Recipe: Homemade Vegetable Stock
Description: This homemade vegetable stock recipe offers a delightful, golden-hued broth perfect for enhancing the flavors of your favorite recipes. With a touch of personalization and a commitment to keeping the sodium levels low, this stock is versatile and can be tailored to suit your taste preferences.
Keywords: Vegetable, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Weeknight, < 4 Hours
Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
Yield: 9 cups
Ingredients:
| Quantity | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 3 | Yellow onions |
| 3 | Carrots |
| 4 | Celery ribs |
| 1/4 | Mushroom |
| 12 cups | Cold water |
| 6 | Garlic cloves |
| 1 | Black peppercorns |
| 1 | Dried thyme |
| 2 | Bay leaves |
| 15 | Fresh parsley |
| To taste | Salt |
Instructions:
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Prepare the Vegetables: In a spacious stockpot or kettle, heat a small amount of butter or oil over medium heat. Add the yellow onions, carrots, celery ribs, and mushrooms to the pot. Sauté the vegetables until the onions become translucent, releasing their aroma and flavors into the mix.
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Boil the Stock: Once the onions have softened and begun to turn translucent, it’s time to add the water and flavoring ingredients. Pour in the 12 cups of cold water, ensuring that the vegetables are fully submerged. Add the garlic cloves, black peppercorns, dried thyme, bay leaves, parsley, and salt to the pot.
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Simmer to Infuse Flavors: Allow the mixture to come to a gentle boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer. Let the stock simmer uncovered for approximately 2 hours, allowing ample time for the flavors of the vegetables and herbs to meld together, creating a rich and aromatic broth.
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Strain the Stock: After simmering for the desired time, carefully pour the stock through a fine sieve or mesh strainer into a heatproof bowl. This step helps to remove any solids, leaving behind a smooth and clear liquid.
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Storage: Your homemade vegetable stock can be stored for future use. If not using immediately, allow the stock to cool before transferring it to airtight containers. Refrigerate the stock for up to 1 week or freeze it for up to 3 months, ensuring that it is properly sealed to maintain its freshness and flavor.
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Personalization: While this recipe provides a basic vegetable broth, feel free to experiment and customize it according to your preferences. You can add additional vegetables that you have on hand or need to use up, allowing for endless variations and opportunities to create unique flavor profiles.
Nutritional Information (per serving):
- Calories: 33.1
- Fat Content: 0.2g
- Saturated Fat Content: 0g
- Cholesterol Content: 0mg
- Sodium Content: 296.1mg
- Carbohydrate Content: 7.5g
- Fiber Content: 1.6g
- Sugar Content: 3.1g
- Protein Content: 1.2g
This homemade vegetable stock recipe offers not only a flavorful base for soups, stews, sauces, and risottos but also provides the satisfaction of creating something wholesome and nourishing from scratch. Whether you’re preparing for a festive holiday meal, a cozy weeknight dinner, or simply looking to elevate your everyday cooking, this vegetable stock is sure to become a staple in your kitchen. So, gather your ingredients, unleash your culinary creativity, and enjoy the delicious rewards of homemade goodness! 🥕🍲
