Холодець Recipe

Preparing the Ingredients

Begin by cleaning the meat parts thoroughly. Soak them in cold water for an hour to remove any impurities. After soaking, place the meat parts in a large pot, fill with cold water, ensuring that the water level is well above the meat. Add a whole peeled onion, a few unpeeled garlic cloves, and a couple of bay leaves.

Cooking

Bring the pot to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer uncovered for about 5-6 hours. During this time, occasionally skim off the foam that rises to the surface. The longer the broth simmers, the richer it will be in flavor and gelatin.

Final Steps

Once the broth is ready, remove the meat pieces and separate the meat from the bones. Strain the broth through a fine sieve to remove all solids. Season the broth to taste with salt, pepper, and more garlic if desired. Place the meat pieces back into the clean pot, pour the strained broth over the meat, and let it cool. Once cooled, refrigerate for several hours or overnight until the broth solidifies into a jelly-like consistency. Serve chilled, garnished with fresh herbs and optionally horseradish or mustard.