Lemongrass Consommé Recipe Epicuriouscom

LEEK AND GINGER MATZO BALLS IN LEMONGRASS CONSOMMé

Steps:

• For consommé:
• Place chicken in extra-large pot. Add next 7 ingredients, then enough cold water to cover (about 18 cups). Bring to boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer soup 2 hours, skimming impurities from surface. Let stand 30 minutes. Strain consommé into large saucepan. Boil until reduced to 8 cups, if necessary. Add 1 tablespoon lemon juice; season with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Chill uncovered until cold, then cover and keep chilled (fat will form solid layer on top).
• For matzo balls:
• Whisk 4 eggs in medium bowl. Mix in leek, chicken fat, broth, coarse salt, ginger, and pepper. Stir in matzo meal. Cover; chill at least 4 hours.
• Using wet hands, shape generous 2 tablespoons matzo mixture into balls. Place on sheet of foil. Bring large pot of salted water to boil over high heat. Drop in matzo balls; cover pot. Reduce heat to low; simmer until matzo balls are cooked through, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer matzo balls in single layer to shallow dish. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.
• Rewarm consommé. Add more lemon juice by teaspoonfuls, if desired. Add matzo balls; simmer to reheat, 5 to 10 minutes. Divide matzo balls and consommé among 6 bowls. Garnish with chopped chives.
• What to drink:
• A fragrant white wine would be great with the consommé. We like the Yarden 2007 Gewürztraminer, a kosher wine made in Israel ($18).

LEMONGRASS CONSOMMé

Steps:

• Cut off and discard top of each lemongrass stalk, leaving 6-inch stalk, then smash stalks with side of large heavy knife. Cut each stalk in half crosswise.
• In 8-quart stock pot over moderately high heat, combine all ingredients and 3 quarts cold water. Bring to simmer, skimming froth, then reduce heat to moderately low and gently simmer, uncovered, skimming froth occasionally, 45 minutes.
• Remove chicken, reserving for another use, then strain consommé through fine-mesh sieve into large bowl, discarding solids. If using consommé right away, skim off and discard any fat. If making ahead, cool consommé completely, uncovered, then chill, covered, and discard any solidified fat. (Consommé can be chilled up to 3 days or frozen 1 month.) Rewarm consommé before serving by bringing to gentle simmer in large pot over moderately high heat.)

STRAWBERRY-RHUBARB CONSOMMé

Steps:

• Cut the rhubarb into small pieces and put it through a juicer. Rhubarb fibers can clog the juicer, so you may need to clean it about halfway through this process. Strain the juice and measure out 2 cups. Adjust the color with grenadine to make it a light pink.
• Pour about 1/2 cup of the juice into a small glass bowl and sprinkle the gelatin over the surface. Let it sit for about 1 minute, then microwave for 45 seconds or heat gently in a saucepan until melted. Pour into the rest of the rhubarb juice and stir for about 1 minute.
• Pour into a whipped cream maker and screw on a fresh N2O charger. Shake vigorously for about 2 minutes. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, shaking vigorously every 30 minutes or so, as the gelatin sets, or for up to 1 week.
• Remove the zest from the orange and lemon with a vegetable peeler. Tie the zest in cheesecloth along with the vanilla pod and lemongrass. Juice the orange and lemon. Strain the juices and reserve.
• Put the strawberries, rhubarb, elderflower cordial, Moscato d'Asti, water, and grenadine in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the cheesecloth sachet, reduce the heat, and simmer the soup for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature.
• Remove the sachet and liquefy the soup with an immersion blender. Strain through a fine strainer set over a bowl or pitcher (discard the solids). Whisk in the orange and lemon juices and chill thoroughly before serving or for up to 3 days.
• Bring 2 cups of the water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add the tapioca and simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes. The tapioca will have lost about half its opacity. Drain and rinse the tapioca. Bring the remaining 2 cups water to a boil and add the tapioca. Cook until the tapioca has lost all its opacity, another 2 to 3 minutes. Large pearls will take longer to cook. Drain, and rinse well in cold water to remove the excess starch. Put the tapioca in a container with 1 cup of the simple syrup and refrigerate until you're ready to serve.
• Blanch the basil in boiling water for 15 seconds. Drain, refresh in ice water, and drain again. Squeeze out all of the water and put the basil in a blender. Add the remaining 1/4 cup simple syrup and blend on high for at least 1 minute, to make a smooth puree. Line a strainer with a few layers of cheesecloth. Strain the basil syrup (discard the solids) and refrigerate until you're ready to serve or for up to 1 week.
• Drain the tapioca. Stir the basil syrup into the tapioca and add a spoonful to a small glass. Pour in the consommé over the back of a spoon to help keep the layers distinct. Shake the whipped cream maker and top the glass with a shot of rhubarb foam. Sprinkle with sliced basil, if desired. Repeat for each serving.
• You could serve the consommé without the basil tapioca and foam, just with the Thai basil.

LEMONGRASS CONSOMME WITH KNEIDLACH

Steps:

• Cut off and discard top of each lemongrass stalk, leaving 6-inch stalk, then smash stalks with side of large heavy knife. Cut each stalk in half crosswise.
• In 8-quart stock pot over moderately high heat, combine all ingredients and 3 quarts cold water. Bring to simmer, skimming froth, then reduce heat to moderately low and gently simmer, uncovered, skimming froth occasionally, 45 minutes.
• Remove chicken, reserving for another use, then strain consommé through fine-mesh sieve into large bowl, discarding solids. If using consommé right away, skim off and discard any fat. If making ahead, cool consommé completely, uncovered, then chill, covered, and discard any solidified fat. (Consommé can be chilled up to 3 days or frozen 1 month.) Rewarm consommé before serving by bringing to gentle simmer in large pot over moderately high heat.).
• Make matzoh balls:.
• In large bowl, whisk together oil and eggs. Stir in matzoh meal and salt until well blended. Stir in 1/4 cup stock. Cover batter and refrigerate until cold and firm, at least 20 minutes and up to 1 day.
• Line large baking sheet with plastic wrap or parchment paper. Using wet hands, very gently shape batter into about 16 balls, each about 2 inches in diameter. Arrange on prepared sheet.
• In large stock pot over high heat, bring remaining stock to boil. Gently drop balls into stock, return to boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until balls are tender and cooked through, about 40 minutes. (Matzoh balls can be cooked up to 1 day ahead. Refrigerate stock and balls separately and rewarm balls before serving by simmering in stock 5 minutes.)
• While matzoh balls are cooking, poach vegetables:.
• Cut leeks crosswise into 2-inch lengths, then thinly slice lengthwise. Wash leek strips in bowl of cold water, agitating, then lift out and pat dry.
• In medium saucepan over high heat, bring 4 cups salted water to boil. Reduce heat to low, add leeks, and gently simmer, uncovered, until tender, about 7 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer leeks to small bowl. Add mushrooms to water and gently simmer, uncovered, until tender, about 10 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer mushrooms to second small bowl. Cover vegetables and keep warm. (Vegetables can be poached up to 1 day ahead and refrigerated, covered. Rewarm by simmering in water 30 seconds before proceeding.)
• Finish and serve:.
• Using slotted spoon, divide balls among 8 soup bowls. (Discard stock in which balls were cooked.) Top with leeks and mushrooms. Ladle warm consommé over and sprinkle with parsley. Serve immediately.