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Parmesan Broth

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Parmesan BrothTuukka Koski food styling: Alison Attenborough, prop styling: kalen kaminski

You might say I hoard Parmesan rinds. I save them all year long, freezing them in a resealable bag. As soon as that first cold front sweeps in, I transform those long-collected ends into a rich and versatile Parmesan Broth.

Ingredients

1

halved head of garlic

1

quartered onion

olive oil, enough to sauté garlic and onion

1

handful of thyme

Sprigs of parsley

1

bay leaf

1

shake of black peppercorns

1

cup of dry white wine

1

pound Parmesan rinds

8

cups of water

Need to make a substitution?

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    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.

    Step 2

    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.