Demi-Glace

Ingredients

• 1 gallon Espagnole sauce, hot
• 1 gallon brown stock, hot
• 1 bouquet garni

Directions

In a stock pot, combine the Espagnole sauce, brown stock and bouquet garni, together, over medium-high heat. Bring up to a boil, reduce the heat to medium and a simmer until the liquid reduces by half, about 1 1/2 hours. Skim the liquid occasionally, for impurities. Season with salt and pepper. Strain through a China Cap.

• ESPAGNOLE SAUCE
• 1 gallon brown stock, hot
• 1 1/2 cups brown roux
• 1/4 cup bacon fat
• 2 cups chopped onions
• 1 cup chopped carrots
• 1 cup chopped celery
• Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup tomato puree
• 1 bouquet garni

In a stock pot, whisk the hot stock into the roux. In a large saute pan, heat the bacon fat. Add the vegetables. Season with salt and pepper. Saute until wilted, about 5 minutes. Stir the tomato puree into the vegetables and cook for about 5 minutes. Add the tomato/vegetable mixture to the stock/roux mixture. Add the bouquet garni and continue to simmer, skimming as needed. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer the sauce for about 45 minutes. Strain the sauce through a China cap. Yield: 1 gallon

• BASIC BROWN STOCK
• 7 pounds beef marrow bones sawed into 2-inch pieces
• 8 ounces tomato paste
• 2 cups chopped onions
• 1 cup chopped carrot
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 2 cups dry red wine
• 1 bouquet garni
• Salt and pepper
• 8 quarts of water

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Place the bones in a roasting pan and roast for 1 hour. Remove the bones from the oven and brush with the tomato paste. In a mixing bowl, combine the onions, carrots, and celery together. Lay the vegetables over the bones and return to the oven. Roast for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and drain off any fat. Place the roasting pan over the stove and deglaze the pan with the red wine, using a wooden spoon, scraping the bottom of the pan for browned particles. Put everything into a large stockpot. Add the bouquet garni and season with salt. Add the water. Bring the liquid up to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Simmer the stock for 4 hours, skimming regularly. Remove from the heat and strain through a China cap. Yield: about 1 gallon