Winter Tree Consommé with Carrot Silhouette
A delicate, clear chicken broth evoking the stark beauty of a winter tree against snow, topped with a single carved carrot silhouette for an elegant presentation. This french-inspired soups ready in about 165 minutes pairs chicken bones, quartered onion, chopped carrot for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 80 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.
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs chicken bones
- 1, quartered onion
- 1, chopped carrot
- 1, chopped celery stalk
- 1 parsley sprig
- 1 bay leaf
- 4 cups water
- 1, peeled and sliced into 1/8-inch-thick rounds small carrot
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- to taste salt
Instructions
- Step 1: In a large pot, combine 1.5 lbs chicken bones, 1 quartered onion, 1 chopped carrot, 1 chopped celery stalk, 1 parsley sprig, and 1 bay leaf with 4 cups water. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, skimming off any foam that rises to the surface for 15 minutes.
- Step 2: Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 2 hours. Strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, discarding solids.
- Step 3: Return the strained broth to the pot, bring to a simmer, and add 1 tbsp lemon juice. Simmer for 5 minutes, then season with salt to taste.
- Step 4: While the broth simmers, prepare the silhouette: Peel 1 small carrot and slice it into 1/8-inch-thick rounds. Using a small knife, carefully cut two shallow slits in the center of one round to form a tree shape (like a small triangle for the top and a rectangle for the trunk).
- Step 5: To serve, ladle the hot consommé into bowls and place one carved carrot silhouette on top of each serving.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Winter Tree Consommé with Carrot Silhouette take to make?
Total time is about 165 minutes (25 min prep + 140 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 Winter Tree Consommé with Carrot 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 chicken bones from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Winter Tree Consommé with Carrot 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 Winter Tree Consommé with Carrot 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 Winter Tree Consommé with Carrot 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.
What others are saying
- ★★★★☆
Enjoyable meal. Instructions could be a touch more detailed on the timing.
- ★★★★☆
Almost perfect — just needed a squeeze of lemon at the end.
- ★★★★☆
Almost perfect — just needed a squeeze of lemon at the end.
