Parmesan Broth Recipes

PARMESAN BROTH

Steps:

• I start by sautéing a halved head of garlic and a quartered onion in some olive oil, along with a handful of thyme, a few sprigs of parsley, a bay leaf, and a shake of black peppercorns. Once the garlic is browned, I add a cup of dry white wine and simmer, scraping the pot to get the brown bits loosened up, until reduced by half. In goes 1 pound Parmesan rinds and 8 cups of water.
• The whole thing simmers until it tastes robust and has reduced by half, about 2 hours. (I stir every now and then-the rinds will stick to the bottom of the pot if you let them.) I strain, and then use the broth in vegetable soups, instant-supper pastas, and beans in need of a boost. Then I start hoarding all over again.

PARMESAN BROTH

Steps:

• In a large Dutch oven or heavy pot, heat the oil over medium. Add onion quarters and halved garlic, and cook, flat-side down, until the onion and garlic are lightly brown, about 3 minutes. Add Parmesan rinds, parsley, thyme, peppercorns, bay leaves and 12 cups water; bring to a boil.
• Once the water comes to a boil, reduce to a simmer. Partly cover and cook, stirring occasionally to prevent the cheese from sticking to the bottom of the pot, until broth is cloudy and tastes strongly like Parmesan, 2 1/2 hours.
• Strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing the vegetables and cheese rinds to extract as much liquid as possible. Let cool, then store the broth in the refrigerator up to 1 week or the freezer up to 3 months.

TORTELLINI IN PARMESAN BROTH

Steps:

• Cut rind off cheese. Combine rind, stock, garlic, parsley, and oil in a 3-quart pot, then simmer gently, partially covered, 30 minutes. Discard parsley and rind and season broth with salt.
• Add tortellini and simmer, partially covered, until al dente, about 10 minutes. Add spinach and simmer, uncovered, 1 minute. Divide among 4 soup plates, then shave cheese over soup to taste.

BRODO DI PARMIGIANO (PARMESAN BROTH)

Steps:

• Add everything but the parsley to a large stockpot with 3 quarts water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer so low you see only a bubble every 10 seconds or so. Maintain this simmer for 4 hours, stirring occasionally.
• Add the parsley and simmer for 1 more hour. Strain all of the solids out of the stock with a sieve over a bowl and use the broth immediately, or store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or the freezer for up to 1 month.
• Variations:
• To make a soup-like pasta dish, boil the pasta directly in the broth along with greens such as kale, bok choy, or broccoli.
• To make a thicker sauce to coat noodles, simmer to reduce the brodo by half, then toss it with pasta just before serving.