Mock Turtle Soup Recipe

It is called a soup, but this is more of a Cajun stew using beef, pork, and chicken. It is important to constantly stir the roux to keep it from burning. It will take some time and attention to get it to the dark stage.

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour, 45 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup oil
• 1/2 pound beef (inexpensive cut), chopped
• 1/2 pound pork (Boston butt or roast), chopped
• 1/2 pound chicken, chopped
• 3/4 cup flour
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup finely chopped green onions
• 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
• 2 Tablespoons finely chopped celery
• 10 cups meat stock or water
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce
• Salt to taste
• Louisiana hot sauce to taste
• 2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped fine
• Sherry (optional)
• Lemon slices (optional)

Preparation:

Heat the oil in a large, heavy pot over medium heat and brown beef, pork, and chicken. Remove the meat from the pot and set aside.

In the same pot, stir in the flour to make a dark roux, stirring while cooking until the roux is dark brown.

To the dark roux, add the onions, green onions, parsley, and celery, stirring after each addition, and cook until the onions are clear. Add 1 cup of the stock and stir to form a thick paste, then stir in the tomato sauce. Stir in the remaining stock, then add the meats, salt, and hot sauce. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer another hour.

Serve with a teaspoon of sherry wine and a slice of lemon.

Yield: 10 to 12 servings

Recipe Source: Justin Wilson's Homegrown Louisiana Cookin' by Justin Wilson (Macmillan)
Reprinted with permission.