Basic Vegetable Stock

Recipe by: Judith Finlayson | from The Healthy Slow Cooker: More Than 100 Recipes for Health and Wellness

Cookstr

Total Time: Half Day

Skill Level: Easy

Cost: Inexpensive

Photo by: Joseph De Leo

These stock recipes, each of which make enough for two average soup recipes, can be made ahead and frozen. For convenience, cook them overnight in the slow cooker. If your slow cooker is not large enough to make a full batch, you can halve the recipes.

Yield: Makes about 12 cups (3 l)

INGREDIENTS

8 carrots, scrubbed and coarsely chopped
6 stalks celery, coarsely chopped
3 onions, coarsely chopped
3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
6 sprigs parsley
3 bay leaves
10 black peppercorns
1 tsp (5 ml) dried thyme leaves
Salt, optional
12 (3 l) cups water

Directions

Large (minimum 6 quart) slow cooker

1. In slow cooker stoneware, combine carrots, celery, onions, garlic, parsley, bay leaves, peppercorns, salt to taste, if using, and water. Cover and cook on Low for 8 hours or on High for 4 hours. Strain and discard solids. Cover and refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze in an airtight container.

VARIATION

Enhanced Vegetable Stock

To enhance 8 cups (2 l) Basic Vegetable or prepared stock, combine in a large saucepan over medium heat with 2 carrots, peeled and coarsely chopped, 1 tbsp (15 ml) tomato paste, 1 tsp (5 ml) celery seeds, 1 tsp (5 ml) cracked black peppercorns, ½ tsp (2 ml) dried thyme leaves, 4 parsley sprigs, 1 bay leaf and 1 cup (250 ml) white wine. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes, then strain and discard solids.

Notes

To freeze stock, transfer to airtight containers in small, measured portions (2 cups/500 ml or 4 cups/1 l are handy), leaving at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) headspace for expansion. Refrigerate until chilled, cover and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in refrigerator or microwave before using.

We have not included a nutrient analysis for Basic Vegetable Stock because it contains virtually no nutrients. The advantage to making your own vegetable stock is to reduce your consumption of sodium. One cup (250 ml) of this stock with no salt added, contains 0 mg of sodium. The same quantity of a typical prepared stock likely contains more than 500 mg of sodium.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

Nutrients per serving (% daily value)

Nutritional information is based on 12 servings and does not include the optional salt.

Calories 2kcal (0%)

Calcium 3mg (0%)

Vitamin C 0mg (1%)

Vitamin A 43mcg RAE (1%)

Potassium 17mg

Magnesium 1mg

Protein 0g

Sugar 0g

Fiber 0g