Easy Homemade Vegetable Broth
I can’t believe I just barely started making my own vegetable broth. I’ve been making my own Homemade Chicken Broth for over a year now, but I was intimidated by vegetable broth. I thought there had to be a special combination of vegetables or something tricky done to it. (I have irrational hesitations sometimes…) My friend Janssen eased my fears, and I found it was just as easy as chicken broth. No, easier.
First, get a gallon-sized freezer zip-top bag. As you prep vegetables for cooking, don’t throw the scraps away. Put them in this bag. Make sure they’re clean, though, and if you don’t buy organic vegetables you might want to be pickier about what you save.
See? Pepper tops, carrot ends (and peels), that outside ring of an onion that always gets discarded… stuff like that. Then stick it in the freezer until the next time you’re prepping vegetables.
When your bag gets so full you can’t fit anymore in there (hey, I see some broccoli stems, too), empty the bag into a big pot. I used a 7 quart.
Start filling the pot with water. Add some fresh herbs (if you have them on hand, if not, dried is fine). I like to add some peppercorns for flavor. I don’t add any salt, though, and prefer to control the salt content while I’m using the finished broth. (Same goes for the chicken broth.)
Fill the pot until the water reaches an inch or so from the top. Put it on the stove, bring to a boil, and let it simmer for 3-5 hours. Or longer, if you happen to forget about it. It’s all good.
When you get done it should look something like this.
Steve came home and saw this lovely concoction and asked me what I was making.
“Soup.”
He’s such a trusting man. He gave me a sideways glance, and didn’t say a word. I’ve got him trained. Don’t worry, it only took me about 45 seconds to tell him what it really was.
When the broth has cooled some, get out a really big bowl (I used a 4 quart), a fine-mesh sieve, and a ladle.
Get all of the larger scraps out of the pot, smash them a bit in the sieve to release more broth. As your sieve fills, just dump it into the garbage disposal or the garbage can. Or if you’re really into getting the most out of this stuff, compost it.
After the large pieces are gone, just dump the rest of the broth through the sieve into the bowl. Let it cool to room temperature, then divide it into pretty mason jars.
Or (in my much-less-glamorous case) empty quart-sized yogurt containers. You can also use zip top bags (I find they break sometimes and leak so I quit using them).
I use this when I make rice , quinoa or a vegetarian soup without having to use up my precious chicken broth. It saves so much money, and you know exactly what it’s in it (and what’s not in it). I’m definitely a convert.
Easy Homemade Vegetable Broth
Easy homemade vegetable broth using scraps you'd otherwise throw away! Use this broth in all of your favorite vegetarian and vegan recipes.
Ingredients
- clean vegetable scraps (carrot peels, bell pepper tops, celery ends, onion scraps, broccoli & cauliflower stems, etc.)
- water
- herbs (like rosemary, thyme, parsley, sage)
- whole peppercorns (optional)
Instructions
- Fill a pot with vegetable scraps. The amount of scraps obviously depends on your pot. I fill a gallon-sized zip-top bag tightly full of scraps and use my 7 qt pot.
- Fill the pot (with the scraps in it) with water until it reaches an inch or so from the top. Add a few peppercorns and a handful of fresh herbs. (Or a few Tablespoons of dried herbs.)
- Bring to a boil, then simmer for 3-4 hours. Remove from the heat.
- When it's cool enough to work with, remove scraps from the water and discard. Strain broth and store in mason jars, zip-top bags, or empty plastic containers. Freezes beautifully.
This is a fabulous idea! Such a great way to use up scraps of veggies and not feel bad!
What a brilliant idea to save your scraps! I love it. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks! It has slightly changed my life. LOL.
I do this too! I save all my vegetable scraps in the freezer and then make stock on a rainy Saturday. That stock is like liquid gold! :)
Gold indeed :) I wish I’d been doing this sooner!
It’s so easy but so rewarding!
I love using veggie scraps, fantastic idea!
I save mine in yogurt containers too! We are just SO alike :)
I also freeze the beans I make in my crockpot into yogurt containers. Sometimes I have 4-5 yogurt containers in my fridge full of different things. I often wonder what someone would think if they took a peek in there. Obsessed with yogurt much? :)
Genius! Totally trying this out!
What a genius idea. I would have never thought of saving my veggie scraps for broth but will certainly start doing it. Love it when nothing goes to waste in the kitchen.
I love not wasting things, too!
Brilliant! And so easy! Now I wish I had been doing this, too :)
It’s a really great way to make something out of many things you’d normally just throw away. It’s a great way to stretch a buck! And homemade broth is so much better tasting than store bought.
I totally agree. I’m beginning to notice the artificial/metallic flavors of some types of store-bought broth (and bouillon). I love making stuff out of stuff I already have :)
The freezer ziplock idea for the scraps is GENIUS!!!! How come I have never thought of this or heard this before!!!?? I am totally amazed by the deep dark colour of your broth – wow! I will be making veggie broth very soon!
Thanks Jolene! I keep my chicken bones/carcasses in a big freezer ziplock, too. I’m not sure why I didn’t think of this sooner!
OMG, this is the best idea ever!!! Why did I never think of that? I mean, EVERY time I throw veggie scraps in the garbage, I feel somewhat bad about it. I feel like I am throwing away “usable” food. Broccoli is just the worst. I mean, let’s face it, most of us only eat the tops and end up throwing out all the stems, which is close to half the entire vegetable… I’m so happy that I will no longer have to do this.
Now I can’t wait to make my own vegetable stock! Need to start using tons of veggies asap.
Thanks so much for sharing this super clever idea, Natalie!
You’re so welcome! I feel the same way. I’ve been missing out on free broth for years!
Just last night I was thinking about making vegetable broth to use up some veggies that are nearing the end of their life. I had never thought to save my vegetable scraps, though. Great idea! Now I don’t have to feel guilty about refusing to make a trip out back to the compost pile during the winter. It’s great to know, too, that I’m not the only one out there who re-purposes my yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese, etc. containers for just such projects as this. Great job with your blog, Natalie. You rock!
Thank you Terri! Composting is on our list of things to do in the near future (now that we’re in a place where it’s possble!) When you say pile, is it really a pile outside or do you have one of those fancy composter things?
I really have to start saving my veggie scraps! This is such a great use for them!
Have you ever had a batch of veggie scraps that just didn’t work? I excitedly boiled up two weeks worth of scraps yesterday and the results were… well… liquid compost. Perhaps I should try again but with more ordinary scraps. I had collard greens stems, chard stems, pasilla chilli stems and seeds, cilantro stems, sweet potato skins, asparagus ends, etc. along with the usual onions, garlic, and celery. Has this ever happened to you?
On the composting front, it can be really easy and low tech. My dad has always put everything in a big pile in direct sunlight covered with a tarp held down by rocks. Once a week he stirs it up with a pitch fork. He includes all grass clippings, leaves and other yard waste too. I do it too but find it a little difficult finding time to stir up the pile. :)
Thanks Jen! Funny you bring up both of those things! I recently made a batch of veggie broth that had a few squeezed-out lemon halves. It made the broth really citrusy, so I used some in a soup that had a lot of lemon…. but it was overkill. I’m not sure what I’m going to do with the rest of that broth. I can imagine collard stems and asparagus ends, etc. might give it a funky flavor. Good to know that some scraps just aren’t fit for broth!
As far as composting, we’re getting our garden beds planned (we’re first-timers) and we were at the garden supply store today learning about worm farms. Have you heard of them? Basically the worms do all the work and mix the compost for you. Not only do you have rich compost, but the worms leave their casings — lots of minerals! I was shocked at the lack of stench as well. They had the worm farm right in the middle of the store and they even opened it to show us. No smell at all!
I tried making a batch last night. There were onions, celery heart leftovers, pepper tops, carrot peelings, turnip peelings, and a few pieces of broccoli in there. When it finished, the taste was bitter! Then I read online that celery leaves make vegetable broth bitter. So, keep the celery stalks, but don’t put in the leaves! :)
Are there any veggies that you should not put in there? After I started saving everything, I thought “maybe I shouldn’t include cucumbers & squash, etc”
I put a few squeezed-out lemon halves in my broth once, but the lemon flavor was WAY too strong and messed up a couple of soups I used it in. If you scan the comments, there are a few other ingredients that don’t work as well. I’d leave out anything that’s overly bitter (like kale stems, etc.) I think cucumbers and squash would be fine.
So I made my first batch of vegetable broth using this recipe a couple weeks ago, and have used it several times since then. I love it! I’m never going to buy vegetable broth again. :)
I found your recipe via Pinterest. I have never made veggie stock– but make chicken/turkey stock all the time, in the crockpot. Just let it go overnight in the crockpot. Then when I get up, I turn the crockpot off and let it cool a bit and pop in the fridge—– then strain and freeze. The flavor is so much better than what I ever could get from the stove top. I’m going to try roasting the bones next time— and thinking the flavors would be a little more intense roasting the veggies before putting in crockpot. Putting a bag in the freezer tonight with all those odd ball veggies (including the garlic nubs after grating them into meals). Thanks for your recipe.
So after you put this in containers then you freeze it?
I make chicken broth all the time, but haven’t tried veggie stock. I will now! Here’s my tip: pour some of the broth into ice cube trays and freeze. I keep a ziplock bag of chicken broth cubes in my freezer at all times. Usually one cube is about 2 Tbs, it’s awesome to pop a couple in a recipe when you don’t need much. Double bag and they last for months without getting freezer burn!
wow. it’s fantastic, i gonna try it in my kitchen, it will be interesting
Just found your site and loved this post, I have been making vegetable stock for years this way. As well as the peppercorns. I always add a bay leaf or 2…more if fresh. But I wanted to say, when you mentioned broccoli stems in there…yeah they are good, but I just use the peelings because the stem, under the tough outside skin is tender and sweet! I use them sliced into batons to add to my veggie stirfry along with the usual part of the broccoli head. It is a shame to waste your broccoli stems this way.
Also, I make garlic repellant for my garden plants that attract slugs, snails, caterpillars, deer, etc. Simply slice one or two heads of garlic in half horizontally and throw in a saucepan. Cover with water and boil, covered, until the garlic is soft. Allow to cool and decant the liquid to a jug. Use this “stock” 50% water and 50% stock in a spray bottle and spray your tender plants. Usually you would throw the garlic on the compost but I have found there is still flavour in there, so I add to my stock box of veg for broth making. Chilli ends, ginger peelings, garlic trimmings and lemongrass trimmings is another combo to keep together for Asian inspired broths…I even add spring onion roots if I am not regrowing them.
I keep a few baggies that I put my fresh herb stems in, keeping separate from the veggies so that depending on the veg used, I can add the appropriate stems. When I know I am going to make a lasagna soup, for example, I use a bit of chilli and coriander stems. If I am making tomato soup, and using veggie stock, I add my basil stems, etc. I even save my ginger, used lemon halves and thyme stems together for making a healthy “tea” to sip when I am sick.
If looking what to do with used citrus skins as they are not always great in broths, save them in the freezer like you do with your veg bits, and when you have enough to fill a good sized jar, pour vinegar over them, seal with a tight lid and allow to set for anywhere for 3-6 weeks, longer is fine if you forget them lol. Keep in the cupboard out of direct light. When they have sat for a few weeks and you are ready, decant the vinegar to clean jars or bottles. The city’s peels have released their scent and your vinegar is now ready to be a great smelling all purpose handy dandy natural cleaner! Any vinegar works for this, I tend to use distilled vinegar as it is so inexpensive to buy.
And as I have mentioned fruit and vinegar…save your apple skin and cores in the freezer to even make your apple own vinegar. It is such an easy thing to do and it is so good for you. Ideally organic apples if you are going to ingest the vinegar. The skins absorb the chemicals that if non organic farming practices are used. This is one of my fav vinegars for making dressings as it is so flavourful.
So good to hear! It’s such a great way to use scraps.