Clear Beef Consommé with Single Asparagus Silhouette

By , Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · ·

A delicate, crystal-clear broth highlighting a perfectly cooked asparagus spear, evoking the stark beauty of winter trees against a snowy backdrop. This French-inspired soup recipe, ready in about 210 minutes, pairs beef bones, onion, carrot for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 160 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 195 min Serves 4 French cuisine 160 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F. Arrange 1.5 lb beef bones on a baking sheet and roast for 30 minutes until browned. Transfer to a large pot.
  2. Step 2: Add 1 large onion (quartered), 1 large carrot (chopped), 1 celery stalk (chopped), 2 garlic cloves (smashed), 1 bay leaf, 1 tsp fresh thyme, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper to the pot. Pour in 6 cups water, bring to a gentle simmer, and cook uncovered for 3 hours, skimming foam as it rises.
  3. Step 3: Strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth into a clean bowl, pressing solids to extract all liquid. Return to pot and simmer gently for 15 minutes to clarify.
  4. Step 4: While broth clarifies, cook 3 whole asparagus spears (from 12 oz total) in a small pot of boiling salted water for 3 minutes until crisp-tender; drain and set aside.
  5. Step 5: Ladle clear broth into shallow bowls and place one asparagus spear vertically in the center of each bowl to create a winter silhouette.

Frequently asked questions

How long does Clear Beef Consommé with Single Asparagus Silhouette take to make?

Total time is about 210 minutes (15 min prep + 195 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.

How do I store leftover Clear Beef Consommé with Single Asparagus Silhouette?

Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep beef bones from drying out.

Can I substitute ingredients in Clear Beef Consommé with Single Asparagus Silhouette?

Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.

How do I scale Clear Beef Consommé with Single Asparagus Silhouette for a different number of people?

The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.

What goes well with Clear Beef Consommé with Single Asparagus Silhouette?

French soups like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.

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