Best Veg Broth Recipe for Rich and Flavorful Soups

There’s nothing quite like a rich, flavorful vegetable broth to elevate your cooking. Whether you’re simmering a comforting soup, crafting a savory risotto, or braising your favorite veggies, a well-made veg broth acts as the perfect base.

Unlike store-bought versions, homemade vegetable broth bursts with freshness and depth, free from preservatives and artificial flavors. Plus, it’s a brilliant way to use up those vegetable scraps lurking in your fridge, making it both economical and sustainable.

In this guide, you’ll discover the best vegetable broth recipe that balances sweet, savory, and aromatic elements perfectly. It’s simple, adaptable, and packed with wholesome ingredients that bring out the true essence of vegetables.

You’ll soon be making this broth regularly, enhancing countless dishes with its subtle complexity and nourishing qualities.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This vegetable broth recipe is a game-changer for home cooks who want maximum flavor with minimal effort. It requires just basic veggies and pantry staples, yet yields a broth that’s rich, clear, and incredibly versatile.

Because it’s made from scratch, you can control the salt, herbs, and spice levels to suit your taste and dietary needs.

Also, this broth is vegan, gluten-free, and soy-free by nature — perfect for diverse diets. It stores beautifully in the fridge or freezer, making meal prep easier than ever.

If you’re interested in other wholesome recipes, check out our Low Calorie Vegetable Soup Recipe for Healthy Eating or the Veg Recipes for Slow Cooker: Easy, Tasty Meal Ideas for more comforting plant-based meals.

Ingredients

Equipment

• Large stockpot (at least 6-quart capacity)
• Cutting board and sharp knife
• Wooden spoon or ladle
• Fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth
• Large bowl or container for straining
• Measuring spoons and cups
• Storage containers or jars for broth

Instructions

1. Prepare the vegetables. Rinse all vegetables well. Chop the carrots, celery, leek, and onion into large chunks to release maximum flavor without creating tiny bits that complicate straining.
2. Saute aromatics (optional). For a deeper flavor, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in your stockpot over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic cloves, cooking for 3-4 minutes until fragrant and slightly softened. This step is optional but adds a lovely roasted depth.
3. Add all vegetables and herbs to the pot. Toss in the carrots, celery, leek, parsley stems, thyme sprigs, bay leaves, mushrooms (if using), and whole peppercorns.
4. Pour in the water. Add 12 cups (3 quarts) of filtered water. Stir gently to combine the ingredients.
5. Bring to a boil. Place the pot over high heat and bring the mixture to a rolling boil.
6. Simmer gently. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low to maintain a gentle simmer. Cover partially with a lid, leaving space for steam to escape, and let simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
7. Season with salt. About 10 minutes before the broth finishes simmering, add 1 teaspoon of salt or to taste. You can always adjust seasoning later.
8. Strain the broth. Remove the pot from heat. Using a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth-lined colander, strain the broth into a large bowl or another pot. Press the vegetables lightly with a spoon to extract as much liquid and flavor as possible.
9. Cool and store. Let the broth cool to room temperature. Transfer to airtight containers or jars. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Tips & Variations

“Use vegetable scraps like ends of carrots, onion skins, and celery leaves to boost flavor and reduce waste.”

Feel free to customize this broth based on what you have on hand. Adding parsnips, fennel, or tomatoes can impart unique flavors.

Avoid using cruciferous vegetables like broccoli or cabbage as they can make the broth bitter.

For a clearer broth: Skim off any foam or scum that rises to the top during simmering. This ensures a cleaner taste and appearance.

Want a more umami-rich broth? Incorporate dried shiitake mushrooms or a small piece of kombu seaweed during simmering.

Just remember to discard the kombu before serving.

For inspiration on creative vegetable dishes using broth, try our Vegetable Alfredo Recipes for Creamy, Healthy Dinners or Vegetarian Date Cake Recipe: Moist, Easy, and Delicious to complement your cooking.

Nutrition Facts

This broth is naturally low in calories and fat, making it a nourishing addition to your meals. The vitamins and minerals come from the fresh vegetables used in the recipe.

Serving Suggestions

This vegetable broth is incredibly versatile and can be used in a multitude of dishes. Use it as a base for homemade soups, stews, and chowders.

It’s perfect for cooking grains like rice, quinoa, or barley to infuse them with extra flavor.

You can also use this broth to steam vegetables or as a flavorful liquid in vegetarian sauces and gravies. For a cozy meal idea, combine it with noodles, your favorite veggies, and herbs for a quick and satisfying soup.

If you enjoy experimenting with flavors, try pairing this broth with recipes like our Vegan Bechamel Sauce Recipe for Creamy Pasta Dishes or explore more wholesome cooking ideas in our Peruvian Vegetable Recipes for Flavorful Healthy Meals.

Conclusion

Making your own vegetable broth is a simple yet transformative step that elevates your home cooking in subtle but profound ways. This recipe is easy to customize, budget-friendly, and yields a broth that tastes far superior to most store-bought versions.

Plus, it’s a wonderful way to reduce food waste by using vegetable scraps.

With its fresh, clean flavors and nourishing qualities, this broth will quickly become a pantry staple. Whether you’re cooking a hearty soup or just adding depth to weeknight meals, homemade veg broth is a must-have.

Don’t forget to explore other delicious recipes on our site to complement your culinary journey and keep your meals exciting and wholesome!

{“@context”: “https://schema.org/”, “@type”: “Recipe”, “name”: “Best Veg Broth Recipe”, “image”: [], “author”: {“@type”: “Organization”, “name”: “GluttonLv”}, “description”: “A flavorful and aromatic vegetable broth perfect for soups, stews, and sauces. Made with fresh vegetables and herbs for a rich, natural taste.”, “prepTime”: “PT15M”, “cookTime”: “PT45M”, “totalTime”: “PT1H”, “recipeYield”: “6 cups”, “recipeIngredient”: [“2 carrots, chopped”, “2 celery stalks, chopped”, “1 large onion, quartered”, “4 cloves garlic, smashed”, “1 cup mushrooms, sliced”, “1 tomato, quartered”, “1 bay leaf”, “10 black peppercorns”, “1 teaspoon salt”, “2 sprigs fresh thyme”, “6 cups water”, “1 tablespoon olive oil”], “recipeInstructions”: [{“@type”: “HowToStep”, “text”: “Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.”}, {“@type”: “HowToStep”, “text”: “Add carrots, celery, onion, and garlic; saut\u00e9 for 5 minutes.”}, {“@type”: “HowToStep”, “text”: “Add mushrooms and tomato; cook for another 3 minutes.”}, {“@type”: “HowToStep”, “text”: “Pour in water and add bay leaf, peppercorns, salt, and thyme.”}, {“@type”: “HowToStep”, “text”: “Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 40 minutes.”}, {“@type”: “HowToStep”, “text”: “Strain the broth through a fine mesh sieve and discard solids.”}, {“@type”: “HowToStep”, “text”: “Let broth cool before storing or using.”}], “nutrition”: {“calories”: “50 kcal”, “proteinContent”: “2 g”, “fatContent”: “2 g”, “carbohydrateContent”: “8 g”}}