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This vegetable broth recipe takes less than an hour to make, is cheaper than store bought, and is a great way to utilize vegetables you have on hand.
Homemade vegetable broth is so easy to make, it is a shame Alex and I ever buy broth at all. We’ve discovered it’s one of those things that requires a little forethought, but it’s worth the extra planning. Not only does homemade vegetable broth taste better than the store-bought stuff, but it’s also better for you. You have more control over the amount of salt that’s added to your own broth, and there’s no risk of hidden thickeners or sweeteners making their way into it. Once the vegetable stock is made, it will last 4 to 5 days in the fridge, or up to 6 months in the freezer.
Why make veggie broth?
You really can’t go wrong with this vegetable broth recipe. It uses veggies that might be on hand in your pantry and fridge: carrots, celery, garlic, potatoes, and so forth. You also can throw in any fresh herbs you have around! It’s a great idea for minimizing food waste in your kitchen.
In addition to the vegetables noted in this recipe, using other veggies like mushrooms, peppers, and potatoes works too. This veggie broth is a great alternative for recipes that call for chicken or beef broth. We use vegetable stock all the time in our soup recipes: here are our best easy soup recipes!
How to make vegetable broth
Making homemade vegetable broth is as easy as throwing chopped veggies into a pot and boiling them (yes, really!). The basic steps of making vegetable broth at home are as follows:
- Chop the vegetables into large chunks. Don’t bother peeling them, as you’ll be straining everything later. Plus, the skins contain a lot of nutrients and flavor!
- Toss everything into a tall stockpot or Dutch oven and saute the vegetables for 5 minutes. This will add extra flavor to the broth without any extra effort on your part.
- Add in the water and bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, cover the pot and let it simmer for at least 45 minutes to allow the vegetables to impart as much of their flavor into the broth as possible.
- Strain the vegetable broth and use immediately or freeze for later use. If freezing, let the broth come to room temperature before putting it into the freezer.
Making homemade vegetable broth couldn’t be easier. We hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do!
Related: 12 Easy Dutch Oven Recipes
Looking for ways to use vegetable broth?
There are so many ways you can use this homemade vegetable broth: here are a few of our favorites:
- Creamy Butternut Squash Risotto
- Parmesan Truffle Risotto
- Seasoned Brown Lentils
- Creamy Corn Chowder
- Easy Vegetarian Ramen
- Stracciatella Soup
- Simple Grilled Paella
- Vibrant Spring Vegetable Chowder
- Ribollita (Tuscan Vegetable Stew)
- Easy Korean Ramen
- Italian Vegetable Gnocchi Soup
- Vegetarian Tortilla Soup
This vegetable broth recipe is…
Vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free.
Easy Vegetable Broth
- Author: Sonja Overhiser
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 8 cups 1x
Description
This homemade vegetable broth takes less than an hour to make, is cheaper than storebought, and is a great way to utilize vegetables you have on hand.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 carrots
- 3 ribs celery
- 1 onion
- 5 cloves garlic
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- ½ tablespoon whole peppercorns
- 10 cups of water
Instructions
- Wash all of the vegetables. Don’t bother peeling them. Cut the carrots, celery, and onion into a large dice. Smash the garlic cloves and peel them. *If you have leftover fresh herbs on hand, you can throw these in too!
- In a stock pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil. Add the vegetables and saute for 5 minutes. Then add 10 cups of water. Stir in 1 tablespoon kosher salt and ½ tablespoon whole peppercorns.
- Bring the vegetable broth to a boil. Then reduce to a gentle simmer and cover the pot. Simmer for 45 minutes; make sure that the simmer is gentle so that not too much liquid boils off.
- Strain the vegetable broth into jars with lids. If the broth amount does not total 8 cups, add water to even it out. Use immediately, store refrigerated for 4 to 5 days, or freeze for 6 months. (If freezing, let the vegetable broth come to room temperature before putting it into the freezer. Make sure there is enough room in the container for the broth to expand when frozen.)
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Homemade Vegetable Broth, Vegetable Broth, Soups, Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten Free, How to Make Vegetable Broth
vegan vegetarian
Published on / Last updated on
Categorized In:
- Cooking Basics
- Recipes
Tagged with:
- Broth
- Stock
- Vegan Recipes
- Vegetarian Recipes
- Veggie
About the authors
Sonja & Alex
Hi, we’re Alex and Sonja Overhiser, married cookbook authors, food bloggers, and recipe developers. We founded A Couple Cooks to share fresh, seasonal recipes for memorable kitchen moments! Our recipes are made by two real people and work every time.
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