Consommé
A hearty chicken built around lean minced chicken or beef, carrot, finely diced and celery stalk, finely diced — roughly 65 minutes start to finish, and rated medium to make. You'll find the full ingredient list (with a scaler to change the servings), 7 steps of method, substitutions, and ideas for what to serve alongside.
You'll mainly reach for pan and large pot. At medium difficulty across 7 steps, it's manageable with a little attention.
What you'll need
Shopping list (6)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
Diet: contains meat, based on every ingredient listed below.
Contains: Egg
Allergen labels are informational and may not cover cross-contact; verify every package and consult a qualified professional for medical dietary needs. Diet labels are derived from the ingredient list on this page — how we verify diet and allergen labels.
Food-safety and allergen information is general, not medical advice. Follow current guidance from your local food-safety authority, verify product labels, and seek qualified advice for allergies or health conditions.
How to make it
- Chill the stock completely and skim off any solidified fat from the surface so the final consommé stays clear.
- In a bowl, combine the minced meat, lightly beaten egg whites, diced carrot, celery, leek and tomato to form the clarification raft mixture.
- Stir this mixture into the cold stock in a tall heavy pot, then place over medium-low heat and stir gently and constantly until it approaches a simmer.
- Stop stirring as soon as a raft of coagulated protein forms and floats to the top, then make a small hole in the raft with a spoon to let the stock bubble through, and keep at the barest simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour without disturbing the raft.
- Carefully ladle the clear liquid through the hole and strain it through a sieve lined with a damp cloth into a clean pan, discarding the raft.
- Season the strained consommé to taste with salt and pepper, stir in the madeira, and reheat gently without boiling.
- Serve the hot consommé in warmed bowls, clear and golden, garnished simply if desired.
You'll use: Pan · Large pot · Saucepan
Tips & common questions
How long does Consommé take to make?
About 65 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 7 steps and 10 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
How should I store leftovers?
Cool leftovers quickly, refrigerate in an airtight container, and eat within 3 days. Reheat until piping hot throughout.
Related recipes
Adapted recipe — rewritten in our own wording from an open-licensed community cookbook, not yet independently kitchen-tested by Consomee. How we source, test & correct recipes.
Consommé is adapted by Consomee from the Wikibooks Cookbook, rewritten in our own wording and used under CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo: Consomme de volaille.jpg by Kui-Doraku, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure — how we source recipes.