A pot of vegetables ready to be simmered into vegetable stock.

With soup season here, I thought it would be nice to give the vegetable stock recipe I love its own post.

Here it is! This recipe takes 45 minutes and will yield 2 quarts of flavorful broth to use in all of your favorite soups in the months ahead.

How to Make Vegetable Stock

Gather your vegetables and herbs — no need to peel onions or carrots. Give everything a rough chop.

A board of vegetables to make vegetables stock.

Place everything into a large pot and cover with 3 quarts of water.

A soup pot holding vegetables to make vegetable stock.

Simmer for 45 minutes; then strain.

A sieve holding cooked vegetables set over a bowl of homemade vegetable stock.

Transfer to storage containers. (I love these deli quart containers). Store in the fridge for 7-10 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Two quarts of homemade vegetable stock on a table.
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A pot of homemade vegetable stock.

Homemade Vegetable Stock


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Description

I learned this recipe from my friend Darcy of the Garden of Eden, who got it from Gwyneth Paltrow’s My Father’s Daughter

Use the recipe as a guide — if you don’t have leeks, onions are fine, though I don’t think leeks lend a special flavor to all stocks, so they are worth buying if you are headed to the store; if you don’t have thyme or tarragon, omit them; etc.

I love using this stock in so many recipes, this one in particular, which is a little fussy, but so good: Farro Risotto with Butternut Squash and Kale


Ingredients

  • 1 large yellow onion, quartered through the root
  • 2 large carrots, roughly chopped
  • 1 stalk celery, roughly chopped
  • 1 large leek, washed and roughly chopped, optional
  • 3 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed with the back of your knife
  • 4 sprigs fresh parsley
  • 4 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon coarse salt
  • 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
  • 3 quarts cold water

Instructions

  1. Combine everything in a pot. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 45 minutes.
  2. Let stock cool and strain into clean containers.
  3. Store stock in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks or in in the freezer for up to 6 months.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Category: Stock
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American