Harvest Vegetable Broth from Scraps

Homemade vegetable broth is easy, quick–and better tasting than many commercial varieties.  You can even make it from carrot ends and other scraps!  Homemade vegetable broth is easy, quick--and better than many commercial varieties.  You can even make it from carrot ends and other scraps!

Yesterday I did a little shopping. And I was shocked. There was fall décor everywhere. How did we get so near to summer’s end? 

Yet the signs are there. I even did a “school starts soon” brunch with some of my classmates. 

Black Swallowtail Butterfly on Sunflower

Butterflies are for summer!

While I decided that I’m going to repress all of this for now, I did do something distinctly fall-like the other day. I made vegetable broth, entirely from scraps out of my CSA box!

As I looked in to a refrigerator overflowing with bright, fresh CSA veggies, I realized I could make some space just by “pre-harvesting” parts that would get thrown away. Things like parsley stems, uber small carrots/carrot ends and scallion greens. There was even a dried-out bunch of thyme. 

Start with veggie scraps!

Now a vegetable broth is nice for summer because it doesn’t have to simmer for hours–unlike a meat broth where you are (usually) trying to extract minerals from the bones. Even on a hot day, an hour of light simmering won’t do too much damage to an overheated kitchen. 

Herbs for the broth

Of course, your fridge may hold different veggies so feel free to switch up the ingredient list. The one caution I have is to go none-to-light on cruciferous vegetables—things like broccoli, cauliflower, etc. They can make your broth taste and smell cabbage-y and that’s probably not the result you are going for. 

Homemade vegetable broth is easy, quick--and better tasting than many commercial varieties.  You can even make it from carrot ends and other scraps! 

Vegetable broth!

In the end I was delighted with my broth and it felt good to pop it in the freezer for fall. Because today I’m going out to enjoy the summer some more! 

Grand Marais, MN

Enjoying a local beer in Grand Marais, MN

Homemade vegetable broth is easy, quick--and better tasting than many commercial varieties.  You can even make it from carrot ends and other scraps! 

Harvest Vegetable Broth

Homemade vegetable broth is easy, quick--and better tasting than many commercial varieties. You can even make it from carrot ends and other scraps!
Author: Inger
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 1 hr
Total Time 1 hr 10 mins
Course Soup
Servings 6
Calories 17 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup carrot ends or carrots too small for other recipes
  • 1 cup scallion or leek green ends
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped celery leaves
  • 1 large bunch parsley stems
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 bunch dried up fresh herbs such as thyme optional
  • 6 peppercorns
  • ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 7 cups water

Instructions
 

  • Combine ingredients in a large saucepan or stockpot. Bring to a boil, then turn the heat down and simmer until flavorful, about 1 hour. Adjust salt and pepper as needed.
  • Strain broth and discard (or better yet, compost) the vegetables. Use broth within a couple days or freeze.

Notes

Feel free to modify the ratios based on items you have or to add other (non-cruciferous) vegetables and fresh herbs.
Makes about 6 cups.

Nutrition

Calories: 17kcal
I am not a health professional and nutrition data is calculated programatically. Accuracy may vary with product selection, calculator accuracy, etc. Consult a professional for the best information.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

4 thoughts on “Harvest Vegetable Broth from Scraps

  1. David Scott Allen

    Whenever I have scraps – onion skins, carrots and celery bits, parsley stems, mushroom stems, and so on – I freeze them in large containers and then use them to make broth as needed. Sort of like yours but a slightly different method. Why would you buy canned or boxed broth when you can make it – and it tastes so much better!

    1. Inger Post author

      That’s a great idea David! I do it with bones/meat scraps but never thought of freezing veggie scraps!

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