Jacques Pepins Clear Vegetable Stock Recipes

JACQUES PEPIN'S CLEAR VEGETABLE STOCK

Steps:

• Place all ingredients, along with ingredients for Herbes de Provence, and 10 cups of water into a stockpot or heavy kettle.
• Bring mixture to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour; strain.

ROASTED VEGETABLE STOCK

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450°F.
• Toss the vegetables with the olive oil, until gently coated.
• Place the vegetables in a roasting pan or on a foil-lined baking sheet and roast for about half an hour, turning them occasionally (They should be nicely browned and very aromatic).
• Place all the vegetables in a large pot, scraping all the good brown stuff from the roasting pan into the pot with the herbs and peppercorns.
• Fill with water and place on the stovetop on medium high heat.
• Bring to a boil, lower the temperature, and boil gently for 2-3 hours (watch the water level--if it boils down too much, add more water).
• Strain, pressing down on solids to extract as much liquid as possible; discard the solids and place the remaining liquid in a sauce pan.
• Simmer until reduced by three quarters; this could take about an hour.
• You should end up with about one and a half to two quarts of stock.

JACQUES PEPIN'S POTATOES FONDANTES

Steps:

• Trim the potatoes of any eyes or damaged areas and wash well in cold water.
• Arrange as many potatoes as will fit in one layer in a 10-inch nonstick skillet (there should be a little room to spare; save any extra potatoes for another use).
• Add the rosemary, broth, oil, butter and salt. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium, cover the pan but leave the lid a tad ajar, and boil until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork, about 20 minutes. The liquid should still halfway surround the potatoes; if it doesn't, add more broth or water until it does.
• Remove the pan from the heat and press on each potato with a fork or 1/4-cup measure just until it cracks open. (do not press too hard) Set the pan over medium-high heat and cook, uncovered, until all the liquid has evaporated and the potatoes have browned on one side, about 10 minutes.
• Gently turn the potatoes and brown the other side, another 4 to 5 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat and let the potatoes rest for 5 minutes before transferring them to a serving platter.
• Sprinkle with the chives and serve immediately, passing the fleur de sel so diners can sprinkle some on if they want.