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Wholesome Zero Waste Vegetable Broth Recipe for Easy Sustainable Cooking

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A simple, sustainable vegetable broth made from saved veggie scraps and whole vegetables, simmered slowly to extract deep, rich flavors. Perfect for reducing kitchen waste while adding authentic homemade flavor to your meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • Vegetable scraps: onion skins, carrot ends, celery leaves, mushroom stems, garlic skins
  • 1 large onion, quartered
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 5–6 black peppercorns
  • A few sprigs of fresh thyme or rosemary (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt (adjust to taste)
  • 12 cups (3 liters) cold water
  • Splash of apple cider vinegar (optional)
  • Small piece of kombu seaweed (optional)

Instructions

  1. Rinse all vegetable scraps briefly to remove dirt or grit. Avoid any slimy or moldy scraps. Supplement with fresh veggies if needed.
  2. Roughly chop the onion, carrots, and celery.
  3. Place all scraps, chopped veggies, herbs, peppercorns, and optional kombu into a large stockpot.
  4. Pour in 12 cups (3 liters) of cold water, covering everything by about an inch.
  5. Bring the pot to a gentle boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to low to maintain a gentle simmer.
  6. Simmer uncovered for 45-60 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add water if level drops too much.
  7. About 10 minutes before finishing, add salt and a splash (1-2 tablespoons) of apple cider vinegar.
  8. Strain the broth through a fine mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth into a large bowl or pot, pressing solids gently to extract liquid.
  9. Discard or compost the solids.
  10. Let the broth cool to room temperature before refrigerating. Store in airtight containers for up to 5 days in the fridge or freeze for up to 3 months.

Notes

Avoid overcooking to prevent bitterness, especially from onion skins and celery leaves. Add salt near the end to avoid concentrating flavors too much. Use cold water to extract flavors slowly. Freshness of scraps is important to avoid off smells. Freeze broth in ice cube trays for small portions. Optional additions like bay leaves, apple cider vinegar, and kombu enhance flavor and nutrition.

Nutrition

Keywords: vegetable broth, zero waste, sustainable cooking, homemade broth, vegan broth, gluten-free broth, vegetable scraps, easy broth recipe

Find it online: https://blixfood.com/wholesome-zero-waste-vegetable-broth-recipe-for-easy-sustainable-cooking/