Vegetable Broth From Scraps (Printable)

Transform vegetable trimmings into a rich, aromatic broth ideal for soups, stews, and sipping.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Vegetable Scraps

01 - 4 cups assorted vegetable trimmings (carrot peels, onion skins, celery ends, leek tops, mushroom stems, parsley stems, garlic skins)

→ Aromatics & Seasoning

02 - 8 cups cold water
03 - 1 bay leaf
04 - 5-7 black peppercorns
05 - 2 cloves garlic, crushed (optional)
06 - 1 teaspoon salt, optional, adjust to taste
07 - 1 sprig fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Collect clean, fresh vegetable scraps in a large bowl. Avoid using potato peels, brassicas such as broccoli, cauliflower, or cabbage, or overly starchy or sweet vegetables, as they may add bitterness or cloudiness.
02 - Place the vegetable scraps, bay leaf, peppercorns, garlic, salt, and thyme in a large stockpot.
03 - Add the cold water, ensuring all scraps are submerged.
04 - Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a gentle simmer.
05 - Simmer uncovered for 45-60 minutes, occasionally skimming off any foam that rises to the surface.
06 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
07 - Strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a clean container. Discard the solids.
08 - Let the broth cool, then store in airtight containers. Refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • This broth turns what would be compost into liquid gold that elevates every soup and sauce you make.
  • The gentle simmering creates a kitchen atmosphere so comforting that friends will linger just to breathe it in.
02 -
  • I once added broccoli stems and ruined an entire batch with bitterness – stick with sweet, aromatic vegetables and avoid cruciferous scraps at all costs.
  • Letting the broth cool completely before refrigerating prevents that strange cloudy effect I spent months trying to solve.
03 -
  • Roasting your vegetable scraps for 20 minutes before simmering creates a broth with such incredible depth that people will swear you added secret ingredients.
  • A teaspoon of apple cider vinegar added during simmering helps extract more nutrients from the vegetables, especially if youre planning to drink the broth on its own as a health tonic.
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