10 mins
Chicken Stock (or white stock)
Recipe by Graham
Chicken Stock (or white stock) is a nice, light stock that has a multitude of uses. If you have a chicken carcass left over from cooking, you can use it to make a stock that you can freeze or turn into soup. Chicken stock is the secret ingredient of restaurant food. A good chicken stock should have decent body, along with a mild savory flavor that enhances—rather than competes with—the sauces, glazes, and soup bases you make with it.
Aa good white chicken stock should have a the full, clean flavors of chicken and aromatic vegetables, and have more body than water. If it gels at least slightly when chilled, that's a good sign as far as body is concerned. At the same time, a good basic stock should not have any particularly strong or unconventional flavors. The goal here is versatility, so we want to make sure it will work with all kinds of recipes.
Chicken Satay 
Chicken Sukka Ingredients for Chicken Stock (or white stock)
Currently displaying quantities in US Imperial Measurements
How to Cook Chicken Stock (or white stock)
- If you have cooked a chicken, you can use the carcass (with any bits of meat still attached) to make this recipe. Place them into a large saucepan with the water and salt. Slice the onions, carrots, celery and leek (no need to peel any of them) and add them to the pan along with the bouquet garni and peppercorns. Bring the water to the boil then cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid. Reduce the heat and simmer very gently for 1 hour.
- Allow the stock to cool a little then strain it through a fine sieve (strainer) and discard all the solids. Allow the liquid to cool completely and then skim off the fat (which will rise to the surface). This produces about 3 pints (1.75ltr) of chicken (or white) stock that will keep in the freezer until required. A little time taken, but the improved flavours will make it well worthwhile.
GRAHAM'S HOT TIP:
If you want to add a 'tang' to your chicken stock, you can press four or five cloves into the onion before adding to the pan.
What To Eat Tonight
Chicken breasts are thought by some people as being dry yet, properly prepared and cooked, nothing could be further from the truth.
Fish can be so easily spoiled by careless cooking, yet its delicate and light meat is so easy to get right if you have the right recipes.
Dim the room, light the candles and prepare for something very special and perfect for a romantic evening. Guaranteed to light your fires.
