Skip to main content

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.

Quiches, Kugels, and Couscous
Read More
Canned purée delivers rich body and deep flavor, without the nonna-level cook time.
Sticky-sweet mall-style bourbon chicken gets a fall makeover.
A fancy-feeling dish that comes together in 20 minutes.
This skillet dinner is a delightful way to use up a jug of cider.
Protein on protein on protein. Great on their own or stirred into tomato sauce.
A sheet-pan wonder with lots of crispy rice.
The Thanksgiving staple makes for a stellar weeknight dinner.
This picadillo-inspired topping would taste good on a shoe.