Simple Meat Stock

Total Time: 4 hrs 20 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 4 hrs

Ingredients

• 2/3 lb ground beef or 2/3 lb ground chicken
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 2 cups onions, cut into chunks (about 1 large)
• 1/2 cup carrot, chopped
• 1/2 cup celeriac or 1/2 cup parsnip, chopped
• 1 bay leaf
• 6 cups boiling water

Recipe

• 1 preheat the oven to 200 degrees.
• 2 heat a large, ovenproof pot (with a tight-fitting lid for later) over high heat. add the meat and sear uncovered for a few minutes, just until golden brown.
• 3 add the butter, then the onion and root vegetables; sear for a couple of minutes, stirring, until they start to turn golden brown.
• 4 add the bay leaf and water; mix well.
• 5 cover with the lid and transfer to the oven.
• 6 cook for 3 to 4 hours, or up to overnight.
• 7 to ensure that maximum flavor is extracted, process the stock in a blender (in batches, with the center knob removed and a towel put over the opening to prevent steam from causing the blender lid to pop off) or food processor after the stock has cooled for 1 hour.
• 8 line a strainer with several layers of cheesecloth or a clean kitchen towel.
• 9 strain the stock, extracting as much liquid as possible; discard the solids.
• 10 cool to room temperature; remove any fat or impurities that collect.
• 11 cover and refrigerate, or portion into small amounts and freeze.