Dutch Brown Ragout Soup Recipes

SPRING VEGETABLE RAGOûT WITH BROWN BUTTER COUSCOUS

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring 2 1/2 cups water to a rapid boil. Add salt and couscous, stirring as water returns to boil. Turn down heat to a bare simmer, cover and cook for 5 minutes. Turn off heat and leave covered for 10 minutes. Dump couscous on a baking sheet or large platter, and spread out. Taste for salt and add more if necessary. Fluff, smash any large clumps and leave to cool, uncovered.
• Set up a steamer with a fine mesh basket, with water simmering on low heat, for eventual steaming of couscous. About 30 minutes before serving, put couscous in the steamer basket and raise heat to maintain a rapid simmer. Do not cover. (This extra steaming step produces lighter, fluffier couscous.)
• Make the green sauce: Put cilantro, salt, Serrano chile and olive oil in a blender or food processor. Pulse briefly, then purée into a paste. Add 1/4 cup water, and purée again. Taste and adjust seasoning. Transfer to a small bowl and stir in lime juice.
• Make the ragoût: Put 2 tablespoons olive oil in a deep, wide skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. When oil is hot, add coriander and cumin. Let sizzle for a few seconds, then onions and cook, stirring, until beginning to soften, about 5 minutes.
• Add leeks and season well with salt and pepper. Stir and cook onion-leek mixture until leeks are soft but still bright green, about 5 minutes.
• Add zucchini, season with salt and stir to coat. Add 3 cups water, raise heat to a boil, cover and cook for 2 minutes. Add asparagus and peas, cover and cook for another 2 minutes.
• Add favas, if using, and spinach, cover and cook 1 minute. Turn off heat. (Spinach will continue to cook.)
• Finish the couscous: Set a wide skillet over high heat. When pan is hot, add cold butter and let it sizzle and foam, turning rust-brown but no darker. Add preserved lemon and the saffron and its water to stop the browning. Turn off heat. Add hot couscous to pan and stir to incorporate all elements. Transfer to a warm serving bowl.
• Gently fold vegetables together, then lift from pot and transfer to a deep serving platter, using tongs or slotted spoon. Stir 2 tablespoons green sauce into liquid remaining in pot, then spoon liquid over vegetables. Garnish with cilantro sprigs. Pass remaining green sauce at the table.

DUTCH BROWN BEAN SOUP (NETHERLANDS)

Steps:

• In a large pot, fry the bacon in the butter, then add shallots, carrot, leek & ground paprika, mixing well.
• Add beans, tomato puree, beef stock & bay leaves, then bring the soup to a boil. Reduce heat & simmer 15 minutes.
• Remove bay leaves, then season to taste with salt, pepper & Worcestershire sauce.
• With a stick blender of food processor, process the soup until somewhat smooth. Add celery leaves just before serving.

DUTCH CROQUETTEN

Steps:

• Place ground veal in a skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring to crumble, until evenly browned. Set aside.
• Melt butter in a saucepan over low heat. Stir in flour until smooth, and cook for about 2 minutes. Gradually stir in milk, then chicken broth to make a smooth thick sauce. Add the cooked ground veal, and season with paprika, chili powder, curry powder, salt, pepper , Worcestershire sauce, and parsley. Stir to blend well. Remove from heat, and set aside to cool to room temperature.
• When the meat mixture is cooled and slightly firm, shape into cylinders 3 to 4 inches long, and 1 1 /2 inches wide. If you wish, press a strip of the spiced Gouda cheese into the center, making sure it is completely surrounded. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and water. Place bread crumbs on a plate or tray. Coat croquettes with flour, then dip in the beaten egg mixture, then roll the croquettes in the crumbs to coat. Repeat the coating process if a thicker breading is desired.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When oil is hot, fry croquettes until golden brown on all sides. If you have a deep-fryer, they can be deep-fried instead. Remove to paper towels to drain, and serve hot.

DUTCH OVEN BACON CHEESEBURGER SOUP

Steps:

• Combine chicken broth, potatoes, onion, carrots, basil, parsley, and garlic powder in a Dutch oven or large pot. Stir, cover, and cook over medium heat until potatoes are soft, 1 to 2 hours.
• Meanwhile, place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain grease from the skillet. Chop bacon and set aside.
• Add ground beef to the same skillet and cook over medium-high heat until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and discard grease.
• Add bacon and ground beef to the soft potatoes; mix well.
• Melt butter in another skillet over medium-low heat. Add flour and whisk until brown, about 1 minute. Whisk in milk and season with salt and pepper. Add milk mixture to the soup, stirring well to combine everything. Add 1 3/4 cups Cheddar cheese and stir until melted. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Ladle soup into bowls, top with remaining Cheddar and sprinkle with green onions.

DUTCH BROWN RAGOUT SOUP

Steps:

• Saute the first five ingredients with bacon in butter until tender.
• Add the flour and stir constantly for about 4- 5 minutes.
• Add 3 cups of the broth, stirring to avoid any lumps.
• Add the rest of the broth and push through a sieve, or use immersion blender to make a thick broth.
• Add the seasonings, the wine, meatballs and mushrooms.
• Simmer for 20 minutes, or until the mushrooms are barely cooked and the meatballs are heated through.