Subj : Re: Beef & Cabbage Stew
To   : Dave Drum
From : Ben Collver
Date : Thu May 11 2023 10:06:02

  Re: Re: Beef & Cabbage Stew
  By: Dave Drum to Ben Collver on Thu May 11 2023 05:51:00

 DD> has a subtly different flavour. I use celery in many things as a "bulk"
 DD> agent ... like my chilli. It adds a vegetable thickener without resorting
 DD> to flour (roux) or cornstarch/arrowroot slurry.

That's interesting, i had not thought of celery as a thickener.  I am
familiar with using okra for that, like in a gumbo.  I dated someone
who would dehydrate "slippery jacks", an edible but slimy mushroom,
grind them to a powder, and thicken soups with that powder.  The last
time i made split pea soup, after refrigerating it, it formed a clear
gel on top, as though it contained gelatin.  It was vegetarian, so i
am guessing the gel came from the peas.

.