80 velveting recipes

Striped bass fillets baked in white wine and lemon butter, finished with a velvety cream sauce enriched with egg yolks, tomatoes, mushrooms, and shallots. French-inspired elegance for a crowd.

Oyster and spinach soup with pureed oysters, spinach, milk, and half-and-half, finished with broiled whipped cream on top. A rich, velvety bisque-style soup with a golden cream cap.

Velvety pureed chestnut soup kissed with cinnamon, nutmeg, and mace. This warming vegetarian broth comes together in 35 minutes with a silky milk finish and bright lemon squeeze.

Rigatoni al Gorgonzola with crumbled Gorgonzola melted into warm cream with nutmeg and Parmesan. A rich, velvety Italian blue cheese pasta sauce that comes together in the time it takes to boil the noodles.

Velvety Greek cream of green bean soup pureed with carrots and onion, thickened with a buttery roux, and finished with a swirl of butter. Serve with crunchy croutons for a comforting Mediterranean bowl.

Irish-style spaghetti sauce with ground beef, red wine, tomato puree, chicken broth, and a warm hint of nutmeg. Simmered for an hour into a rich, velvety meat sauce.

Lorraine soup: classic French velvety chicken soup thickened with bread, ground almonds, and egg yolk, finished with cream, nutmeg, and lemon. An old-world first course with silky elegance.

Beer and cheddar onion soup made with deeply caramelized onions, dark beer reduced by half, and sharp cheddar blended into a velvety smooth broth with a hint of nutmeg.

Traditional New Orleans cafe au lait made with Luzianne chicory coffee and scalded milk with cream. A warm, velvety Cajun coffee drink that captures the soul of the French Quarter.

Leg of lamb marinated in white wine, scored and stuffed with tarragon, then slow-roasted and finished with a velvety cream pan sauce. Sunday roast worthy of a standing ovation.

Tender scallops poached in their own cooking liquid, then folded into a velvety mayonnaise sauce flavored with thyme. Served over buttered toast for an elegant brunch or light supper that feels special.

White turnip soup pureed smooth with bread for body, finished with egg yolks and cream for a velvety French-style potage. A humble root vegetable transformed into an elegant first course.

Cheesy creamy garlic soup caramelizes a dozen cloves of garlic with onion, deglazes with white wine, and purées French bread into a velvety bowl finished with cream and Gruyère. A French country soup with serious depth.

Coriander pork chops crusted with toasted ground coriander seed and cracked black pepper, braised with white wine, rosemary, and aromatic vegetables. The fragrant Mediterranean-style chop with a velvety pan sauce.

Creamy garlic soup simmers a whole bulb of garlic with herbs, then thickens with an egg yolk and olive oil liaison for rich, velvety body. Served with toasted baguette rounds and grated Swiss cheese.

Puree of broccoli florets with cream is a velvety French-style side dish: quickly blanched broccoli pulsed smooth, enriched with heavy cream, and seasoned with fresh nutmeg. Bright green, elegant, and ready in under 30 minutes.