TURTLE SOUP (founded on M. Ude's Recipe)

Origin: London, England

Source: Isabella Beeton, 1861

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. To make this soup with less difficulty, cut off the head of the turtle the preceding day.
  2. In the morning open the turtle by leaning heavily with a knife on the shell of the animal's back, whilst you cut this off all round.
  3. Turn it upright on its end, that all the water, &c.
  4. may run out, when the flesh should be cut off along the spine, with the knife sloping towards the bones, for fear of touching the gall, which sometimes might escape the eye.
  5. When all the flesh about the members is obtained, wash these clean, and let them drain.
  6. Have ready, on the fire, a large vessel full of boiling water, into which put the shells; and when you perceive that they come easily off, take them out of the water, and prick them all, with those of the back, belly, fins, head, &c.
  7. Boil the back and belly till the bones can be taken off, without, however, allowing the softer parts to be sufficiently done, as they will be boiled again in the soup.
  8. When these latter come off easily, lay them on earthen dishes singly, for fear they should stick together, and put them to cool.
  9. Keep the liquor in which you have blanched the softer parts, and let the bones stew thoroughly in it, as this liquor must be used to moisten all the sauces.
  10. All the flesh of the interior parts, the four legs and head, must be drawn down in the following manner:--Lay the slices of ham on the bottom of a very large stewpan, over them the knuckles of veal, according to the size of the turtle;
  11. then the inside flesh of the turtle, and over the whole the members.
  12. Now moisten with the water in which you are boiling the shell, and draw it down thoroughly.
  13. It may now be ascertained if it be thoroughly done by thrusting a knife into the fleshy part of the meat.
  14. If no blood appears, it is time to moisten it again with the liquor in which the bones, &c.
  15. have been boiling.
  16. Put in a large bunch of all such sweet herbs as are used in the cooking of a turtle,--sweet basil, sweet marjoram, lemon thyme, winter savory, 2 or 3 bay-leaves, common thyme, a handful of parsley and green onions, and a large onion stuck with 6 cloves.
  17. Let the whole be thoroughly done.
  18. With respect to the members, probe them, to see whether they are done, and if so, drain and send them to the larder, as they are to make their appearance only when the soup is absolutely completed.
  19. When the flesh is also completely done, strain it through a silk sieve, and make a very thin white _roux;_ for turtle soup must not be much thickened.
  20. When the flour is sufficiently done on a slow fire, and has a good colour, moisten it with the liquor, keeping it over the fire till it boils.
  21. Ascertain that the sauce is neither too thick nor too thin;
  22. then draw the stewpan on the side of the stove, to skim off the white scum, and all the fat and oil that rise to the surface of the sauce.
  23. By this time all the softer parts will be sufficiently cold;
  24. when they must be cut to about the size of one or two inches square, and thrown into the soup, which must now be left to simmer gently.
  25. When done, skim off all the fat and froth.
  26. Take all the leaves of the herbs from the stock,--sweet basil, sweet marjoram, lemon thyme, winter savory, 2 or 3 bay-leaves, common thyme, a handful of parsley and green onions, and a large onion cut in four pieces, with a few blades of mace.
  27. Put these in a stewpan, with about 1/4 lb. of fresh butter, and let it simmer on a slow fire till quite melted, when pour in 1 bottle of good Madeira, adding a small bit of sugar, and let it boil gently for 1 hour.
  28. When done, rub it through a tammy, and add it to the soup.
  29. Let this boil, till no white scum rises;
  30. then take with a skimmer all the bits of turtle out of the sauce, and put them in a clean stewpan: when you have all out, pour the soup over the bits of turtle, through a tammy, and proceed as follows:--

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