Easy Veggie Broth Recipe for Flavorful Homemade Soups

There’s something truly comforting about a warm bowl of broth, especially when it’s homemade and packed with fresh vegetables. Whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, or just looking for a wholesome base for soups and stews, making your own veggie broth is both simple and incredibly rewarding.

Store-bought broths can be loaded with preservatives and excess sodium, but with this easy veggie broth recipe, you’ll control every ingredient, ensuring a fresh, natural flavor that elevates any dish.

Plus, it’s a great way to use up vegetable scraps and reduce kitchen waste. In just about an hour, you can have a pot of nourishing broth that will become your go-to secret ingredient in countless meals.

From hearty soups to risottos and sauces, this versatile broth is a kitchen staple that adds depth without overpowering your dishes. If you’re ready to boost your cooking with a flavorful, healthy, and easy-to-make broth, let’s dive right in!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This easy veggie broth recipe is perfect for cooks of all skill levels, from beginners to seasoned chefs. It requires minimal prep and uses common ingredients that you probably already have on hand.

The broth is naturally vegan and gluten-free, making it suitable for a wide range of diets and preferences.

One of the best things about this recipe is its flexibility. You can customize the vegetables and herbs based on what’s fresh or what you have leftover, making it a zero-waste friendly option.

It’s incredibly aromatic, rich in flavor, and adds a homemade touch to any recipe that calls for broth.

Additionally, once you master this recipe, you can easily double or triple the batch and freeze portions for future use. This not only saves time but guarantees that you always have a delicious broth ready to enhance your meals.

Ingredients

Equipment

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

Instructions

1. Prepare your vegetables: Wash all the vegetables thoroughly. There’s no need to peel the onion or garlic; their skins add extra color and flavor to the broth. Roughly chop the carrots, celery, onion, green onions, and mushrooms into large chunks for easy removal later.
2. Sauté for depth (optional but recommended): Place your stockpot over medium heat and add a splash of oil or a few tablespoons of water for a no-oil version. Add the chopped onion, celery, and carrots. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5-7 minutes until they start to soften and develop a bit of color. This step adds a richer flavor base.
3. Add the rest of the ingredients: Pour in the water, then add the garlic cloves, mushrooms, green onions, parsley, bay leaves, and black peppercorns. Stir gently to combine all ingredients.
4. Simmer the broth: Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer uncovered for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Keep an eye on the pot and skim off any foam or scum that rises to the surface. This will ensure a clear, clean broth.
5. Season the broth: About 10 minutes before finishing, add salt to taste. Remember, you can always add more salt later when using the broth in recipes.
6. 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 lightly on the vegetables to extract as much liquid as possible, but avoid crushing them too much to keep broth clarity.
7. Cool and store: Let the broth cool to room temperature. Transfer to airtight containers or jars. Refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Frozen broth can be thawed overnight in the fridge or quickly in the microwave.

Tips & Variations

“For a more robust flavor, feel free to roast your vegetables in the oven at 400°F (200°C) for 20-25 minutes before simmering. Roasting caramelizes the natural sugars in the veggies, adding a subtle sweetness and depth.”

• Vegetable scraps: Save onion skins, carrot ends, celery leaves, mushroom stems, and herb stems in a freezer bag to use later for broth making. This zero-waste approach is eco-friendly and budget-friendly.
• Herbs & spices: Experiment with thyme, rosemary, dill, or a pinch of turmeric for added flavor and health benefits.
• No onion or garlic? Use leeks or fennel for a mild aromatic base.
• Clear broth tip: Avoid starchy vegetables like potatoes or beets in broth to keep it clear and light-colored.
• Storage tip: Freeze broth in ice cube trays for convenient single-serving sizes perfect for sauces or small dishes.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Suggestions

This homemade veggie broth is incredibly versatile and can be used in countless ways:

• Soup base: Use as the foundation for your favorite soups, like hearty lentil soup or a classic vegetable stew. For inspiration, try pairing with recipes like High Protein Vegan Soup Recipes for Healthy Meals.
• Cooking grains: Replace water with veggie broth when cooking rice, quinoa, or couscous to infuse subtle flavor.
• Sauces & gravies: Use the broth as a flavorful liquid for making vegan gravies or pan sauces.
• Steaming vegetables: Steam your veggies over a bit of veggie broth instead of water to boost flavor.
• Slow cooker recipes: This broth works wonderfully in slow cooker meals. Try it in the Vegan Slow Cooker Recipe for Easy, Delicious Meals for an effortless, nourishing dinner.

Conclusion

Making your own veggie broth at home is a simple yet transformative step in elevating your cooking. With just a handful of fresh vegetables, herbs, and spices, you can create a flavorful, nutritious broth that outshines store-bought options.

This recipe is flexible enough to adapt to whatever you have on hand, making it an economical and sustainable choice for any kitchen.

Once you taste the rich, aromatic flavor of homemade broth, you’ll wonder how you ever cooked without it. It serves as a perfect base for countless dishes and is a wonderful way to add depth and warmth to your meals.

Don’t forget to check out other delicious recipes like the Veggie Quesadilla Recipe Indian Style Easy & Delicious or the Vegan Cuban Recipes: Delicious Plant-Based Island Flavor for more inspiration to complement your veggie broth creations.

Happy cooking, and may your kitchen always be filled with the delightful aroma of homemade goodness!

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