A single pot-au-feu can become several courses. First, serve the marrowbones with salt and toast, then present the meats and vegetables. The broth can be a separate course or can be immediately ladled over the meats and vegetables, with mustard and horseradish added to taste and cornichons served on the side.
·Meats can be simmered 1 day ahead. Chill broth and meats separately, uncovered, until cooled completely, then cover. To reheat meats, remove solidified fat from broth, then return meats to broth and bring slowly to a simmer, about 1 hour, before transferring meats to oven and cooking vegetables.
·Vegetables can be cut and tied 1 day ahead. Chill separately, covering carrots and turnips with water.
Recipe information
Total Time
5 1/4 hr
Yield
Makes 8 servings
Ingredients
Equipment:
Preparation
Cook meats:
Step 1
Preheat convection oven to 425°F or regular oven to 450°F with rack in middle.
Step 2
Pat meats dry, then rub with 2 1/2 teaspoons salt (total) and arrange in 1 layer in a large shallow baking pan with quartered onions and halved carrots. Roast, turning occasionally, until meats and vegetables are well browned, 35 to 45 minutes in convection oven; 45 minutes to 1 hour in regular oven.
Step 3
Transfer meats and vegetables to pot with any juices from pan. Deglaze pan with a little water, scraping up brown bits, then add to pot with water (6 quarts) and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer, skimming foam and fat from surface.
Step 4
Tie celery, parsley, thyme, bay leaves, peppercorns, and clove in a cheesecloth bundle and add to pot.
Step 5
Cut off dark green part from leeks, reserving remainder, and wash . Fold greens and tie in 2 bunches, then add to pot. Gently simmer, uncovered, skimming as necessary, until meats are very tender, about 3 hours.
Prepare leeks and onions while meats simmer:
Step 6
Trim roots from leeks, keeping ends intact, then, starting 1 1/2 inches from root end, slit each leek lengthwise and wash between layers. Tie leeks together in 2 bunches, tying each bunch in 2 places.
Step 7
Blanch boiling onions in a medium pot of boiling water 1 minute, then drain and peel.
Cook meats:
Step 8
Preheat oven to 200°F with rack in lower third.
Step 9
Transfer meats to a shallow baking pan, discarding bones from short ribs, and keep warm, covered with foil, in oven. Discard cheesecloth bundle, leek greens, and cooked onions and carrots from broth, then skim off fat from broth with a skimmer or large spoon and keep broth warm over low heat.
Step 10
Arrange marrowbones (if using) upright in 1 layer in a medium saucepan and add enough broth from pot (about 1 quart) to cover bones. Add 1 teaspoon salt and simmer gently, uncovered, until marrow is soft, 15 to 20 minutes.
Step 11
While marrowbones cook, simmer boiling onions and leeks with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in remaining broth in large pot, uncovered, 15 minutes.
Step 12
Add small carrots and turnips and simmer, uncovered, until all vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes.
Serve pot-au-feu:
Step 13
Transfer marrowbones with tongs to a platter (discard liquid) and serve with baguette slices and coarse salt.
Step 14
Discard bone from chuck roast and slice chuck 1/2 inch thick, then arrange, along with meat from short ribs, on a large platter.
Step 15
Transfer vegetables to platter with a slotted spoon and cut string off leeks.
Step 16
Season broth with salt and pepper, then spoon some over meats and vegetables to moisten and serve remainder in a soup tureen.
Step 17
To eat, ladle broth over meats and vegetables in soup plates, then stir in horseradish and mustard to taste.
