Mrs Beetons Soups Revisited
Almond Soup
2.25lt (4 pints) Water (approx)
1.8kg (4lb) Lean Beef or Veal
½ Scrag of Mutton
225g (8oz) Sweet Almonds
25g (1oz) Vermicelli
150ml (¼ pint) Thick Cream
6 Hard Boiled Egg Yolks
6 Cloves
4 Blades Mace
Boil the beef or veal and the mutton, gently in enough water to cover them, until the liquor is very strong and the meat very tender.
Strain off the liquor and place on the heat with the above quantities of vermicelli, mace and cloves to 2.25lt (4 pints).
Let it boil until it has the flavour of the spices.
Blanch and pound the almonds very finely, whilst pounding, add a little of the soup, in case they get oily.
Add gradually to the soup.
Allow the soup be cool whilst mixing it perfectly smooth.
Strain through a sieve, place it on the heat, stir frequently and serve hot.
Just before serving, add the cream.
Time: 3 hours.
Sufficient for 8 persons.
Seasonable all the year.
ALMOND SOUP
110. INGREDIENTS - 4 lbs. of lean beef or veal, 1/2 a scrag of mutton, 1 oz. of vermicelli, 4 blades of mace, 6 cloves, 1/2 lb. of sweet almonds, the yolks of 6 eggs, 1 gill of thick cream, rather more than 2 quarts of water.
Mode - Boil the beef, or veal, and the mutton, gently in water that will cover them, till the gravy is very strong, and the meat very tender; then strain off the gravy, and set it on the fire with the specified quantities of vermicelli, mace, and cloves, to 2 quarts. Let it boil till it has the flavour of the spices. Have ready the almonds, blanched and pounded very fine; the yolks of the eggs boiled hard; mixing the almonds, whilst pounding, with a little of the soup, lest the latter should grow oily. Pound them till they are a mere pulp, and keep adding to them, by degrees, a little soup until they are thoroughly mixed together. Let the soup be cool when mixing, and do it perfectly smooth. Strain it through a sieve, set it on the fire, stir frequently, and serve hot. Just before taking it up, add the cream.
Time - 3 hours.
Average cost per quart, 2s. 3d.
Seasonable all the year.
Sufficient for 8 persons.
Email: The Foody UK and Ireland
© Copyright The Delineator 2000-2007. All rights reserved