a bay leaf
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Put the beef bones in a soup pot, and cover with cold water by at least 3 inches. Bring to a boil, and skim off any scum that rises.

    Step 2

    If you want a dark broth, don’t peel the onion. If you want a lighter one, peel it. Pierce the onion with the cloves, and add to the pot. Add the leeks, carrots, turnip, parsnip, and the bouquet garni. Simmer slowly, covered for 3 hours and uncovered for 1/2 hour. Add salt and pepper to taste, and heat. Strain the soup, and either remove any fat that might have accumulated and serve, or refrigerate, remove the fat, reheat, and serve.

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