Beef consomme is a clarified version of brown beef stock, its color is clear, its flavor is intense and it is fat-free. Serve it in cups as a starter for a gourmet dinner. To make it more festive, I like to garnish it with small fried meatballs and risotto bites.
Jump to:
- What is beef consomme
- Difference between consomme and broth
- Ingredients
- Step by step instructions with images
- What to do with the raft
- What is beef consomme used for
- Storing the Consomme
- Consomme garnishes list
- Meatballs
- Serving Consomme with rice and meat balls
- Substitute for beef consomme
- Tools you need
- Other recipes you may like
- 📋How to make a beef Consomme
What is beef consomme
Beef consomme is a beef stock that has been clarified and reduced.
- Clarified: all the suspended particles and fat have been removed
- Reduced: its flavor is intensified by thickening.
Clarification
A regular broth has a foggy appearance due to small solid floating particles of proteins.
The clarification of the broth is achieved by simmering it with whipped egg whites and some acid (I use lemon juice).
The acidity of the lemon juice and the simmering bring the small particles and the fat up to the surface.
They are trapped by the floating egg whites forming a raft which is then removed by filtering the broth.
Reduction
To intensify its flavor, lean minced meat and vegetables, usually a mix of mirepoix, are combined with egg whites.
The stock is simmered for at least 1 hour, and reduced by half.
The broth becomes richer from the reduction and the addition of meat and vegetables intensify its aroma even more.
Once the Consomme is filtered all impurities are removed, its color becomes clear and its flavor intense.
Difference between consomme and broth
The main difference between Consomme and Borth is their color and flavor.
Broth
It is made by boiling beef, chicken, or vegetables for a long time and the liquid retains the flavor of the ingredients.
Once the ingredients are removed, the broth has suspended particles and fat which give it a foggy tone.
It can be used for soups or risotto and combined with other vegetables.
Consomme
The Consomme instead is usually served by itself as a clear soup occasionally with some few garnish.
The clarity of the Consomme remains an important visual part of the dish and its intense aroma is a unique experience.
It can be served hot or cold, and you can read more about it below.
Because its preparation requires a large amount of meat which is then discharged, the Consomme is considered a culinary delicacy.
Ingredients
To make a Consomme, you need the following ingredients:
- The beef stock you want to clarify: remember it will reduce to half so if you need 4 cups of Consomme, you need 8 cups of stock. Make sure all fat is removed. If not, put the stock in the fridge and wait until the fat solidifies, then remove it with a spoon.
- Egg whites: make sure they are at room temperature as cold egg whites will not firm up
- Acid component: I use 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
- Lean meat: to intensify the flavor. You can also use wild game or duck if you want a stronger aroma
- Vegetables: normally mirepoix: a mix of carrots, celery and onion. You can choose other vegetables depending on the flavor you are after.
Step by step instructions with images
How to clarify stock
I make my beef or chicken stock in the pressure cooker and it only takes me 30 minutes to make.
I remove all the fat once the stock is cold.
From my homemade stock, this is how to proceed to clarify it:
- With an electric whisker, whip the egg whites until firm. Make sure they are at room temperature
- Add the chopped vegetables
- and the lean meat
- Gently fold with a whisk
- Pour the stock into a large pan
- Add the egg white mix
- Add a tablespoon of lemon juice
- Bring to boil whisking regularly
- Once it boils make a hole in the raft so the steam is released while simmering
- Let it simmer for 1 hour without stirring so the raft cooks without releasing any particles
How to filter a consomme
- Once the Consomme is ready
- Filter it the first time in a fine-mesh sieve to remove the raft
- Then a second time filter it through a paper towel or a cheesecloth
- Store in the fridge until you need to serve it
What to do with the raft
The raft is usually disposed of, but if you have animals you may want to give it to them.
However, dilute it by mixing it with some rice or pasta as it is very rich and can upset their stomach.
I gave some to Eddie and I found it hours later on the carpet in the living room.
What is beef consomme used for
Beef Consomme can be served hot or cold.
Serving hot consomme
If served hot, it is brought to the table at the start of the meal, not in bowls but in cups.
It is garnished with a few herbs and vegetables like parsley, carrots, truffles or more complex additions like meat, eggs, profiteroles, quenelles, ravioli.
It can be served by itself and enriched with truffles or Sherry.
The Sherry can be infused with hot chili in a separate bottle so guests can serve themselves.
Serving cold consomme
A cold consomme is made similar to the hot consomme, however, gelatinous bones are added to the egg white to make the consomme creamier, but not too solid.
It has a very light creamy consistency and should be stirred before serving it at the table.
Slices of lemon are served on the side.
Storing the Consomme
The Consomme can be stored in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.
However, I always keep a stock in the freezer separated into portions so I can defrost as much as I want if I have unexpected guests.
Consomme garnishes list
There are several ways to garnish a Consomme.
These are the most common:
- Consomme a la Parisienne: garnished with small shredded vegetables cooked in butter
- Consomme with profiteroles: served with small profiteroles filled with a puree of meat or foie gras
- Consomme Bizet: served with chicken quenelles
- Consomme Monte Carlo: served with thin slices of round bread toasted, flavored with butter and sprinkled with Parmesan
- Consomme in Calabria: (not as common but my favorite) served with fried rice bites and meatballs
It is a tradition in my family in Calabria to serve Consomme with fried meatballs and risotto bites for Christmas.
It is a small warm appetizer full of flavor, meatballs recipe will follow below and you can find the fried risotto balls recipe here.
Meatballs
Meatballs ingredients
The ingredients for the meatballs are very simple:
- Breadcrumbs flavored with parsley or basil, garlic, and parmesan
- Lean minced beef: if you are not using a beef Consomme you can use other meat, but make sure it is a lean cut
- Egg: to hold the meatballs together
- Lemon zest: I like the addition of the lemon zest as it gives a subtle freshness to the meatballs
- Salt
Prepare the breadcrumbs
- Blend with an electric blender a cup of shredded breadcrumbs with basil or parsley leaves and a garlic clove
- Add the grated parmesan to the breadcrumbs
- Stir with a fork to remove all the lumps
Make the meatballs
- Put all the ingredients for the meatballs in a large bowl
- Mix with your hands until it is all combined
- Place a small bowl of warm water between the tray where you will place the meatballs and the bowl with the meat mix
- Keep the palm of your hands wet to make smooth balls
- Take a small piece of the mix, the meatball should be small enough to be eaten in one bite ( 1 in - 2.5 cm)
- Roll it into a ball and place it on a tray
- Wet the palm of your hand again and roll the next ball
- Continue until all the meat is rolled
Fry the meatballs
- Place the meatballs in a frying pan (or basket if you have a fryer) leaving some space between them
- Fry them until golden
- Remove from the oil
- Place on a paper towel to absorb all the excess oil
Serving Consomme with rice and meat balls
The risotto bites and the meatballs are served in a separate dish and everyone can add them to their own consomme cups just before eating.
They remain crispy and give the Consomme a nice extra texture and flavor.
I always make some extras as the children will often pick some more.
Substitute for beef consomme
While the classic Consomme is made with beef stock, any other type of stock can be clarified: chicken, games, fish or vegetables.
A vegetarian version can be made by using vegetable stock and the vegetables used will be the predominant flavor of the Consomme.
The color can also be adjusted by using different ingredients.
Infusing saffron will give it a golden tone.
Tools you need
To make the consomme, these are essential tools you need:
- Pan large enough to hold the broth and the raft
- Wisker to wisk the egg whites. I prefer to do it with an elecric wisker but it is not necessary
- Fine Mesh Strainers: to filter the consomme
- Cheesecloth: to remove all the fine particles
To make the fried meatballs:
- A blender to blend the breadcrumbs with the basil or parsley
- A deep fryer: not essential but much easier if you have one
Other recipes you may like
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- Chayote Squash Mousse Carbs And Dairy Free
- Italian Chicken Soup Minestrone
- Roast Pumpkin Soup Served In A Pumpkin
- Romanesco Soup With Spicy Sausages
- Fresh Tomato Soup Salmorejo No Cooking
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📋How to make a beef Consomme
Ingredients (Commissions Earned)
- 6 cups brown beef stock homemade
- 1 carrot diced
- 1 stalk of celery diced
- 1 onion diced
- 1 cup lean minced beef
- 4 egg whites
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
For the meatballs
- 2 cup lean minced beef
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 5 fresh basil leaves
- 1 peeled garlic cloves
- 3 tablespoon freshly grated Parmesan
- 1 fresh eggs
- 2 teaspoon salt
- 1 lemon zest
- vegetable oil for frying
- 12 fried risotto balls
Equipment (Commissions Earned)
Instructions
Prepare the raft
- With an electric whisker, whip the egg whites until firm. Make sure the eggs are at room temperature4 egg whites
- Add the chopped vegetables1 carrot diced, 1 stalk of celery, 1 onion diced
- and the lean meat1 cup lean minced beef
- Gently fold with a whisk
Clarify stock
- Pour the stock into a large pan6 cups brown beef stock
- Add the egg white mix
- Add a tablespoon of lemon juice1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Bring to boil whisking regularly
- Once it boils make a hole in the raft so the steam is released while simmering
- Let it simmer for 1 hour without stirring so the raft cooks without releasing any particles
Filter the consomme
- Once the Consomme is ready
- Filter it the first time in a fine-mesh sieve to remove the raft
- Then a second time filter it through a paper towel or a cheesecloth
- Store in the fridge until you need to serve it
Making the breadcrumbs for the meatballs
- Blend with an electric blender a cup of shredded breadcrumbs with basil or parsley leaves and a garlic clove½ cup breadcrumbs, 5 fresh basil leaves, 1 peeled garlic cloves
- Add the grated parmesan to the breadcrumbs3 tablespoon freshly grated Parmesan
- Stir with a fork to remove all the lumps
Make the meatballs
- Put all the ingredients for the meatballs in a large bowl2 cup lean minced beef, 2 teaspoon salt, 1 lemon zest, 1 fresh eggs
- Mix with your hands until it is all combined
- Place a small bowl of warm water between the tray where you will place the meatballs and the bowl with the meat mix
- Keep the palm of your hands wet to make smooth balls
- Take a small piece of the mix, the meatball should be small enough to be eaten in one bite ( 1 in - 2.5 cm)
- Roll it into a ball and place it on a tray
- Wet the palm of your hand again and roll the next ball
- Continue until all the meat is rolled
- Place the meatballs in a frying pan (or basket if you have a fryer) leaving some space between them
- Fry them until golden and remove them from the oilvegetable oil for frying
- Place on a paper towel to absorb all the excess oil
Make risotto ball
- Follow the instruction from the recipe fried risotto balls12 fried risotto balls
Serving the Consomme with the meatballs and the risotto balls
- The risotto bites and the meatballs are served in a separate dish and everyone can add them to their own consomme cups just before eating.
- Serve the Consomme warm in cups
Video
Notes
- make sure the egg whites are at room temperature as cold egg whites will not firm up
- for the acid component, you can substitute lemon juice with vinegar
- the lean meat in the raft with wild game or duck if you want a stronger aroma
- for a more delicate flavor the mirepoix can be substituted with leeks and carrots
- once the stock boils make a hole in the raft so the steam is released while simmering uncovered
- do not stir the raft while simmering otherwise it will release the particles
- store the consomme in the fridge, warm it up when you need to serve it
- you can feed the raft to animals but dilute it with some rice or pasta as it is very rich
- the Consomme should be served in cups, not in bowls
- let the guests add their own meatballs and risotto balls so they remain crispy
Luci Petlack
I make homemade broth all the time because of my husband's dietary restrictions. I've always wondered how to clarify it. Thank you so much for all this helpful info. I'm going to try this next time I make broth!!
Laura
I am sure you will love it. The flavor is so much more intense
Tavo
What a great recipe! We made it today for lunch, and it was perfect for the cold day we had!
Laura
Thank you, it is perfect for cold days
Julie
I really appreciate all the detail in this post along with the video. I've never thought to make my own consommé but with these directions I know I can do it. .
Laura
It is very easy to make
Dana Sandonato
Loved learning about the difference between consomme and broth, and the consomme is definitely lighter and cleaner tasting!
Laura
Thank you, it is
Iryna Bychkiv
That's so interesting, I've heard about Consomme before, but I never knew what it was. I bet it's so flavorful. My family would definitely enjoy it with some meatballs on a side.
Laura
Yes, I am sure they will like it