Rich Veal Broth Food

VEAL STOCK

Steps:

• A stock is something I make first thing when I have a day of cooking.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Arrange the veal bones and scraps in a single layer on 2 or 3 baking sheets lined with foil. Put the trays in the oven and cook until the bones brown, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Heat a large skillet and add 1 tablespoon of the oil. When it begins to smoke lightly, add the 2 skin-on onion halves, cut side down. We want them to turn black. Combine the remaining sliced onion, carrots and celery. When the flesh part of the onion halves turn black, remove them from the pan. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil and stir in the vegetables. Season with salt and cook, stirring from time to time, until the vegetables soften, about 5 to 8 minutes.
• When the bones are roasted and browned, drain off any excess grease and add to a large pot. Cover with cold water, (warm water makes a cloudy stock) and bring to a boil over high heat. Lower the heat and use a ladle to skim any foam or impurities from the top. Add the vegetables, the cheesecloth containing the thyme, bay leaves and black peppercorns and the black onion halves (which will add flavor and enrich the color). Stir in a pinch of salt, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 6 to 8 hours.
• Shut the off the heat and allow the stock to rest. Taste it! If it tastes watery or has an undeveloped flavor, cook it longer! I have made stock that has taken 12 to 16 hours to come to fruition.
• Strain the stock and return it to the pot. Gently simmer the stock over low to medium heat to reduce and intensify the flavors. Use a ladle to skim any impurities as the stock reduces. Cool and use immediately or freeze for later use.

INSTANT POT VEAL STEW

Steps:

• PREPARE VEAL: Pat veal dry with a paper towel (to help with a good brown sear on the meat). Sprinkle veal with salt and pepper. Dredge veal with flour until lightly coated.
• SAUTE VEAL: Set instant pot to SAUTÉ function. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add half of the veal cubes and sauté on all sides for about 5 minutes to brown. Don't crowd pot. Transfer to plate. Repeat by adding 2nd tablespoon of oil and sautéing remaining veal.
• SAUTE AROMATICS: Add last tablespoon oil. Add onions and sauté for a few minutes. Add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds. Add wine and cook until almost evaporated, about 1-2 minutes, scraping up the browned bits with a wooden spoon. Turn instant pot OFF.
• BUILD STEW AND COOK: Press PRESSURE or MANUAL on HIGH and use the + and - buttons to adjust time to 25 minutes. Add and stir together carrots, celery, potatoes, tomatoes, veal, broth, thyme and 1/4 tsp salt and pepper. Close and lock instant pot lid. Turn vent knob to SEALING position. It will take about 15 minutes to reach pressure and begin countdown. When finished, do a natural release method for 10-15 minutes, then turn to VENTING to do a quick release of the remaining pressure. Unlock lid. Turn pot to OFF
• FINISH STEW: Press SAUTÉ. Add spinach and stir until wilted, about 1 minute. Add cornstarch slurry to the cooking liquid in the pot and stir for 1-2 minutes until thickened. Add zest if using or a squeeze of lemon juice. Taste and adjust seasonings (salt, pepper, thyme). Ladle into bowls and serve with hot crusty bread and butter if desired. Or over egg noodles or rice.

ORECCHIETTE WITH RED-WINE VEAL SAUCE

Steps:

• Make sauce:
• Pat veal shanks dry and season with salt and pepper. In a deep large heavy skillet heat oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and brown shanks on all sides. Transfer shanks to a plate and in skillet sauté onions, stirring, until golden, about 10 minutes.
• In a blender or food processor coarsely purée tomatoes with juice and stir into onions with remaining sauce ingredients. Bring mixture to a simmer. Add shanks and cook, covered, over low heat 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until meat is tender. Discard cloves.
• Transfer shanks to a cutting board and cool slightly. Simmer sauce, uncovered, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes.
• Using 2 forks shred meat. With a sharp knife remove marrow from shanks and chop. Stir meat and marrow into sauce and season with salt and pepper. Simmer sauce 15 minutes. Sauce may be made ahead, cooled completely, uncovered, and chilled, covered. 2 days or frozen 1 month.
• In an 8-quart kettle bring 7 quarts of salted water to a boil. Cook orecchiette until al dente (about 6 minutes for fresh, longer for dried) and drain in a colander. In a large heated bowl immediately toss pasta with sauce.

VEAL BROTH

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a kettle and cook three to six hours or until the liquid is reduced to about three cups.
• Line a sieve with cheesecloth and strain the stock. Carefully skim or pour off all trace of fat. Cook the clear broth until reduced to two cups.