Meaning & use
consomme
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable or uncountable
A thin, perfectly clear soup made from strong meat, fish or vegetable stock that has been strained until no cloudiness remains.
Grammar: Uncountable for the soup in general, countable for a serving or type: a beef consomme.
Patterns
- a bowl of consomme
- chicken consomme
The restaurant began the meal with a delicate chicken consomme.
A good consomme should be clear enough to read through.
She ordered a cup of hot consomme on the cold evening.
Word forms
| plural | consommes |
|---|
Common combinations
- beef consomme
- The beef consomme was rich and golden.
- clarify a consomme
- The chef clarified the consomme with egg whites.
- a bowl of consomme
- He ate a bowl of consomme and some bread.
- chilled consomme
- Chilled consomme is served jellied in summer.
- serve consomme
- They serve consomme as the first course.
Synonyms and how they differ
- broth
- Broth is simpler and may be cloudy or contain pieces, while consomme is clarified until perfectly clear.
- bouillon
- Bouillon is the plain stock itself, whereas consomme is that stock made richer and then clarified.
- stock
- Stock is the cooking base and is not usually served on its own the way consomme is.
Word family
- consommé noun
- the French spelling with an accent
- stock noun
- the liquid base from which consomme is made
- clarification noun
- the step that makes the liquid clear
Commonly confused: consomme or consume?
consomme vs consume
Consume means to eat or use up, while consomme is a clear soup.
Practice
What makes consomme different from ordinary broth?
Choose one answer.
Consomme is strained and cleared of particles, so it is transparent. Cream and noodles would make it a different soup, and it can be served hot or cold.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “consomme”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.