Basic Vegetable Broth Recipes

Steps:

• Chop scrubbed vegetables into 1-inch chunks. Remember, the greater the surface area, the more quickly vegetables will yield their flavor.
• Heat oil in a soup pot. Add onion, celery, carrots, scallions, garlic, parsley, thyme, and bay leaves. Cook over high heat for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Add salt and water and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Strain. Discard vegetables.
• Other ingredients to consider: mushrooms, eggplant, asparagus (butt ends), corn cobs, fennel (stalks and trimmings), bell peppers, pea pods, chard (stems and leaves), celery root parings, marjoram (stems and leaves), basil, potato parings . . . Get the idea?

Steps:

• Put all of the ingredients in a large pot and cover them with 6 quarts of cold water. Bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer gently, until it reduces to 2 1/2 quarts, about 2 to 3 hours. Strain through a sieve lined with cheesecloth.

Steps:

• Place all the ingredients in a large pot with 3-4 quarts of water.
• Cover and simmer about 1 hour.
• Strain.
• Variations:.
• You can make this recipe in the slow cooker, which I almost always do, on low for 6 hours or on high for 4.
• This broth freezes very well. Keep it on hand in different sized portions for any recipe that calls for stock. Simply defrost in microwave for a few minutes before adding to another recipe.
• You can add more vegetables and herbs, if you wish, but make sure to add more water if you increase the amount of veggies.
• This recipe will make about 16 cups of stock. Easily double the recipe for more.

Steps:

• Place all ingredients in slow cooker with 7 cups water.
• Cook on low heat until vegetables are tender, about 6 hours.
• Strain into large bowl, pressing vegetables to extract liquid.
• Let cool 30 minutes.
• Refrigerate uncovered until cool.
• Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 1 month.