Blanquette de Veau

ingredients

10 ounces pearl onions

4 1/2 pounds veal shoulder, boned, trimmed, cut into 1-inch pieces

9 cups (or more) chicken stock or canned low-salt chicken broth

3 fresh thyme sprigs

2 bay leaves

5 tablespoons butter

1 1/2 pounds celery root (celeriac), peeled, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces

4 large carrots, peeled, cut into 1 1/2-inch lengths

3 medium turnips, peeled, each cut into 6 pieces

8 ounces button mushrooms

6 ounces haricots verts or other green beans, ends trimmed

3 tablespoons all purpose flour

1/2 cup whipping cream

1/2 tablespoon (about) fresh lemon juice

1/2 bunch fresh chives, cut into 2-inch pieces (optional)

preparation

Bring large pot of salted water to boil. Add pearl onions and cook 1 minute. Using slotted spoon, remove onions from pot. Trim ends and peel. Add veal to pot and cook 4 minutes. Drain veal; rinse with cold water. Rinse pot and return veal to pot. Add 8 cups chicken stock and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes. Add thyme and bay leaves and simmer until veal is tender, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes longer.

Meanwhile, melt 2 tablespoons butter in another heavy large pot over medium heat. Add pearl onions, celery root, carrots, turnips, mushrooms and 1 cup chicken stock. Cover and cook until vegetables are tender and almost all liquid has evaporated, about 15 minutes. Add haricots verts and cook until just tender, about 2 minutes.

Drain veal, reserving 2 cups liquid (if less than 2 cups cooking liquid remains, add enough stock to measure 2 cups). Mix veal into vegetables.

Melt remaining 3 tablespoons butter in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Mix in 3 tablespoons flour. Cook until butter mixture turns golden brown, stirring constantly, about 2 minutes. Whisk in 2 cups reserved cooking liquid. Cook until thickened, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. Stir in whipping cream. Season sauce to taste with fresh lemon juice, salt and pepper.

Pour cream sauce over cooked veal and vegetables. Garnish with fresh chives, if desired, and serve immediately.

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