Consommé

Consommé is also a type of clear soup. It was made in France.

The story behind this soup is actually interesting. The king of France ordered is cooks to make a soup, which he can see his refection in, And when they made it they called the soup, Consommé.

A consommé is made by adding a mixture of ground meats, together with mirepoix (a combination of carrots, celery, and onion), tomatoes, and egg whites into either bouillon or stock. The secret to making a high-quality consommé is in the simmering. Simmering and stirring bring impurities to the surface, which are further drawn out due to the presence of acid from the tomatoes.

Eventually, the solids begin to congeal at the surface of the liquid, forming a “raft”, which is caused by the proteins in the egg whites. The resulting concoction is a clear liquid that has either a rich amber or yellow colour. It is then carefully passed through a filter to ensure its purity and is then the fat is skimmed from the surface.