Clear Veg Broth Recipe Easy to Make and Delicious

There’s something incredibly comforting about a homemade vegetable broth that is clear, flavorful, and bursting with natural goodness. Whether you’re cooking up a hearty soup, preparing a light sauce, or simply want a nourishing base for your recipes, a clear veg broth is your go-to.

It’s not only easy to make but also a wonderful way to use up leftover veggies, reducing waste and enhancing your culinary creations. Unlike store-bought broths, this clear vegetable broth is free from additives and excessive salt, giving you full control over the flavor and nutrition.

In this detailed guide, I’ll walk you through a simple, yet effective recipe for a clear vegetable broth that will elevate your cooking. From selecting the freshest ingredients to perfecting the simmering process, you’ll learn how to create a broth that is delicate, aromatic, and crystal clear.

Let’s dive in and bring the essence of garden-fresh vegetables into your kitchen!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This clear vegetable broth recipe is a kitchen staple for many reasons. First, it’s incredibly versatile, serving as a base for countless dishes ranging from soups to risottos.

It’s also healthful and natural, free of preservatives and artificial flavors that often come with commercial broths.

Furthermore, this broth is easy to customize according to your taste preferences and what veggies you have on hand. The slow simmering extracts deep flavors without clouding the broth, resulting in a beautiful, light liquid that enhances rather than overpowers your dishes.

Lastly, making your own broth is a sustainable choice. You get to use vegetable scraps like ends of carrots, celery leaves, and onion skins that might otherwise be discarded.

It’s a small but meaningful way to reduce food waste.

Ingredients

• 2 large carrots, peeled and chopped
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 1 large onion, quartered (unpeeled for color and nutrients)
• 3 garlic cloves, smashed
• 1 parsnip, peeled and chopped (optional for sweetness)
• 1 small bunch of fresh parsley, roughly chopped
• 2 bay leaves
• 5-6 whole black peppercorns
• 1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
• 10 cups cold water
• Optional: 1 small piece of kombu (seaweed) for umami

Equipment

• Large stockpot or heavy-bottomed pot (at least 6 quarts capacity)
• Fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth
• Wooden spoon or ladle
• Knife and cutting board
• Large bowl (for straining)
• Measuring spoons

Instructions

1. Prepare the vegetables: Wash all the vegetables thoroughly. Peel the carrots and parsnip, chop them into large chunks. Quarter the onion without peeling it to add richness to the broth’s color. Smash the garlic cloves to release their flavor.
2. Combine ingredients in the pot: Add the chopped carrots, celery, onion, garlic, parsnip, parsley, bay leaves, peppercorns, and salt to your stockpot. Pour in the cold water, ensuring the vegetables are fully submerged.
3. Bring to a gentle simmer: Place the pot over medium-high heat and bring the water to a gentle simmer. Avoid boiling vigorously as this causes cloudiness in the broth.
4. Skim off foam and impurities: As the broth begins to simmer, you may notice foam rising to the surface. Use a ladle or spoon to carefully skim this off. This step ensures a clear broth.
5. Simmer gently: Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot partially with a lid, and let the broth simmer gently for 45 minutes to 1 hour. The slow simmer extracts flavors while keeping the broth clear.
6. Strain the broth: Once the simmering time is up, carefully pour the broth through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a large bowl. Discard the vegetable solids or save them for composting.
7. Cool and store: Allow the broth to cool completely before transferring it to airtight containers for refrigeration or freezing. It can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

Tips & Variations

For an even clearer broth, avoid stirring the pot while simmering and skim foam frequently.

To deepen the flavor, you can roast your vegetables in the oven at 400°F for about 20 minutes before simmering. This adds a subtle caramelized note without darkening the broth too much.

For a richer umami taste, adding a piece of kombu seaweed during simmering is a wonderful option. Remember to remove it before the broth reaches a boil to prevent bitterness.

You can customize the broth by adding other herbs like thyme or rosemary or spices such as star anise for an Asian twist. Avoid strong-flavored vegetables like broccoli or cabbage that can overpower the broth.

Want to make this broth vegan and gluten-free? This recipe is naturally free of animal products and gluten, making it suitable for diverse dietary needs.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Suggestions

This clear vegetable broth shines as a base for light soups, such as a delicate spring vegetable soup or a classic miso soup. Use it to cook grains like rice or quinoa to infuse them with subtle vegetable flavor.

It’s also excellent for deglazing pans to create quick sauces or for poaching vegetables and tofu. If you’re interested in hearty, comforting meals, try pairing this broth with recipes like the Thelma Sanders Squash Recipe or add it as a base for sauces in dishes like the Bariatric Meatloaf Recipe.

For pickling enthusiasts, this broth can be a flavor booster for brines — check out the Pickled Cherry Pepper Recipe for inspiration.

Conclusion

Making your own clear vegetable broth is a simple but transformative culinary practice that elevates everyday meals. With just a handful of fresh ingredients and a bit of patience, you can create a broth that is flavorful, nutritious, and free of unnecessary additives.

Beyond its versatility, this broth embodies sustainability by turning kitchen scraps into a valuable cooking component. Once you master this recipe, you’ll find it indispensable for enhancing soups, grains, and sauces with a subtle yet rich vegetable essence.

So next time you’re in the kitchen, give this clear veg broth a try and experience the warm, wholesome flavors of homemade cooking. For more delicious recipes and cooking tips, explore our collection and discover your next favorite dish!

{“@context”: “https://schema.org/”, “@type”: “Recipe”, “name”: “Clear Veg Broth”, “image”: [], “author”: {“@type”: “Organization”, “name”: “GluttonLv”}, “description”: “A light and flavorful vegetable broth perfect as a base for soups or sipping on its own. Made with simple vegetables and herbs for a clean taste.”, “prepTime”: “PT10M”, “cookTime”: “PT45M”, “totalTime”: “PT55M”, “recipeYield”: “6 cups”, “recipeIngredient”: [“2 large carrots, chopped”, “2 celery stalks, chopped”, “1 medium onion, quartered”, “3 garlic cloves, smashed”, “1 bay leaf”, “5 black peppercorns”, “1 teaspoon salt”, “1 cup mushrooms, sliced”, “1 small tomato, quartered”, “8 cups water”, “1/4 cup fresh parsley”, “2 sprigs fresh thyme”], “recipeInstructions”: [{“@type”: “HowToStep”, “text”: “Combine all ingredients in a large pot.”}, {“@type”: “HowToStep”, “text”: “Bring to a boil over high heat.”}, {“@type”: “HowToStep”, “text”: “Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 45 minutes.”}, {“@type”: “HowToStep”, “text”: “Strain broth through a fine mesh sieve.”}, {“@type”: “HowToStep”, “text”: “Discard solids and season broth to taste.”}, {“@type”: “HowToStep”, “text”: “Use immediately or store in refrigerator.”}], “nutrition”: {“calories”: “35”, “proteinContent”: “1g”, “fatContent”: “0.2g”, “carbohydrateContent”: “7g”}}