Brodo (Meat Broth)

3 pounds beef (top blade chuck or

shank)

1 (3- to 4-pound) chicken

3 medium yellow onions

3 carrots

3 celery stalks

3 fresh or canned plum tomatoes 1 crisp apple (like Gala, Fiji or

Honeycrisp), halved (optional) 1 2-inch piece Parmesan rind

(optional)

1 sachet containing 3 whole cloves, 8 black peppercorns, 2 bay leaves, 1 small bunch flat-leaf parsley and 3 thyme sprigs Kosher salt, as needed

Instructions: Trim the beef of any visible fat. Put the chicken and beef in a large pot and add enough cold water to completely cover the meats.

Put the pot over medium heat, cover, and bring the water to a simmer.

As soon as it comes to a simmer, remove the lid and start skimming any foam that rises to the surface. Add the onions, carrots, celery, tomatoes, apple and Parmesan rind. Partially cover the pot by setting the lid slightly ajar to leave an opening; that way, the pot won’t be as likely to boil over and you can keep an eye on it more easily. Bring it back to a simmer and cook, periodically skimming the foam that rises to the surface, for about 2 hours.

Add the sachet to the pot and cook for 30 minutes longer.

Remove the meats from the broth, letting any broth inside the chicken drain back into the pot. Reserve the meat to use in other dishes. At this point, the broth should have a rich, deep flavor. If not, remove the sachet, but continue to simmer for 20-30 minutes longer. Add salt to taste.

Strain the broth through a wiremesh sieve directly into a pot if you are planning to serve the broth right away. The broth is ready to use, or it may be cooled and stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Makes about 1 1⁄2 gallons

April Goess, The Culinary Institute of America, San Antonio