Forcemeat
Forcemeat
Forcemeat
250g (a8 oz) lean diced beef 2dl (2gills) iced water
100g (4oz) pork or bacon fat 15 g (1/2 oz) spice salt or other
diced. sausage seasonings
100g (4oz) white breadcrumbs
Bitok a la Russe
It is usual to force into these cutlets a Best-end bone, scraped and neatly trimmed, or a piece of macaroni to
imitate the bone. The macaroni should be blanched only then will the breadcrumbs stick well when frying.
As for Veal Pojarskis, using 350g (12oz) of finely minced chicken, free of bones, skin and sinews all other
ingredients and method are the same.
Keftedes
As for Botik a la russe, using lamb, pork or veal instead of beef, e.g Keftedes d'agneau, Keftedes de pore,
Keftedes de Veau, Keftedes of any meat are usually shaped into small tournedos of approx 50g(2oz) each, 2
of these comprising a portion.
Cromesquis
Proceed as for chicken cutlets but cut into 8 to 10 fingers, flour, eggwash, breadcrumb and deep fry golden
brown. Serve 2 per poriton
As for the basic recipe, using 350g (12 oz) of cooked chicken, with 125g (5oz) of cooked, diced ham.
As the basic recipe, using 350g (12 oz) of cooked chicken, with 150g (6oz) diced sauted mushrooms.
300 g(10 oz) cooked fish free of 250 g (8oz) mashed potatoes or
skin and bone potato panada
1 raw egg Salt and pepper
15g (1/2 oz) chopped parsley
350g (12oz) cooked minced beef 50g (2oz) cooked diced onion
250g (8oz) mashed potatoes or 15g (1/2oz) chopped parsley
potato panada Salt and pepepr to taste
As basic recipe above, but shape cooled mixture into 8 to 10 fingers. Floured, eggwashed and crumbed,
they are cooked as above.
In this section of Forcemeats come the 'finer' ones, as they are called in nearly all cases a panada and cream
are used. The first is used the binding, the second serving to give a good white colour and lightness to the
different forcemeats. The one exceotion is the famous Godiveau, where the binding is achieved solely by
the use of whites of eggs and ice.
In nearly all recipes of the older cookery books, a mortar and pestle is used. Not many hotels or
restaurants have them nowadays. A very fine mince blade, where the holes are not bigger than 3-5 mm
_1/16th 1/26th in) will work very well. It is advisable to mince the meats or fish at least twice or more times.
All sinews, fristle, and skin should be carefully removed before mincing. Using only the best and freshest of
meat will always ensure a good binding.
All finer forcemeats have basically the same used, as follows: Small quentelles for garnishes or
soups,, Large enelles as a separatedish, usually 2 per portion. Hot mousses, Souffles, Hot mousselines.
To the basic use the name of meat or fish is always added e.g Petites quenelles de veau. Quenelles
de brocher, Mousse Chaude de Homard, Souggles de colalle, Mousseline de perdix, etc.
Small quenelles are usually forced through a piping bag and poached in salted waer or respective
stock.
Large qyebekkes are usually forced with 2 dessert-spoons which have been dipped each time in water. The
quenelles are then placed on a buttered plaque a rotir, covered with a buttered cartouche and poached in
respective stocks.
Mousse Hot is a fine forcemeat placed into a souffle dish which has been buttered, covered with a cartouche
and poached au bain marie in a medium hot oven.
Souffle a normal farce fine to which 2 or 3 beaten whites of egg have been added, then prepared and
cooked as a Hot Mousse.
250g (8oz) lean dish diced veal, free of skin and sinews (fillet or leg)
250g (8oz) good white beef suet, free of all skin, finely chopped
50g (2oz) of finely chopped shallots, cooked in butter.
2 whole eggs
15g (½ oz) spice salt
150g (6oz) finely crushed ice
Used for Large meat quenelles. This forcemeat can be made with other meats especially poultry and game
e.g. Godiveau de volaille. Godiveau de gibier.
175 g (6oz) of of any game, free 1dl (1 gill) of panade (au riz or
from skin, bones and sinews frangipane)
50g (2oz) lean veal 15g (½oz) spice salt
50g (2oz) pork at, diced Pinch of thyme and marjoram
10cl (1 gill) of cream 1 egg
1) Mix game, pork fat, veal and spice salt and herbs
2) Mince through a fine mincer 2-3 times
3) Add the panade and egg and mix well with a wooden spatula, place of ice for 30 mins.
4) Gradually add the fresh cream.
5) Correct seasoning and consistency
Use for large fish quenelles. To all Forcemeats (mentioned above), a little Brandy or Madeira wine may be
added, Poached Julienne of Truffles or Mushrooms may be added where a garnish is required.
In the 3rd section of raw forcemeats come the so-called farces fines a la creme. These again are made from
meats, usually the white meats like veal, poultry and fish as well as game. With the finer forcemears
panades are seldom used but, if they are, it is only in exceptional cases. The binding here is achieved by a
very old method. This is to work the forcemeats on crushed ice in two different sized plats a sauter. The
larger one is filled with crushed ice, the smaller one is placed on top of the ice, and contains the minced
meat or fish to be made into a forcemeat. First whites of egg and salt, and then the cream, are gradually
worked into the mixture, the coolness of the ice ensures good emulsion and firm binding.
A more modern method is to make farce with the aid of a food processor, of which there are basically two
type:
1) A less expensive plastic construction, In most cases these have araised opening which allows
additions to be made, such as herbs, spices and cream, while the processor is running. This less
expensive machine is suitable for the smaller less demanding establishment.
2) A more expensive stainless steel construction. This normally has no raised opening, the processor
has to be switched off and the lid removed to add further ingredients. He construction and safety
features of this type of machine are more suited to heavy use, and the components (especially the
blade) have a longer life. It is a very good investment for the larger and even the smaller first-
class establishment, where the making of forcemeats, mousses, pates and terries is an almost daily
occurrence.
When using a processor for the making of any type of forcemeats, follow the methods given in
each recipe, replacing of course the double plat a sauter. However, it is advisable to mince the meat or fish
two or three times before placing it into the processor. Some blades in smaller machines will be unable to
cope with large pieces of meat, result in a stringy rather than a smooth farce.
Always make sure that both the processor and the minced meat or fish are very cold before the
procedure. They can both be placed into the fridge for a while. A little crushed ice a(about 25g or 1 oz per
500g or 1lb of meat or fish) can be added when firstcutting the farce with a few fast turns of the blade, and
before the cream is added.
There is no doubt that the farce fines are some of the oldest recipes in French cuisine of which the
Godiveau is the best known. These are some of the most commonly used.
1) Mince veal 2 to 3 times through a very fine mincer 5mm (1/20 in, plate).
2) Place into a plat a saute or sauteus, with a larger one with crushed ice underneath.
3) Gradually work in the whites of eggs and spice salt.
4) A little at a time stir in about half of the cream.
5) Slightly beat the remained of cream and fold into the mixture.
6) Add yolk of egg and correct seasoning.
7) Test before use.
1) Mince veal 2 to 3 times through a very fine mincer 5mm (1/20 in plate)
2) Place into a plat a saute or sauteuse with a larger one with crushed ice underneath.
3) Gradually work in the whites of eggs and spice salt.
4) A little at a time stir in about half of the cream.
5) Slightly beat the reminder of cream and fold into the mixture.
6) Add yolk of egg and correct seasoning.
7) Test before use
As for veal forcemeat, using young game of any kind, free of bones, sinews and skin.
1) Mince lobster meat, pike and coral through a very fine mincer
2) Place and work on ice (see illustration for veal forcemeat)
3) Gradually work in whites of egg and spice salt.
4) When binding is achieved, gradually work in about half the cream
5) Slightly beat remainder of cream and gently fold into the mixture
6) Correct seasoning and test before use.
The farce a gratin is the base for all dishes where liver of meats, poultry and game come to be used. E.g
pates, quenelles, potted preparations and others. Here the live is slightly sauted, or even cooked in butter or
the fat of the liver used, e.g chicken-liver, pate, the liver would be sauted in chicken fat etc. The following
recipe given for calves liver can be applied to all other liver forcemeats.
1) Brown the pork fat in butter slightly ,in frying pan or in a plat a sauté.
2) Remove with perforated spoon so that fat stays in pan.
3) Quickly sauté calves liver in the same butter ,and pan.
4) Return pork fat to pan add mushrooms ,seasoning and shallots.
5) Saute all for few moments on an open fire.
6) Add maderia or brandy take aside to cool.
7) When nearly cold mince through a very fine mincer plate about 5 mm .
8) Mix well with a wooden spatula if necessary pass through a fine wire sieve.
9) Correct seasoning.
This is a forcemeat made very much like the liver forcemeat .The difference is the some cold butter
and cream is worked into the liver forcemeat to make them smooth and tasty. This paste is then spread
on to a heart shaped croutons and served with number of different poultry and game dishes, or piped as
borders around cold poultry and game dishes.
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