How to: make a cartouche

A cartouche is a circle of parchment paper that fits your pan perfectly. But what do you use it for, and how do you make one?

Poaching

A cartouche serves two purposes. First, you can place it on top of your ingredients and poaching liquid when poaching, for example, pears. Or anything else you poach, for that matter. The cartouche prevents too much liquid from evaporating while still allowing a small amount of steam to escape through the small hole in the center.

Sauces

You can also place a cartouche on top of your sauce to prevent a skin from forming as it cools. Because the paper makes direct contact with the sauce, no air gets in and no skin forms. The video below clearly explains how to make a cartouche.