Vegan Beef Broth Recipe: Rich, Flavorful, and Easy

Creating a rich, flavorful vegan beef broth might sound like a challenge, but with the right ingredients and techniques, it’s absolutely achievable. This broth offers the deep, savory notes of traditional beef broth without any animal products, making it perfect for vegans and anyone looking to enjoy wholesome, plant-based cooking.

Whether you’re crafting a hearty soup, a savory stew, or a comforting risotto, this broth will be your secret weapon for adding incredible depth and umami.

In this blog post, I’ll walk you through a detailed recipe for making your own vegan beef broth from scratch. Using a combination of mushrooms, vegetables, and herbs, you’ll create a broth that’s not only packed with flavor but also nourishing and versatile.

Plus, I’ll share tips, variations, and serving ideas to help you get the most out of this fantastic vegan staple. Ready to dive in?

Let’s get cooking!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This vegan beef broth recipe is a game changer for anyone who loves the rich, hearty flavor of beef broth but prefers to keep their meals plant-based. Made entirely from vegetables, mushrooms, and a few key seasonings, it captures that deep, savory taste authentically and naturally.

You’ll love how easy it is to customize this broth to your taste preferences, and how wonderfully it enhances your favorite recipes—from soups and stews to gravies and sauces. Not to mention, it’s completely free from animal products, cholesterol, and artificial additives, making it a healthier and more sustainable choice.

Plus, this broth freezes well and can be stored for weeks, so you can always have a flavorful base ready to go for your meals. It’s a perfect pantry staple for busy home cooks who want to eat well without sacrificing flavor.

Ingredients

• 8 cups water (filtered preferred)
• 2 large onions, quartered
• 3 cloves garlic, smashed
• 2 large carrots, chopped
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 1 cup cremini or shiitake mushrooms, sliced
• 1/4 cup dried shiitake mushrooms (for extra umami)
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari (gluten-free if needed)
• 1 tablespoon miso paste (optional, for depth)
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 1 teaspoon liquid smoke (optional, for smoky flavor)
• Salt to taste

Equipment

• Large stockpot or Dutch oven
• Strainer or fine mesh sieve
• Wooden spoon or spatula
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Knife and cutting board
• Large bowl (for straining broth)
• Storage containers or jars (for storing broth)

Instructions

1. Prepare the vegetables: Start by washing and chopping the onions, carrots, celery, and mushrooms. Smash the garlic cloves to release their flavor.
2. Sauté the base: Heat a splash of oil or a little water in your stockpot over medium heat. Add the onions, carrots, celery, and mushrooms. Cook for about 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to brown and caramelize. This step is crucial for building rich flavor.
3. Add tomato paste and spices: Stir in the tomato paste, smoked paprika, thyme, rosemary, and black peppercorns. Cook for 2 more minutes to toast the spices and deepen the flavor.
4. Add water and dried mushrooms: Pour in the 8 cups of water and add the dried shiitake mushrooms along with the bay leaves. Stir to combine.
5. Simmer the broth: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer gently for at least 1 hour, uncovered. The longer you simmer, the more flavorful the broth will be. Stir occasionally.
6. Add soy sauce, miso, and liquid smoke: In the last 10 minutes of simmering, stir in the soy sauce/tamari, miso paste, and liquid smoke (if using). These ingredients add the savory, meaty notes characteristic of beef broth.
7. Strain the broth: Remove the pot from heat and carefully strain the broth through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a large bowl or another pot. Press down gently on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible.
8. Adjust seasoning: Taste your broth and add salt or additional soy sauce if needed. Let it cool slightly before storing or using.
9. Store or use immediately: Use your broth right away in your favorite recipes or store it in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can also freeze it in portions for up to 3 months.

Tips & Variations

“Caramelizing the vegetables before simmering is the secret to a deeply flavored broth.”

• Use vegetable scraps: Save onion skins, carrot peels, and celery leaves in a bag in your freezer to add to future broths — it reduces waste and adds flavor.
• For a gluten-free broth: Use tamari instead of soy sauce and omit miso or use a gluten-free variety.
• Add nutritional yeast: Stir in 1-2 tablespoons for a cheesy, umami boost.
• Boost the smokiness: Add a small piece of smoked seaweed or a dash more liquid smoke.
• Make it richer: Roast the vegetables in the oven at 400°F (200°C) for 20-30 minutes before simmering.
• Make a quick broth: If short on time, simmer for 30 minutes but increase mushrooms and seasonings slightly.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Suggestions

This vegan beef broth is incredibly versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes to add rich flavor and depth.

• Use as a base for vegetable soups or stews for a hearty meal.
• Add to grains like quinoa or rice for extra flavor when cooking.
• Use it in vegan gravies and sauces, such as a vegan béchamel sauce, to enhance savory dishes.
• Simmer with vegetables and noodles for a comforting noodle soup.
• Use as a braising liquid for vegetables or plant-based proteins.

Conclusion

Making your own vegan beef broth at home is a rewarding and flavorful way to enhance your plant-based cooking. With simple, wholesome ingredients and a little patience, you can create a broth that captures all the rich, savory notes you love from traditional beef broth—but 100% vegan and nourishing.

This broth serves as a versatile foundation for countless recipes, whether you’re making soups, stews, sauces, or even cooking grains. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to reduce food waste by using vegetable scraps and provides a healthier alternative to store-bought broths loaded with additives and preservatives.

Give this recipe a try and discover how easy it is to elevate your dishes with a homemade, deeply flavorful vegan broth. For more delicious vegan recipes, check out our Veg Recipes for Slow Cooker: Easy, Tasty Meal Ideas, the moist and delightful Vegetarian Date Cake Recipe, or try baking fresh bread with our Vegan Bread Machine Recipe.

Happy cooking!

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