Friends! I’m so excited to bring you this delicious kitchen staple that is SO easy to make. I’ve been telling all of my friends how they should start doing it, too.
Consider yourself part of the inner circle who gets in on a secret: Making vegetable broth is what all the cool kids are doing. Let me show you how!
This broth is easy to make, requiring just 1 pot and basic ingredients you likely have on hand year-round.
The inspiration for making my own broth originally came from my pal Phoebe, who shared in her wellness book about making broth from vegetable scraps and garlic and onion skins collected throughout the week. BRILLIANT! Why had no one told me this before?
Ever since, I’ve been saving a big bag of vegetable scraps (carrot peels and tops, greens on their last leg, onion ends, etc.) in a bag in my freezer, and when it’s full, I know it’s broth time.
I start by sautéing the sturdier vegetables down until soft and tender. Then I add water, salt, pepper, and herbs.
Herbs add the “umami” to the soup, in my opinion. I went with fresh thyme, parsley, and rosemary and a bay leaf for good measure.
And for even more depth of flavor? Tomato paste and nutritional yeast! I know it sounds like an unlikely combination that makes this broth cheesy and tomato-heavy. But a little goes a long way in adding extra “oomph” to the broth and helps take it from vegetable water to AMAZING broth!
After about 1 hour of simmering on low, the flavors develop and your broth is ready to go.
Of course, you can cook it longer (the longer the better, really). But 1 hour is about the minimum for truly delicious broth. All that’s left to do is strain into storage jars and you’re set!
I hope you all LOVE this broth! It’s:
Hearty
Rich
Flavorful
Versatile
Easy to make
Healthy
& Super delicious
This broth makes the PERFECT base for soups, sauces, gravy, and all kinds of recipes, like my 1-Pot Chickpea Noodle Soup, 1-Pot Vegan Minestrone, Simple Vegan Stuffing, Easy Vegan Poutine, Thyme & White Bean Pot Pies, Mushroom & Leek Risotto, Tomato & Vegetable White Bean Soup, 1-Pot Curried Lentil Potato Soup, and Coconut Curry Ramen.
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!
Easy 1-Pot Vegetable Broth
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp avocado or coconut oil (if avoiding oil, sub water)
- 1 medium onion (with skins // finely chopped)
- 4 cloves garlic (with skins // finely chopped // or sub garlic-infused olive oil)
- 4 medium carrots (with skins // finely chopped)
- 4 stalks celery (finely chopped)
- 1-2 tsp each sea salt and black pepper (plus more to taste // divided)
- 9-10 cups filtered water
- 1 cup chopped sturdy greens (kale, collards, etc.)
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 small handful fresh thyme*
- 1 small handful fresh rosemary*
- 2 whole bay leaves
- 3-4 Tbsp nutritional yeast (if you don’t have it, omit)
- 4-5 Tbsp tomato paste
Instructions
- Heat a large pot over medium heat. Once hot, add oil (or water), onion, garlic, carrots, and celery. Add 1/2 tsp each sea salt and black pepper (amount as recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size) and stir to coat. Sauté for about 5 minutes or until softened and slightly browned, stirring frequently.
- Add water, greens, parsley, thyme, rosemary, bay leaves, and another 1/2 tsp sea salt and black pepper (amount as recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size) and increase heat to medium high until the mixture comes to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to a simmer and add nutritional yeast and tomato paste (add less of both for less intense flavor, or more for bigger more robust flavor!). Stir to combine and loosely cover (with the lid cracked).
- Continue cooking for at least 30 minutes, preferably 45 minutes to 1 hour. The flavor will deepen the longer it cooks.
- Near the end of cooking, taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more herbs for herby/earthy flavor, salt for saltiness, pepper for a little spice, or tomato paste or nutritional yeast for “umami” and depth of flavor. In total, I added about 2 tsp sea salt and black pepper (amount as recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size) and all of the suggested amount of nutritional yeast and tomato paste (both of which add depth of flavor and make the broth rich).
- Let cool slightly before pouring over a strainer into another pot. Then divide between storage vessels (I prefer glass mason jars). Let cool completely before sealing. Store in the refrigerator up to 5 days or in the freezer up to 1 month (sometimes longer). Perfect for use in soups, recipes, gravy, and more! Recipes listed above.
Video
Notes
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with avocado oil, all of the recommended salt, pepper, tomato paste, and nutritional yeast and with half of the vegetables because they are strained.
*You can sub 1 Tbsp dried thyme or rosemary per small handful fresh herb.
*Recipe makes ~10 cups broth.
*Recipe inspiration from Jennifer’s Kitchen.
Nancy O’Dell says
As I ready my shopping list to make the stock I am wondering what would be the time adjustments if making in an instant pot …
Hi Nancy, we haven’t tried this in the Instant Pot and aren’t sure how to adjust. But another reader mentioned they used the Instant Pot and cooked it under pressure for 30 minutes. Let us know if you give it a try!
Vanessa Engel Vidal says
Thanks for the recipe, I will try it!
Just a question, what do you do with the cooked vegetables after the stock is made?
Thank you,
Vanessa
We typically compost them as they don’t retain flavor. But if you wanted to save them, you could potentially purée, freeze, and then add a small amount into soups for added fiber. Hope that helps!
Roger says
Thank you for this awesome vegan vegtable broth! Stumbled across this wonderful recipe. Needed a nice vegetable broth to prepare a risotto and this recipe caught my attention. All the ingredientes were in my kitchen. Just tweaked it a bit since there were some veggies to get rid of, since i’m a garden hoarder. Just added some cilantro stems, celery leaves, leek leaves, shallots, greek oregano,dehydrated shiitake mushrooms & a small amount of some homemade aji amarillo paste, for a kick!
I suggest not to leave out the nutritional yeast.
Anne says
I have made this recipe at least 8 times and it is a wonderful as is, or with some variations depending on what I have available. And I now keep a bag of frozen veggie odds and ends to use which is was a brilliant suggestion. I don’t often use fresh herbs because they are expensive here, but dried thyme and oregano work well. Nutritional yeast shouldn’t be omitted–delicious. Thank you!
We’re so glad you enjoy it, Anne! Thanks for sharing!
Jan says
Love it!!!
Thanks for sharing, Jan! Next time would you mind adding a rating to your review? It’s super helpful to us and other readers! xo
Jan says
Awesome recipe!!! Will definitely share with friends!!
Karen says
Hi Dana, I thought you say it’s a great way to use up leftover peelings etc from vegetables during the week but the recipe calls for a lot of actual vegetables – which adds up cost wise. Thanks, Karen
Hi Karen, feel free to throw in some scraps!
Ella says
I heard you should avoid kale in stock? Thoughts?
I think it’s generally fine. I only add the stalky parts, not the leaves (I enjoy the leaves too much to waste in a stock).
Christine says
This is the best broth ever! I used everything in your recipe, plus a leek and mushrooms which needed using. Left to simmer for at least 1 hour, will definitely make this again. Keep the great recipes coming!
Thanks Christine! We’re so glad you enjoyed it!
Miri says
This was the best veg broth I’ve ever made. I did roast the veg first and used miso instead of tomato paste. I really just needed base for another soup I was making, but this is also great alone. A keeper!
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Miri. We are so glad you enjoyed it! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo
Chrissy says
I’ve made this broth two weeks in a row to make enchilada sauce, soup, and risotto. It’s a great way to use up veggie scraps. The use of tomato paste and nooch gives it an extra oomph of flavor which I have never been able to achieve when making veggie broth. Versatile and delicious!
Kelly says
I really enjoy making my own veggie broth – it feels less wasteful that way. I watched one woman actually take the limp chunks of vegetables that remain after you strain the broth and dehydrate them then grind them up to make vegetable seasoning. I haven’t gone that far, but that’s definitely using the veggies entirely.
I’m not sure I’ll do the sauté step – I like to keep my broth simple. I just keep a gallon-size freezer bag that I fill with veggie scraps. I sometimes even throw in a few extra mushrooms (ESPECIALLY mushrooms – I feel they add umami) or carrot or potato chunks while they’re fresh to just make sure my scraps have good variety. Once the bag is full I dump the frozen veggies straight into a pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil, then simmer for an hour, then I let it come to room temperature (usually another hour or two). I add salt and then it’s good to go.
I am intrigued by adding the nooch, however. I think I’ll give that a try, so thank you for the idea. And I’ve no doubt sautéing some of the veggies beforehand adds extra flavor.
Dawn says
Could I use my instant pot? If so how long would you recommend?
Hi Dawn, we haven’t tried this in the Instant Pot and aren’t sure what to recommend. Let us know if you do some experimenting!
Sara says
Incredible!! Thank you very much for your content and great ideas.
Thanks so much for your kind words and lovely review, Sara. We are so glad you enjoyed it! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo
Tammy says
I have frozen vegs in freezer from previous meals i can use these for broth even if its cabbage?
We haven’t tried cabbage, but it might work. We wouldn’t recommend using a lot of it though. Let us know how it goes!
Chadwick H. Jones says
I saw that others have asked this question and saw the answer there. Thanks.
Katie says
I’ve never commented on a recipe before, and as one with less-than-healthy eating habits (wink wink), I can’t BELIEVE my first comment is on a recipe for veggie broth! But I am absolutely gobsmacked at how delicious this is! I added potatoes and skins, broccoli stems, 4-5 smashed up cloves of garlic, and mushrooms to the broth recipe, and let it simmer for 3 hours. Once done, I strained & added chunks of potato, corn, carrot, broccoli, kale, mushrooms, and white beans for a scrumptious, rich, incredibly satisfying veggie soup! I *never* eat just veggies, so added shredded chicken to my first bowl. But not any after that – I wanted nothing to take away from the veggies! I’m SO grateful for this recipe, and will be using the broth as base for a million different things. Until then, I have a huge batch of the best soup EVER that I get to nosh on in our cold, rainy, Seattle weather :)
Ha! Thanks for sharing, Katie!! So glad you enjoyed it!
Shari says
Is there anything extra you could recommend besides the nutritional yeast and tomato paste? I make all of my sons food from scratch because of his eczema, and I’m unable to use those two ingredients currently. Thank you ?
Hi Shari, you could leave them out and it would still be tasty, just not quite as flavorful. Mushrooms might help add depth of flavor. Another reader also mentioned using a mix of pumpkin purée, miso, and apple cider vinegar in place of the tomato paste. Let us know if you do some experimenting!
Olga says
I use miso paste.
Lisa Anne says
Oh my gosh this is the best. I only used a small amount of nutritional yeast and tomato paste because I’m using this broth to make vegetarian homemade tamales and I’m using goat cheese and roasted green chilies as the stuffing. This broth is amazingly good and way more flavorful than the stuff in the grocery!! Love it! Thanks again Dana for another great recipe!!
We’re so glad you enjoy it, Lisa! Thanks for sharing!
Liz Davis says
What should I do with the cooked veggies? I don’t want to throw them out.
They don’t usually have much flavor leftover. But you could maybe freeze in small portions and add to pureed soups?
Martina says
You can use it in pasta sauce or add to a mash potato for a change.
Marianne Cote says
Feed leftover strained vegetables to a compost pile.
Christopher says
Hi Dana!
Would you recommend using scraps from My juice extractor (Breville Juice) and would that be used to replace or add to the ingredients for your recipe?
Thanks!
:D
Christopher
Hmm, I haven’t quite thought of that. But maybe? My fear is most of the nutrients / flavor have already been extracted in the juicing process. But if you give it a try let us know how it goes!
MB says
I’ve made broth with juicer pulp! I found a recommendation online. It’s been a while, but I do remember that they recommended keeping lemon pulp out of the broth. I used primarily beet/carrot/garlic/celery pulp, I think, and added some onion and herbs to the broth pot.
Good luck!
Paula says
Thank you so much for the recipe it sounds delicious, I am definitely going to the shop right now to get the ingredients. I have made my own broth before but this recipe sounds like a real upgrade to my cooking.
Would you recommend blending the leftover vegetables with the broth and freezing it in ice cubes to make it easier to throw in the right amount I need in the pot (for example I need less stock for couscous than I need for soup)? Would the herbs taste weird after blending and freezing?
Oh and if I am to use bits of veg and peels that I previously froze would it be ok to freeze them again? Brilliant idea by the way I never thought of it and I don’t compost food as my stomach doesn’t allow it lol. This seems like the perfect solution I am sooo doing it!
Thank you
karen says
Tried looking for the answer to this question and couldn’t find it.
I noticed in the blog post you talked about saving up scraps for your broth. But then the recipe has specific amounts of specific veggies. Could you clarify how to save up scraps and approximately how much to use? Sounds like there’s some leeway possible. Really interested in using up my veggie scraps.
Thank you
Hi Karen. This recipe is very forgiving. Just use roughly the amounts of veggies I suggest. And if you have scraps, either add in addition to the vegetables or slightly scale the vegetables back. Hope that helps!
Amy says
Made this yesterday and it turned out great! I had frozen veggie scraps that I had saved and threw in a tomato ( I had no paste) and let it simmer for 2 hours. It was delicious, thanks for another great recipe
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Amy! Thanks so much for the lovely review! xo
Brenda says
I am just curious if the long cooking time cooks out some vitamins and minerals. – not that it’s going to stop me fm making it, it’s just a thought.
Hi Brenda, it’s possible- especially regarding vitamin C and other more heat-sensitive nutrients. But the longer cooking time will infuse more flavor into the broth.
Gryphonisle says
Rather than using water I’d recommend slow boiling a 4qt pan of garbanzos/chickpeas (10oz will make 12 cooked) until they’re either fall apart soft (for hummus) or al dente (for salads or soup). Then, use the liquor (the water you boiled the chickpeas in) as part or all of the liquid base for your veg broth; hence the slow boil, cooking the beans without evaporating any more of the water than you have to, and don’t be afraid of adding too much water, I fill the pan to within a quarter inch of the top after I’ve added the dry beans. You will have to remove the foam, which is quite sturdy and must have some other use. Garbanzos make the most delectable liquid and it’s a shame so many people drain it off into the sink! I’m going to use it for this recipe.
Jason says
Thanks for this handy reference! Great to be linked from soup recipes! I like the tomato paste idea and definitely noticed a difference (I also enjoy using dried mushrooms for that umami kick, but this is easier).
Sidenote: you don’t necessarily need to finely chop the vegetables. Rough chopped is fine. The onions and garlic are especially time consuming, so you can just lightly crush the garlic and quarter the online. Of course this means you would omit the sautee portion of the recipe, but you can get good results just chucking everything in the pot!
Thanks for sharing! We find more flavor gets extracted when more finely chopped. But both methods work!
Anne Howe says
I love roasting all the veggies in 2 pans for more depth/richness in flavor ! Bok choy is awesome too!
Tanya says
I haven’t made this yet; however, in the interest of health, might I say that onion skins can be quite moldy—in that case they are not good for broth. Also, I shudder to think of using vegetables that are beginning to decay, as it sounds as though some commenters are doing. Sure, all that boiling will destroy bacteria, but it does not destroy the toxins that some bacteria produce, as in botulism. Plus, vegetables that have been in the refrigerator until they are old have lost much of their nutrients.
Using scraps from fresh, in-good-condition vegetables sounds like a great idea and I will be trying the broth soon. Thanks for the recipe, Dana.
Ah, yes I always recommend freezing veggie scraps (onion skins, carrot peels, etc.) as soon as they’re collected to keep fresh.
Cheryl Gallion says
If botulism is a concern, one could use a pressure cooker or Instant Pot to cook any suspect veggies.
Does boiling kill botulism?
C. botulinum spores can be killed by heating to extreme temperature (120 degrees Celsius) under pressure using an autoclave or a pressure cooker for at least 30 minutes. The toxin itself can be killed by boiling for 10 minutes.
Tanya says
Boiling the broth for ten minutes destroys the toxin. Cooking under pressure for *Three* minutes kills the spores. I think between the two of us we have finally got this right, Cheryl. Thanks for the information. I’m still not going to make broth out of veggies that are “too gross to eat” as mentioned by other commenters!
Julie says
Hi! I love all your recipes and want to try this one next! Im mostly interested in zero waste and want to freeze scraps then make the broth but haven’t attempted my own only because I wasn’t sure if organic matters or not? As well as the roots and crunchy parts of onions/garlic go in too?Thanks in advance!
All parts of the vegetable can go in (skins and all), and organic is best when possible!
Tetiana says
Great veggie broth! I made it exactly as in the recipe and would only left out the rosemary next time, but that’s my personal preference.
I cooked it in the instant pot under pressure for 30 minutes and it was enough to have rich flavour!
So glad you enjoyed it, Tetiana! Thanks for sharing! xo
Lisa says
WOW! This was so delicious. Amazing alone and makes a great base for soups. I followed the recipe but didn’t have fresh rosemary or thyme – dried worked just fine. I also added about a cup of mushrooms for extra earthiness. Thanks for this fantastic recipe!
Yay! Thanks for sharing, Lisa!
Brittni says
I loved this recipe. So easy. So delicious. I’ve been eating this broth alone, I’ve used it in chicken tortilla soup, and I also used it as the base for the Minestrone soup on the website.
I’ve got 8 quarts in my freezer right now for a rainy day. Thanks so much for such an excellent recipe.
Ps- add all the salt, nutritional yeast and tomato paste. You won’t regret it!
Great! Thanks for sharing, Brittni!
Christine says
Absolute winner!
I’ve been waiting forever to make this stock but was holding off until I could get some nutritional yeast (not easily available where I live). I was missing out on some of the sturdy greens and bay leaves and had to use dry herbs instead of fresh, but I’m still very happy with the results. The addition of tomato paste and nutritional yeast are amazing. Used the broth to make a version of mushroom tom yum soup and it’s great.
I often use “Better than Bouillon” vegetable stock concentrate, but I am happy to have found an alternative that can use up vegetable scraps that would otherwise be wasted and also has less salt and no additives. This is my go-to from now on.
So glad you enjoyed it, Christine! Thanks so much for the lovely review!
Nicole says
Absolutely perfect! I will never use the store bought stuff again if I can help it! And another one saved in my bookmarks, Dana!
xo!
Dan says
My “go to” is tomato soup using Gordon Ramsey’s recipe. I found this recipe souper easy to make and the resulting soup was the best I have made.
Patricia Pilling says
Can this recipe be used for a crock pot? On what temperature would you set it? And for how long?
Probably medium/low for 6 hours?
Dawn E Willoughby says
I loved this recipe! I filled large jars, not to top, loose top. They all cracked! Thoughts? I could use the small jars but that’s a lot of jars for freezer. It would be nice to freeze in sizes where I could use 1 or 2 in a recipe.
Thank you for your excellent site.
Hi Dawn, So glad to hear you enjoyed this recipe! Sorry to hear that your jars cracked. Did the jars say freezer safe on them? We find that some glass jars are safe and others aren’t. Hope that helps!
Renée says
1 quart mason jars are generally not freezer safe.
Thank you for this recipe ?
Laura says
Interesting comment. I freeze in mason jars all the time. The TRICK is you can only fill them up to BELOW the shoulder of the jar. This allows for proper expansion due to the liquid expanding upon freezing. Trust me, I’ve had several jars crack because I forgot this important filling requirement.
Tanya says
i have been freezing foods in WIDE mouthed quart canning jars. leave about 1.5″ head-space, and do not tighten the lids until contents have frozen. i haven’t had any quarts break. but i did have a half-gallon canning jar break, i think because i left insufficient head-space; that size would need 2.5″ to 3″. can anyone tell me if tahini is supposed to taste bitter as gall? i’ve never noticed sesame seeds tasting bitter but i’ve never found tahini that WASN’T bitter! thanks.
Hi Tanya, tahini does have a bitter taste.
Samara says
This is the BEST broth/stock recipe. I don’t buy store bought stock, this recipe is great because it not only tastes amazing but it’s easy! It is hands down the best one I’ve ever tasted. No modifications needed
Whoop! So glad to hear it, Samara! xo
Tara says
Sounds good! The next time you make it, any chance you could determine an approximate vegetable weight to water ratio? Eg. 1 pound veg : 1 cup water. That would be really helpful when adjusting recipe to use acquired scraps. Thank you either way!
Hi Tara, Thank you for the feedback- we’ll look into it! Not sure if this would be helpful- but you can switch to metric measurements (which tend to be a weight measurement) by clicking just below the ingredients header. Hope that helps!
Tara says
Actually that’s perfect, thanks!
Kim says
Any suggestions re use of the leftover vegetable mash?
Well, the more edible parts (onion, celery, carrot) can be added back into soups. Just be sure to discard skins and scraps that aren’t as desirable. Or, when you add scraps and skins to the soup, do so in a cloth baggie tied with twine so they can be easily discarded or composted at the end!
Marsha Hepler says
I also make my own veggie broth. I am fairly new to this idea. I didn’t think about sauteing the veggies first. This could prove helpful in adding even more flavour. I use more veggies than you too I even include some lettuce and pepper and tomatoe tops. Even cue cumber ends. I know i am weird.But I figure it all helps. I also add potatoe skins. . After they cook I run them thru the blender then cheese cloth. Thanks for your help
Amanda Bernal says
THE BEST VEGGIE BROTH!! This was my first time creating my own vegetable broth. I always assumed it was easy, but I never imagined it could taste this good. I wanted to eat it straight out of the pot with nothing else!
Yay!
Franny says
We really liked this broth! Even without some of the ingredients (no greens, parsley, or fresh herbs) it was really tasty and a huge improvement over the veggie broth powder we sometimes use. I made it with matzo balls and it was a hit!
So glad to hear it! Thanks for sharing, Franny!
Friederike Lehrbass says
I use veggie broth to extent my chicken bone soup. After I cook the chicken bones for around 24 hours I drain it,crush the bones and add the veggies to the bones with fresh water. I haven’t thought about saving the veggie scrapes though. Thanks Good idea.
Christine says
Dana,
I have yet to make a recipe of yours that my hubby and I haven’t liked! Living in a rural town and surrounded by cattle and sheep ranchers make it difficult to be a vegan which means I cannot simply buy vegan items pertinent to your recipes. Thank you for recipes like this where I can make my own veggie broth and know that it does not contain animal products. Your recipes are always my go to!!
Vitzania Dominguez says
At this very moment all the goodies are getting happier by the minute. Thanks for the share!
Yara Hartkoorn says
This is absolutely delicious. Amazing! This recipe has opened up my repertoire no end. Thank you for sharing this.
Janet says
I made the broth to use in the Lentil Fesenjan recipe. I am trying to cut down on sodium and figured if you make it from scratch you can decide the salt content. The broth is delicious and I am thinking the Lentil Fesenjan will be too! I eat a plant base diet and always enjoy your recipes so much. Thanks Dana!
Dee says
Dana, I’m along time lurker, first time commenting. You have made cooking with a plant based lifestyle so much easier; you rock.
I made this with my scraps. Forgot and added tomato sauce(didn’t have paste, still used 2 T) and nutritional yeast midway through and was still fantastic.
Great tips, thank you!
Lisa says
Can you use spaghetti squash scraps (skin and seeds) in broth?
That should work, though we haven’ttried ourselves!
Shelly says
Do you have any suggestions that I could sub for carrots? Apparently, I have a sensitivity to them, so I’m looking for ideas.
I just went through MRT testing, and your site has been so valuable in finding food I can eat. I have really enjoyed your recipes. Thanks so much!
You could try using more of the other ingredients to make up for the carrots, though it will produce a different flavor.
Melissa says
Are you actually using two whole celery stalks , or are you meaning ribs ? Two stalks seems overpowering to the amount of carrots.
Ribs, yes!
Gigi says
Silly question- do I defrost my frozen veggie scraps prior to sautéing it in step 1 or just sauté it frozen?
You can just sauté from frozen!
Aliana says
I just finished making this recipe and it’s delicious. So much more flavorful than any veggie broth from the store. I have an intolerance to nightshades, so instead of tomato paste, I mixed pumpkin purée with miso. I also added a tiny bit of apple cider vinegar to make up for the acidity of tomatoes. And I am very pleased with the results. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. It’s one I’ll continually return to.
Smart! Thanks for sharing your recipe changes, Aliana!
Genevieve says
THANK YOU FOR THIS! I also have difficulties with nightshade and while I will sometimes eat some of them in defiance, I cannot eat tomatoes in any form without serious repercussions… Vegetable broth has been my nemesis since I switched to a plant-based diet.
James says
I used to work at a university cafeteria, and they always had a huge (like, I could have got in) steam kettle full of veggie scraps turning into stock.
Great to find this recipe for a home-scale version!
EC says
Thanks for this recipe. Just bought a juicer and started saving the pulp! I always felt guilty with just tossing all of that. Thanks for the recipe. Haven’t tried it yet, but I plan to make a batch this week.
Let us know how it goes!
Alma says
Wow EC, what a great idea …. never thought of saving the pulp!! Thank you for that!
Cyndi says
Hey, I’ve made broth this way a few times but for some reason it never turns out right? It tastes like paper…what could i be doing wrong, i use veggie scraps, onions, garlic, celery, squash, leeks, rosemary and thyme from the garden, salt, pepper, it simmers for an hour or so, smells amazing but then dang…has a back taste of paper…do you peel all the papery peels from onions..? Maybe more salt..I can’t figure it out, help! Thank you!
Hi Cyndi! It sounds like you might be missing a couple ingredients there. Did you leave out chopped fresh parsley, bay leaves, and tomato paste?
Ellie says
I made it and it tastes delicious. One of the main reasons I wanted to make my own broth is because I have to cook extremely with no salt for my husband and all broth contain lots of Sodium. I added fresh tomatoes instead of the tomato paste. Question:
How did you figure ouT the 477 mg of sodium? It is a lot for a serving. Thank you
Hi Ellie, the sodium comes primarily from the added sea salt. It will be less if you omit or reduce.
Beth says
Hi there! Just wondering if the scraps, after the broth is made, can THEN go into the compost? I’m not sure because of the addition of nutritional yeast, and also the saute in the beginning (so some oil).
PS love your site and use it allllll the time. Our go to for sure.
I think so, yes!
Linda G. says
Salt shouldn’t go in compost,, so rinse them first.
Christina Piccoli says
Just made this and it’s absolutely delicious! My daughter was eating the broth plain out of a bowl, like a nice soup. So, you know it’s got to be good. Even my son, the pickiest eater on the planet, said it was good. Another win from you!
Jo says
This is such a good idea. Do you need to defrost the veggies before making the broth?
No need. They can be added from frozen
Lori P says
I always buy a bag of carrots and a bag of celery to cook with, then end up with extra that go bad. That will happen no more. I was able to use them making this recipe along with the other vegees in the recipe since I did not have any scraps. I will start saving my scraps as noted in the dialogue. I did add the tomato paste and nutritional yeast. What I had left after straining was a thick fabulous stock. I made Dana’s 1-pot minestrone soup and it was fantastic with this. I was able to add water in place of some of the broth called for because of the richness of the broth. Thank you for this great recipe.
Donna says
Dana, I made this last week and thought it was especially good! Plus it makes a lot of broth, which is nice! I’m making it again tomorrow to use in minestrone soup. For my taste buds, the addition of nutritional yeast and tomato paste was genius! Really gave the broth extra flavor! Thanks so much for the post!
Thanks for sharing, Donna! We are glad you enjoyed it!
Rachael says
Hi there – have you ever canned this broth? If so – would you need a pressure cooker to do so? I’m thinking the tomato paste would make it somewhat acidic, but I’m thinking I can make a vat of this on one day and then can it so I have it on hand.
I’m thinking that would work! I typically just freeze mine, but I think canning would be lovely!
Carolyn says
This might be a dumb question, but I don’t have a lot of experience with freezing things. Once the broth is frozen in a jar how do you get it out of the jar to use? Can I just microwave it if I decide to whip up some soup last minute?
Hi Carolyn! If freezing in a glass jar, make sure it is either tempered (the type used for canning jars) or specifically labeled for freezing as it will likely crack otherwise. To thaw, I’d recommend taking it out of the freezer a day or two before use and store in the fridge to thaw. Hope this helps!
Linda G. says
If you’re using glass in the freezer, don’t use a jar with shoulders – only a straight sided jar that can withstand freezing. Ball jars can be used in the freezer, but only up to the pint size, and only straight sided jars. Ziplock bags would probably work well.
Ro Ma says
I am prepping to make this wonderful-sounding recipe but I would like to share two concerns:
1. Nutritional yeast often contains MSG or other undesirable additives, so those using this recipe should look closely at the contents label of any of their yeast bottle. If in doubt, it is OK to consider nutritional yeast optional.
2. Sauteing the vegetables may add a bit more flavor, but it also adds time and complexity to the process. In my Instant Pot recipes I never saute the veggies and the dishes turn out just fine. However, if you have the time and desire, adding the saute step will work, too.
Donna says
Could or should the nutritional yeast be added at the end of cooking, off heat, to retain nutrients?
Yes, you could do that!
lou says
i have been making stocks for 50 yrs on & off. I use jalapeño, anaheim, chipotle, thai, chinese, peppers, stems, seeds, leftover bits… fresh or dried herbs incl. cilantro, parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme, marjoram, turmeric (always w. lots of black pepper for better bioavailability,) garlic, white pepper,
and all the veg. leftovers (we roast parsnips, turnips, leex, potatoes, sweet potatoes, all leftovers go in the broth, or are added to soup) xcpt beets, brocolli…bell peppers are ok if I roast the leftover bits.
I started sqweezin in a lemon, now we get organic, so they get grated, chopped and tossed in peel pith and all…OR I dump in a bit of apple cider vinegar to brighten things up. I used to separate the broth…but now I make a big batch, let it cook down, puree in the vitamix…freeze, then thin it as I use it…sometimes my quart yields 2,3X diluting w. super savory results. thank you for your beautiful treats…always open to new cuisine. we travelled from Canada to canton, mumbai to mombasa, and ate at every place we followed our noses to…
Samantha Rae says
I made this and then used the vegetables (I used fresh & new) to make a soup by just blending them together! (took out the bay leaves) I used it to make Simply Quinoa’s Lentil Shepherds Pie! <3
JMGrund says
Hi Dana! Long time reader / recipe follower, first time commenter.
1. This is a brilliant idear — we are total freezer people and hate wasting food. EXCELLENT.
2. Even when I added too much pepper, this broth was salvageable as a brine for roasting chicken and it was excellent (I just also added too much salt).
3. During reg kitchen prep, I peel my cremini or button mushrooms (instead of washing them) and remove the stems. Those scraps are perfect for this operation.
4. Would like to know from you & other commenters which veggie scraps might be suspect to adding *interesting* flavors to the party… for example, I couldn’t imagine cooking cilantro that was near the end of its refrigerated life or cauliflower leaves, so they went in the bin. Have you tried corn cobs or squash rinds?
Hi! Glad you are loving this recipe! Corn doesn’t add a lot of flavor and can make the broth cloudy, but squash peels would add good flavor to stock or broth! We wouldn’t recommend using any more than 1/8 of the total broth ingredients. Hope this helps!
Suz says
OMGosh… perfect timing for this! Can’t wait to try it. ALL of your recipes are simple and amazing! Thank you, Dana!!!
Rose says
One of the most surprisingly delicious things I have ever made!! Oh my gosh – sooo good and sooo easy. Saved all kind of scraps including the leaves from three heads of cauliflower and some celeriac. A last minute addition was about 2 tsp. or so of tumeric. And I’m usually not a nutritional yeast fan, but it really works here. I did find I had to add quite a bit more salt than the recipe calls for to bring out the flavour. Thank you so very much Dana!!!
Patton says
I only yielded about 5-6 cups of broth after simmering/cooling/straining. Any tips for how to yield more broth at the end?
Hi Patton, to yield more broth, make sure to cook with the lid on at a simmer, not a boil. Also, perhaps try cooking for less time! Hope that helps!
PAM says
I just made this after stuffing 2 gallon freezer bags full of the saddest looking vegetables you’ve ever seen. Onion butts, carrot butts, celery butts , peelings from anything and everything, even several cups of green salad including radishes and cucumber which was waay past it’s prime. I confess that my expectations were low. My past attempts at homemade vegetable broth have tasted little more than colored, salted hot water. This was d-i-f-f-e-r-n-t! It was a lovely chestnut brown in color, peppery and flavorful after adding a bit more salt………..and this was before adding the tomato paste and nutritional yeast which gave it the WOW factor. Thanks, Dana, another healthy keeper and all from stuff ready for the garbage!
Lauren Ford says
Was so super happy that this recipe turned out on my very first try!!! I didn’t have much onion scraps so added half of a huge one to my frozen bag o’ scraps. Tasted so amazing. Had a cup before dinner last night and did a little happy dance. Definitely adding this to the repertoire.
Laura says
Oh my gosh. Thank you. People use to do this ages ago out of necessity. Is your friend from “Feed Me Phoebe”?
I really really appreciate this cause I felt that throwing out carrot tops, beet tops, etc. I had a feeling I was doing a bad thing and I did not have a clue why. I feel better.
Wendi says
Just have to tell you how much I appreciate your site, and ALL your recipes. You have become my Alton Brown of vegan recipes. Keep it up – I love it!
Natalia Perez says
Yaaay this is perfect. What would be the cooking time for this using a pressure cooker?
Hi Natalia, we haven’t tried this recipe in a pressure cooker, but would estimate 20-30 minutes on high would work!
Taylor says
The perfect use for all my kitchen scraps. I’ve been using it to cook my rice, quinoa etc for added flavour and nutrition. Great idea!
Adilade says
I was wondering if I could throw in some chopped up tomato instead of the tomato paste. Do you think this would this significantly chance the flavor/texture?
Adilade says
Ugh, I mean *change*
Hi! We haven’t tried it, but if you do let us know how it turns out!
Kelly says
Can I put this in a hot water bath and preserve it for much longer?
Hi Kelly, we haven’t tried that, but let us know if you try it!
Grandma Honey says
I made this last week and it is SO good! I put the extra in paper cups, and placed them in the freezer. Now I have small quantities all ready and waiting next time I want some. Love the flavor.
Sarah | Well and Full says
I LOVE making my own broth… not only does it taste wayyy better than store-bought, it’s such a good way to use vegetable scraps! I need to try the tomato paste trick though ;)
Rob says
I recently cooked with a winter squash and saved the skin, seeds, and rind with my other scraps. Can the seeds be used for broth as well, or should I remove them from the bag?
Hi Rob, we would recommend removing the seeds and using them in this recipe: https://minimalistbaker.com/how-to-roast-pumpkin-seeds/
Aura says
My daughter was home sick from school today, and I happened to scroll through and find this recipe. It turned out so well. My very favorite vegetable broth is from an old Indian cookbook, but this is definitely the very best non-exotic veggie broth I’ve ever made, by far. I added a few bits of parsnips and a cinnamon stick, otherwise made no changes, and my daughter has been drinking it out of a Star Wars mug all afternoon. Thank you for another fantastic recipe!
Audra says
I’m curious about the greens past their prime…would that be like kale, arugula, or even lettuce that’s wilty and getting too gross to just eat?
I LOVE the idea of using EVERYTHING and wasting as little as possible! And having fresh homemade stock! ?
Hi Audra, we like using kale stalks, but the leaves can be a little too flavorful for broth if using too much. Arugula and lettuce may also work if they are starting to wilt, but we wouldn’t recommend using them if there are any signs of mold.
Danielle says
After it simmered for an hour, I got more like 5 or 6 cups of broth. Should I have been adding water as it evaporated?
We’d say try covering it with the lid or reducing the cooking time to yield more broth next time. Though the broth won’t be as concentrated/flavorful.
Darby Bundy says
The addition of nutritional yeast was awesome! I didn’t have tomato paste on hand, only tomato sauce, but I refrained. I can definitely tell it would be good to add in. I used my broth the next day with leftover sweet potato, onion, and other veggies for an amazing soup to have for lunches this week :)
A super practical how-to for newbies wanting to stretch their veggies and meals, or add flavor to their rice and other dishes!
Cassie Autumn Tran says
YES, I need to know how to make my own vegetable broth! I tried making it once, but it tasted so bland that I, unfortunately, had to dispose everything! Now I know I SHOULD add a bit of salt, pepper, and maybe even another sauce to the base too!
Tami says
Dana, I can’t thank you enough for the recipes you share. So many of your recipes are my “go to”. You are such an amazing, creative & generous person. I love all your holiday recipes too & this time of year I wish I had a copy of your Holiday recipes in book form in my hand!
THANK YOU!
:-)
Tami
Avital says
Hi Dana, isnt it a problem to use the scarps if your veggies are not organic?
I answered that question above! I always recommend organic produce (but understand not everyone can afford it).
Erin Woodward says
Hi Dana!
After the broth is cooked, can this be canned in the pressure canner and stored like other canned veg? Am thinking why not? Then it would last for a year or more. Thanks! : )
Lori says
It can absolutely be canned in a pressure canner. I’ve been saving veggie scraps and turning them into stock for years. Ball’s Blue Book recommends 1″ head space, and 35 mins at 10# pressure. I’ve made countless batches of veggie stock this way.
Kelly says
This looks good and I plan on trying it.
I was reading the reviews and always wonder why people rate a recipe when they haven’t tried it. Isn’t the idea to try the recipe and then rate it? That seems more helpful.
Lori Cahill says
Do you think it would work in an instant pot….I would love to get my money’s worth out of the purchase. Thanks
I would assume so, but I don’t have any experience with an instant pot. Let me know if you give it a try!
Kathy A says
I do mine in the instant pot all the time. When my gallon size bag of veggie scraps is full, I put in my IP and fill with water to the fill line, add my spices and cook on manual for 30 minutes. I use it in all my sautéing and cooking.
Phil says
Try pressure cooking in instant pot. Works a treat.
Thanks for sharing, Phil!
Haviva says
How long can it keep in the jars? Thanks!
That information is in the recipe.
Haviva says
Woops! Was so excited for the recipie I missed that part, thank you
Shannon says
I’ve been doing the same for 40 years and have been known for my amazing soups. I also love to add oven-roasted vegetables to the broth to finish the soup. I don’t cook them in the broth, so they retain that lovely, intense, concentrated flavor from roasting.
Lovely tip!
Shannon says
:-) I love your blog, Dana. Keep up the great work!
julie comtois says
By using the skin, if it’s not organic, doesn’t it make a chemical pesticides broth at the same time?
And isn’t it a waste using all the vegetables?
Elle says
Julie, I think, if you read the whole post, she’s talking about saving veggies all throughout the week/month in a baggie in the freezer. When the baggie is full, you make the broth. The recipe is just kind of a guide for what to do with your freezer bag of leftover veggies. I really love this trick. Anytime I use a veggie, I just put the shrapnel ;) in my freezer baggie. I end up with carrots, potatoes, celery, greens, onions, squash…whatever! I’ve even saved apples. You really can’t go wrong with making broth. EXCPET beets. I can tell you from experience that beets are not the best addition to broth ;)
Julie Comtois says
and you use organic ones? because if not, using that ends up in a chemical soup
Julie, if you buy organic produce it won’t be a problem. I always buy organic produce, but also understand not everyone can afford to. If not using organic produce, you can peel the exterior of the vegetables away before adding to the stock.
Elle says
Yea, I do, but that’s just me.
Kerstin Decker says
This is so good and I have done it for years except I did not add the tomato paste or nutritional yeast but it sounds good. I will add it next time THANK for bringing to all of us
Of course!
Chelsea Strapp says
How long will this stay good in the fridge?
That information is in the recipe.
Grandma Honey says
Is it possible to simmer this all day in a crockpot instead?
Elle says
IMHO…Sure, of course! You’re just making broth. It will be great in a crockpot. Sauteeing in the beginning will add depth of flavor, but it’s not necessary.
Adam says
Adding a good sized piece of kombu will elevate the stock quite a bit also.
Thanks for the tip!
McKel Hill, Nutrition Stripped says
Excellent idea! Vegetable broth is a true pantry staple, and even better when homemade.
Sandra says
Where in the recipe do you use the freezer bag of veggie scraps?
Zoe says
I think all the veggies used ARE the scraps…
Kate says
I am also confused about this. It’s almost like the recipe and the explanation don’t jive…
I included measurements so people had something to go by. But in reality, I put all my veggie scraps in a bag and place it in the freezer, trying to keep my greens separate since they don’t need to be sauteed. Hope that helps!
Casey says
I was very confused as well and went to comments to figure it out – hope that helps!
Gina says
I think she gave measurements for those who don’t already have the scraps saved up and just want to make the broth. If you already have saved up the scraps, then by all means use the scraps you have. It’s also nice to have the weight of the scraps and greens and the measurements for the herbs.
Looks like a delicious recipe for vegetable broth. I’m going to start saving my scraps from now on. Thanks!
Elle says
Right. If you just start a freezer baggie and add all your veggie scraps to it, pretty soon you’ll have a big old bag of broth fixins! I usually make broth twice a month. My baggie will have potatoes, carrots, celery, onions, garlic, squash, greens, herbs, etc., etc. The recipe is just kind of a guide for what to do with all the scraps you have saved up. You can start fresh, of course, but I think her point was to use the scraps. I’m sure she can clarify ;)
Austin says
I puréed the veggies and added them back in to make a soup out of the stock. It was delicious!
Tori//Gringalicious.com says
Super great idea and so much easier than I’d have thought! Thanks for sharing!
Kristina says
Have a tomato allergy. Any suggestions instead of just omitting it?
Hi Kristina, perhaps miso, pumpkin purée, or tamari? Hope that helps!