In which I’m astonished at the texture!
I like to read recipes. I have liked to do so since they were in actual books rather than on the internet.
I especially like to read old recipes. The oldest through the newest, to see what’s changed and what’s the same. Ancient recipes, medieval recipes, 20’s recipes, 70’s recipes. War time recipes, Southern recipes, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean and Indian and Ethiopian, I like to read recipes.
Well, even in the first version of The Joy of Cooking I ever owned, which was an 80’s version, they sometimes directed you to “force it,” whatever it was, “through a sieve.”
In fact, a surprising number of older recipes direct the cook to force “it,” the soup or sauce or whatever, through a sieve, before adjusting the seasonings and serving.
I have never in my life forced anything through a sieve, because I assumed that modern blenders obviated the need.
I WAS INCORRECT AS FUCK.
Here’s the scenario:
Yesterday, I made broccoli cheddar soup in the electric pressure cooker. I used a bag of cheap, frozen broccoli, because it’s been so long since I’ve bought cheap, frozen broccoli that I’d forgotten why nobody ever buys cheap, frozen broccoli: the bags are always half-filled with stems rather than florets, and the stems are woody as fuck. Every. Single. Time.
Once cooking was done I opened the Instant Pot, removed the liner, and carried it over to the counter, where I proceeded to blend the soup with the immersion blender. Super excited to nom down a bowl of homemade soup! Ladled some into a bowl, toasted up some whole wheat homemade sourdough, and sat down at the table.
Delicious!
Except, um, a little fiber of stem. Kind of unpleasant, but not a big deal–
And another. And another.
And another!
Aaaaand basically this soup is inedible, because after every spoonful you’re taking bits of what basically amount to centimeter-long hairs out of your mouth.
UGH!
Later that evening, I blended it again, well past what your typical broccoli cheddar is like, far into cream soup territory.
Tasted it again.
Same fucking thing: tiny little hair-like fibers in every mouthful!
So there was only one thing left, before throwing out the whole pot: force it through a sieve.
Turns out something that thick will not go through a sieve on its own, hence the word “force.” Turns out you use the back of a big spoon (I used a small ladle) to push it through. Doesn’t take too long, once you find the right spoon.
And then, OH. MY. GOD. The texture! Not only is that stupid stem fiber gone, but they are not fucking kidding about this forcing-it-through-a-sieve bullshit. What comes out is silky smooth and luxurious and amazing.
How have I never done this before?!
Moral: If it says force it through a sieve, then fucking force it through a sieve.
Even if you’ve used modern blending equipment. Just do it. It’s so worth it!
