Making soup from scratch?
- Thread starter pacanis
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If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
expatgirl
Master Chef
I do the same but in addition the stores here are well stocked with chicken and beef bones.......unlike in the states..........but people here eat a lot of soup as you can well imagine...and the soup is to die for it's so delish.........I've made the best stocks ever while being over here.......and it really does make a difference to roast the bones first.......I can't thank DC enough for that tip........
AllenOK
Executive Chef
I "cleaned house" in my imageshack account a week or so ago. I THOUGHT I kept those; I guess I didn't. C'est la Vie!
Remember, soup/stews always taste better the next day. This is why a couple of the folks the posted in this thread mentioned making a soup a day before it's intended to be eaten.
Yup, I know how to squeeze chicken for every cent's worth of value out of it. I had to learn, what with feeding 5 kids on a tight budget.
I normally don't make stock until I'm almost out of a batch. Of course, when I make 2 GALLONS of concentrated stock at a time, that means the scraps really add up, and quick. I may have 2 or 3 gallon ziplock baggies full of scraps, especially around the holidays. Those turkey carcasses make for great stock, but really take up room. The leg-and-thigh quarters are about the best deal I've found yet on chicken. 10 lbs for $4.79US. Can you beat 47.9 cents / lb for chicken? That, and it's all dark meat, which I absolutely love. Moist and full of flavor.
If you ever attempt to make a shellfish stock, do this: Saute the shells in a bit of butter first, then add the mirepoix. Once that's caramelized a bit, deglaze with a shot of white wine, then with water. Simmer for awhile. I've been making shrimp stock at work, as I need it for several of my sauces, and the fact that we're always peeling shrimp, so we have the shells; might as well use them. I wish my Chef would order in some lobster bodies and shells. I'd be willing to come in on my day off and make a few gallons of lobster stock. MMMMMMM
I use shellfish (usually shrimp, sometimes also with crab shells, and if I have them, fish bones) stock for gumbo, and occasionally when I make a stir-fry that has shrimp in it.
As long as you have some good chicken stock, good beef stock, and some good shrimp stock, frozen in ice cubes, then packed into freezer bags, you can't go wrong making soup. Unless, of course, the cubes get freezer burn. You'll have to play with how much is "enough" of each kind of stock to fit your cooking style and quantity. Since I have a big family, I go through these things relatively fast. At least, during the winter. Summertime I don't make soups or sauces much, so I don't usually use stock, unless I'm making pilaf. I try to run low on stock during the warm months, so they don't get freezer burnt.
Another thing to consider, when making soup, if you add the veggies with the meat all at the beginning, like in your short rib stew, the veggies will basically cook down into mush by the time the meat is tender. Start the meat, and simmer it in stock, then add the veggies in the last hour. You can add them straight to the liquid, if you want, or, skim off some the fat into a saute pan, saute the veggies, then deglaze the saute pan with the broth from the soup. Dump everything back into the soup and simmer until done.
You also stumbled onto something with the short rib stew. By adding the second batch of veggies, with the first batch being pureed, you created a second layer of flavor in the soup. Chef Prudhomme talks about doing this in his first cookbook. He often adds some Cajun Holy Trinity to a dish, cooks it some, then adds more trinity that doesn't get cooked long enough to turn into mush. This way you can feel and taste the veggies, while the others blend into the background.
You also mentioned that your stew "lacked" something in taste. Did you add any red wine to it? Lately, whenever I'm making a sauce at work that's based on beef stock, I always deglaze with a splash of red wine, then the beef stock. I may only use a couple of tablespoons of wine in a sauce that yields a few cup's worth, but that's all that's needed.
Remember, soup/stews always taste better the next day. This is why a couple of the folks the posted in this thread mentioned making a soup a day before it's intended to be eaten.
Yup, I know how to squeeze chicken for every cent's worth of value out of it. I had to learn, what with feeding 5 kids on a tight budget.
I normally don't make stock until I'm almost out of a batch. Of course, when I make 2 GALLONS of concentrated stock at a time, that means the scraps really add up, and quick. I may have 2 or 3 gallon ziplock baggies full of scraps, especially around the holidays. Those turkey carcasses make for great stock, but really take up room. The leg-and-thigh quarters are about the best deal I've found yet on chicken. 10 lbs for $4.79US. Can you beat 47.9 cents / lb for chicken? That, and it's all dark meat, which I absolutely love. Moist and full of flavor.
If you ever attempt to make a shellfish stock, do this: Saute the shells in a bit of butter first, then add the mirepoix. Once that's caramelized a bit, deglaze with a shot of white wine, then with water. Simmer for awhile. I've been making shrimp stock at work, as I need it for several of my sauces, and the fact that we're always peeling shrimp, so we have the shells; might as well use them. I wish my Chef would order in some lobster bodies and shells. I'd be willing to come in on my day off and make a few gallons of lobster stock. MMMMMMM
I use shellfish (usually shrimp, sometimes also with crab shells, and if I have them, fish bones) stock for gumbo, and occasionally when I make a stir-fry that has shrimp in it.
As long as you have some good chicken stock, good beef stock, and some good shrimp stock, frozen in ice cubes, then packed into freezer bags, you can't go wrong making soup. Unless, of course, the cubes get freezer burn. You'll have to play with how much is "enough" of each kind of stock to fit your cooking style and quantity. Since I have a big family, I go through these things relatively fast. At least, during the winter. Summertime I don't make soups or sauces much, so I don't usually use stock, unless I'm making pilaf. I try to run low on stock during the warm months, so they don't get freezer burnt.
Another thing to consider, when making soup, if you add the veggies with the meat all at the beginning, like in your short rib stew, the veggies will basically cook down into mush by the time the meat is tender. Start the meat, and simmer it in stock, then add the veggies in the last hour. You can add them straight to the liquid, if you want, or, skim off some the fat into a saute pan, saute the veggies, then deglaze the saute pan with the broth from the soup. Dump everything back into the soup and simmer until done.
You also stumbled onto something with the short rib stew. By adding the second batch of veggies, with the first batch being pureed, you created a second layer of flavor in the soup. Chef Prudhomme talks about doing this in his first cookbook. He often adds some Cajun Holy Trinity to a dish, cooks it some, then adds more trinity that doesn't get cooked long enough to turn into mush. This way you can feel and taste the veggies, while the others blend into the background.
You also mentioned that your stew "lacked" something in taste. Did you add any red wine to it? Lately, whenever I'm making a sauce at work that's based on beef stock, I always deglaze with a splash of red wine, then the beef stock. I may only use a couple of tablespoons of wine in a sauce that yields a few cup's worth, but that's all that's needed.
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When planning on a long simmer for soup/stock use a heavy-bottom pot or enameled cast iron dutch oven. First time I made soup on my own I went out and got a huge stock pot, unfortunatley it was a very thin metal pot and it did not distribute the heat very well on the electric stove. I ended up with stuck bits on the bottom. If you don't have a heavy-bottom pot get a heat difuser, they work great. My Mom used one when she simmers home made tomato sauce.
I love it when I stumble upon something.Thanks again for all the tips.
BTW, is there a good stand in for red wine? Andy and someone else mentioned vermouth for white because it will last forever. That's good for me because I don't drink wine, but now I will have something on hand if I run into any more recipes that call for white wine. Is there anything like that for red? Maybe some kind of brandy or congnac (sp?)
Dave, I almost grabbed my SS pasta/stock pot, but went with an old non-stick TFal instead. It held a nice simmer and nothing felt stuck to the bottom when I stirred it
expatgirl
Master Chef
just buy a bottle of non sweet dry red wine and stick it in your refrigerator.......if your store has someone who works in the liquor dept ask their advice.......our Kroger does and he gives great advice.......you don't have to drink it and it will last a long time.....
Really? I thought red wine went funky after it's been opened? I was hoping to find something I could use, stick back on a shelf somewhere and forget about it until the next time I used it.
You watch, if I'm still around five years from now I'll still be using that same bottle of vermouth.
You watch, if I'm still around five years from now I'll still be using that same bottle of vermouth.
Andy M.
Certified Pretend Chef
You can buy 4 packs of small bottles (single servings) of wines. they will last longer until opened. You can also freeze leftover wine in ice cube trays for future use.
AllenOK
Executive Chef
You could try Port. It's sweeter than a typical red wine, but it's fortified, so it will last.
expatgirl
Master Chef
the idea of small bottles is a good one esp. if you don't drink wine yourself..........maybe a liquor store would sell them.......
ChefJune
Master Chef
Very beefy, but it tasted like it was missing something... maybe not enough thyme or parsley (all I had was dry), but I could taste a little flavor from the bay leaves, so that wasn't it. It tasted like it needed something "green". Ahhh, maybe more onion? I think that's the taste I am missing. Still, if I had to do it all over the exact same way, I would. I would just start making it a lot earlier in the day
This is why I like to add pulverized dried mushrooms to many soups, especially those with beef. They add an "earthiness" to the soup that nothing else does, and they don't "show." Try it sometime. Dried, ground up mushrooms are pretty inexpensive in the Asian markets. You don't have to buy shiitake.
ChefJune
Master Chef
Really? I thought red wine went funky after it's been opened? I was hoping to find something I could use, stick back on a shelf somewhere and forget about it until the next time I used it.
You watch, if I'm still around five years from now I'll still be using that same bottle of vermouth.
Most red wine does go "funky" pretty soon after opening, and there's no good way to tell which ones won't. Andy's suggestion of buying those 4-packs you see in many markets is a good idea, You'll only open what you're using, and the rest will keep almost indefinitely.
There are a couple of very decent brandies made in the Cognac style that are really reasonably priced and work well in many dishes. Look for De Ville Brandy from France, or El Presidente from Spain, for starters.
This is why I like to add pulverized dried mushrooms to many soups, especially those with beef. They add an "earthiness" to the soup that nothing else does, and they don't "show." Try it sometime. Dried, ground up mushrooms are pretty inexpensive in the Asian markets. You don't have to buy shiitake.
I will. I hit the local stown store up for making the soup this time. They don't even have fresh herbs, so I didn't bother trying to find dried shrooms.
And was it expat that said garlic? The only garlic I added was some paste I wanted to use up. Forgot clean about it.
Pacanis, there are lots of ways to brighten up a beef soup. A splash of wine/sherry/port will help, a tbsp of tomato paste helps too.
I'm giggling a bit about the "slaw". I've done that too, and muttered bad words for some time afterwards. Soup is one of those things best done the long way.
Reading about your bones and carcasses. Everyone has different methods and tastes and likes different flavours for their soups. For me, chicken soup doesn't taste right if it is made from a raw chicken. Something is just missing. I save up several carcasses and simmer slowly. I've found that two regularly roasted carcasses and one BBQ'ed carcass make the best combo for me. I also like a nice garlic flavour but my family really detests the bits of garlic so my compromise is to score several cloves and pierce them with a toothpick so they are easy to find and remove.
Keep messing around with the flavours you like in your soups. When you find one that really works for you stick with it.
I'm giggling a bit about the "slaw". I've done that too, and muttered bad words for some time afterwards. Soup is one of those things best done the long way.
Reading about your bones and carcasses. Everyone has different methods and tastes and likes different flavours for their soups. For me, chicken soup doesn't taste right if it is made from a raw chicken. Something is just missing. I save up several carcasses and simmer slowly. I've found that two regularly roasted carcasses and one BBQ'ed carcass make the best combo for me. I also like a nice garlic flavour but my family really detests the bits of garlic so my compromise is to score several cloves and pierce them with a toothpick so they are easy to find and remove.
Keep messing around with the flavours you like in your soups. When you find one that really works for you stick with it.
Thanks Alix.
I'd still like to incorporate my PC into a recipe or two though, just for those nights when soup for dinner is an afterthought. Of course by then, hopefully I'll have a freezer full of carcasses and/or some stock, to speed the flavor along.
I'd still like to incorporate my PC into a recipe or two though, just for those nights when soup for dinner is an afterthought. Of course by then, hopefully I'll have a freezer full of carcasses and/or some stock, to speed the flavor along.
Jeekinz
Washing Up
When I make lobster or shrimp stock I use the water I boiled the lobster or shrimp in and also the cooked shells. When I'm removing the meat from the shells I gather all the liquid and bits and put that into the pot too. Even though they are cooked, they still give alot of flavor. The cooking liquid (water) is used as the base for the stock. It's so easy yet so flavorful.
Here's an example: http://www.discusscooking.com/forums/f16/brainstorming-a-lobster-recipe-45757.html
Here's an example: http://www.discusscooking.com/forums/f16/brainstorming-a-lobster-recipe-45757.html
If you are making a bisque then the "slaw" method works well with the carrots/celery it give it a good colour. Just make sure to buzz it up BEFORE you put the meat back in. LOLOLOLOL
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