1990s Recipes + Menus

Court Bouillon (Fish-Poaching Liquid)

Makesabout 2 quarts
FROM LE BERNARDIN COOKBOOK: FOUR-STAR SIMPLICITY BY MAGUY LE COZE AND ERIC RIPERT
July 1998
  • 1/2 small leek (white and pale green parts only)
  • a 3-inch piece carrot
  • a 3-inch piece celery rib
  • 3 medium garlic cloves
  • 7 cups cold water
  • 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
  • 1 fresh thyme sprig
  • 2 bay leaves (not the stronger California variety)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons white peppercorns
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • Cut up leek, carrot, and celery and in a large saucepan bring to a boil with remaining ingredients. Boil mixture 10 minutes and pour through a fine sieve into a bowl. Court bouillon keeps, covered and chilled, 3 days or, frozen, 2 months.
Subscribe to Gourmet