Dutch Brown Ragout Soup Recipes

DUTCH BROWN RAGOUT SOUP

Steps:

• Saute the first five ingredients with bacon in butter until tender.
• Add the flour and stir constantly for about 4- 5 minutes.
• Add 3 cups of the broth, stirring to avoid any lumps.
• Add the rest of the broth and push through a sieve, or use immersion blender to make a thick broth.
• Add the seasonings, the wine, meatballs and mushrooms.
• Simmer for 20 minutes, or until the mushrooms are barely cooked and the meatballs are heated through.

SPRING VEGETABLE RAGOûT WITH BROWN BUTTER COUSCOUS

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring 2 1/2 cups water to a rapid boil. Add salt and couscous, stirring as water returns to boil. Turn down heat to a bare simmer, cover and cook for 5 minutes. Turn off heat and leave covered for 10 minutes. Dump couscous on a baking sheet or large platter, and spread out. Taste for salt and add more if necessary. Fluff, smash any large clumps and leave to cool, uncovered.
• Set up a steamer with a fine mesh basket, with water simmering on low heat, for eventual steaming of couscous. About 30 minutes before serving, put couscous in the steamer basket and raise heat to maintain a rapid simmer. Do not cover. (This extra steaming step produces lighter, fluffier couscous.)
• Make the green sauce: Put cilantro, salt, Serrano chile and olive oil in a blender or food processor. Pulse briefly, then purée into a paste. Add 1/4 cup water, and purée again. Taste and adjust seasoning. Transfer to a small bowl and stir in lime juice.
• Make the ragoût: Put 2 tablespoons olive oil in a deep, wide skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. When oil is hot, add coriander and cumin. Let sizzle for a few seconds, then onions and cook, stirring, until beginning to soften, about 5 minutes.
• Add leeks and season well with salt and pepper. Stir and cook onion-leek mixture until leeks are soft but still bright green, about 5 minutes.
• Add zucchini, season with salt and stir to coat. Add 3 cups water, raise heat to a boil, cover and cook for 2 minutes. Add asparagus and peas, cover and cook for another 2 minutes.
• Add favas, if using, and spinach, cover and cook 1 minute. Turn off heat. (Spinach will continue to cook.)
• Finish the couscous: Set a wide skillet over high heat. When pan is hot, add cold butter and let it sizzle and foam, turning rust-brown but no darker. Add preserved lemon and the saffron and its water to stop the browning. Turn off heat. Add hot couscous to pan and stir to incorporate all elements. Transfer to a warm serving bowl.
• Gently fold vegetables together, then lift from pot and transfer to a deep serving platter, using tongs or slotted spoon. Stir 2 tablespoons green sauce into liquid remaining in pot, then spoon liquid over vegetables. Garnish with cilantro sprigs. Pass remaining green sauce at the table.

DUTCH BROWN BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Put the beans in a pan with the water and bay leaf, bring to the boil.
• Boil rapidly for 10 minutes, then simmer for 1 1/2 hours or until the beans are tender.
• Then add the leeks, carrot, potato, Worcestershire and salt and pepper, simmer for another 30 minutes.
• Taste the soup or you want to add a stock cube.
• You can puree the soup at this point, but it is nicest when you just mash the beans and potatoes a bit so it thickens.
• Add the celery leaves 5 minutes before serving.
• Other additions/fillings for the soup: left-over cooked beef or pork, tiny meatballs, slices of smoked sausage, hot sauce, ketchup.
• Fried onions and bacon for serving.

DUTCH BROWN BEAN SOUP (NETHERLANDS)

Steps:

• In a large pot, fry the bacon in the butter, then add shallots, carrot, leek & ground paprika, mixing well.
• Add beans, tomato puree, beef stock & bay leaves, then bring the soup to a boil. Reduce heat & simmer 15 minutes.
• Remove bay leaves, then season to taste with salt, pepper & Worcestershire sauce.
• With a stick blender of food processor, process the soup until somewhat smooth. Add celery leaves just before serving.