Veloute Sauce (Escoffier's Recipe)

Da Huz's Note:

I was a little surprised not to see this version of Veloute posted here. According to "The Escoffier Cookbook" (the American edition of Guide Culinaire) Escoffier uses nutmeg and white pepper. Most of the recipes here either omit the nutmeg or use regular black pepper. Note that this recipe makes four quarts, so adjust as necessary. Also note that fish stock or chicken stock can be used to create two variations of the original recipe.

• Total Time: 2 hrs 5 mins
• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients:

Serves: 4

Yield: 4.0 quarts

• 8 ounces butter
• 9 ounces flour
• 5 quarts white veal stock, room-temperature (use recipe # 46191)
• 1/4 lb button mushroom, sliced
• 1 ounce salt
• 1 pinch ground nutmeg
• 1 pinch white pepper

Directions:

1. First make a white roux: over low heat, melt the butter and whisk in the flour. Cook 2-4 minutes, just enough to eliminate the bitter taste of raw flour. Color should not be allowed to change at all. Adjust butter or flour if necessary.
2. Combine four quarts of stock and the roux and whisk together until there are no lumps. Add mushrooms, salt, nutmeg, and white pepper. Whisk to combine and then simmer on low heat for 1.5 hours. Scoop off any scum that surfaces. Add some water if required to keep the sauce from getting too thick.
3. Strain through a cheesecloth into another saucepan. Add the remaining stock and allow the sauce to cool. It should thicken a little as it cools.