Beer-Cheese Soup

Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons (¾ stick) butter
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 celery rib, diced
• 1 carrot, diced
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• One 12-ounce beer (ale, lager, or pilsner)
• Hide ingredients for 2 ½ cups Poultry Stock, Chicken Broth, or other light stock or broth 1 2 ½ cups Poultry Stock, Chicken Broth, or other light stock or broth (opens in new tab) 2 ½ cups Poultry Stock, Chicken Broth, or other light stock or broth
  • 4 to 5 ½ pounds poultry parts, preferably backs, necks, wings, and feet
  • 1 unpeeled onion, coarsely chopped
  • 1 carrot, coarsely chopped
  • 1 celery rib, coarsely chopped
  • 3 or 4 sprigs parsley
  • 2 or 3 sprigs thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • (1 teaspoon dried fenugreek leaves)
  • ¼ teaspoon white or black peppercorns
  • (2 whole cloves)
  • Cold water to cover

  Sub-recipe steps

  1. Combine in a stockpot: 4 to 5 ½ pounds poultry parts, preferably backs, necks, wings, and feet; 1 unpeeled onion, coarsely chopped; 1 carrot, coarsely chopped; 1 celery rib, coarsely chopped; 3 or 4 sprigs parsley; 2 or 3 sprigs thyme; 1 bay leaf; (1 teaspoon dried fenugreek leaves); ¼ teaspoon white or black peppercorns; (2 whole cloves)
  2. Add: Cold water to cover
  3. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat and simmer, partially covered, for 4 hours. Skim off any impurities that rise to the surface during the first hour of cooking and add water as needed to keep the ingredients covered. Strain and cool uncovered, then refrigerate covered. Skim off any fat before storing or using. Use within 4 days or freeze for up to 6 months.
• 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
• 2 cups grated Cheddar (8 ounces)
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• (Hot pepper sauce)
• (Worcestershire sauce)
• Salt and black pepper
• Hide ingredients for Croutons 1 Croutons (opens in new tab) Croutons
  • Bread, fresh or stale
  • Butter, olive oil, or a combination (about 1 tablespoon per cup of bread cubes)
  • (1 to 3 garlic cloves, smashed)
  • (One 3-inch sprig rosemary)
  • Salt and black pepper
  • ½-inch cubes bread or corn bread
  • Olive oil or melted butter (about 1 tablespoon per cup of bread cubes)
  • Salt and black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon sweet paprika or ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • ¼ cup finely grated Parmesan
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons or more finely chopped parsley, thyme, sage, oregano, or a combination
  • Bread or corn bread

  Sub-recipe steps

  1. Cube or coarsely tear: Bread, fresh or stale
  2. Add to a large skillet: Butter, olive oil, or a combination (about 1 tablespoon per cup of bread cubes); (1 to 3 garlic cloves, smashed); (One 3-inch sprig rosemary)
  3. If using garlic or rosemary, let them lightly sizzle in the fat over medium-low heat for 5 minutes. Increase the heat to medium, add the bread cubes, and cook, turning or tossing occasionally, until evenly brown, turning down the heat if needed to avoid burning. Remove the rosemary sprig if it is too far gone, otherwise strip the crispy leaves from the stem and toss with the bread cubes. When browned, take off the heat and sprinkle the croutons with: Salt and black pepper
  4. If desired, you may infuse the fat used here with garlic or rosemary first, as described above.
  5. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Toss together on a baking sheet: ½-inch cubes bread or corn bread; Olive oil or melted butter (about 1 tablespoon per cup of bread cubes)
  6. Bake, shaking the pan once or twice, until the croutons are golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Sprinkle while still warm with: Salt and black pepper
  7. After 2 to 3 cups croutons have been sautéed or baked, above, drop them while still hot into a bag containing: 1 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon sweet paprika or ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes; ¼ cup finely grated Parmesan; 2 to 3 tablespoons or more finely chopped parsley, thyme, sage, oregano, or a combination
  8. Close the bag and shake it until the croutons are evenly coated. Transfer to a plate or baking sheet to cool and crisp.
  9. Preheat the oven to 200°F. Cut into small cubes: Bread or corn bread
  10. Place in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake, stirring occasionally, for 1 to 2 hours until dry and golden brown.
• Finely chopped smoked ham
• Minced chives
• Ground chipotle or smoked paprika