Brown Veal Stock

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Brown Veal Stock

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Brown Veal Stock

Brown veal stock is a staple in many kitchens and especially in French ones. Chefs like veal because it has a deep but not overwhelming flavor and contains more pectin, an excellent quality to have in stocks used to make reductions or demi-glace. If you cannot find veal bones, you may substitute with beef bones.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time12 hours
Course: Stocks & Sauces
Cuisine: French
Keyword: Brown Veal Stock
Servings: 3 Liters
Calories: 2190kcal

Ingredients

Yield about 3 liters

  • 5 pounds veal bones
  • 2 large onions
  • 1 large carrot
  • 1 stalk celery
  • 1 head garlic cut in half
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 10 whole black peppers
  • 2 large bay leaves
  • 2 large sprigs thyme
  • 0.5 medium green leek
  • 4 liters water
  • 1 cup red wine, optional

Instructions

  • Brown the bones for 45 minutes in a roasting pan at 450°F. Turn frequently to roast them evenly. Cut one onion, with skin, in half. In an oven pan, preferably cast iron, place the onion faces down in 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. Fry on high heat to burn the onion. It will take a minimum of 10 minutes to char the onions. Peel and wash the carrots, onions, and celery. Cut the vegetables into 1-inch cubes, creating a Mirepoix.
  • Check the oven; the veal bones should be golden brown. Add the burnt onion to the Mirepoix. Add the head of garlic cut in half with the skin on. Remove the bones from the oven. Cover the bones with the Mirepoix, burnt onions, and garlic. Reduce the temperature to 380°F. Stir the ingredients every 10 minutes, for an additional 30 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook for 15 minutes, ensuring that the bones and the aromatic garnish become brown but do not burn.
  • Transfer the bones and vegetables to a large stockpot. Discard any excess fat. (Decanter) Put the roasting pan over a burner on high heat and fry. Add the wine and 1 liter of cold water (deglaze). Whisk continuously, scraping any residue from the bottom of the pan. Pour the liquid from the roasting pan over the bones in the stockpot. Add peppercorn, bay leaves, thyme, and green leek. Cover with the rest of the water.
  • The liquid must cover all the ingredients. Bring to a boil and then reduce to simmer for a minimum of 8 hours. You may cook the stock for up to 12 hours. Stir from time to time to ensure that nothing is sticking or burning to the bottom. You must keep the bones covered by adding more water during this long cooking process. Strain the stock through a fine strainer.
  • Cool and refrigerate overnight. When the stock is cold, the fat will solidify. Remove the thick "crust" of fat.

Video

Notes

Hints and tips:
  • If you reduce your Veal Stock by ½, you will have what French Chefs call, a ½ Glaze. If you reduce your ½ glace by ½ again, you will have a Glace de Viande.

Cooking Tips for Brown Veal Stock

  1. Choose Fresh, Quality Bones: Veal bones are ideal due to their high pectin content, which adds body and depth, making the stock perfect for reductions. If unavailable, beef bones are a suitable substitute.
  2. Roast for Flavor: Roasting the bones at 450°F until golden-brown deepens the stock’s flavor. Stir the bones occasionally for even browning, avoiding any charring, which can cause bitterness.
  3. Char the Onion: Burn one onion face down in a hot pan. This adds color and a hint of smokiness to the stock.
  4. Deglaze with Wine: After roasting, use red wine to deglaze the pan, scraping up browned bits. This adds complexity to the stock’s flavor.
  5. Low and Slow Cooking: Simmer for at least 8–12 hours. The long cook time fully extracts flavor and nutrients. Add water as needed to keep the ingredients submerged, and skim any foam from the top to keep the stock clear.
  6. Strain and Cool Properly: Use a fine sieve to strain, and refrigerate overnight. Once chilled, remove the hardened fat from the top to leave a clean, rich stock.

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