This classic garden herb vegetable broth combines simple ingredients into a versatile kitchen staple. Fresh vegetables like onions, carrots, celery, and leeks are simmered with aromatic herbs, including parsley, thyme, and bay leaves for about an hour. The broth yields 8 cups of clear, flavorful liquid, perfect for soups, cooking grains, or sipping hot. At just 45 calories per cup, this nourishing base offers countless possibilities for creative home cooks.
Key Highlights
- Combine roughly chopped onions, carrots, celery, garlic, and leeks with fresh herbs in a large stockpot with water.
- Simmer the ingredients for one hour, avoiding aggressive boiling to prevent cloudy broth and bitter flavors.
- Strain the mixture through cheesecloth to achieve a clear broth, then season with salt to taste.
- Total preparation requires minimal effort and takes 1 hour 15 minutes to yield 8 cups of broth.
- You can store finished broth in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze it for 3 months, leaving headspace for expansion.
Vegetable Broth History
While vegetable broths have existed for millennia across many cultures, the modern concept of a dedicated herb-infused garden vegetable broth emerged during the medieval European monastery period.
Monks maintained extensive herb gardens and developed sophisticated broth origins by experimenting with different combinations of vegetables and herbs for culinary and medicinal purposes.
As local communities learned to create nourishing broths from garden vegetables and foraged herbs, these herb traditions spread beyond monastery walls.
What began as a practical way to use garden scraps evolved into an art form, with regional variations developing across Europe.
Simple Garden Herb Vegetable Broth Recipe
The total cooking time is 1 hour and 15 minutes, with minimal active cooking required. This recipe yields approximately 8 cups of broth, which can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
Ingredients:
- 2 onions, quartered
- 3 carrots, roughly chopped
- 4 celery stalks, roughly chopped
- 2 heads of garlic, halved
- 2 leeks, chopped
- 1 bunch fresh parsley
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
- 10 cups water
- 1 tablespoon salt
Tools:
- Large stockpot
- Strainer
- Cheesecloth
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
- Storage containers
- Measuring cups and spoons
Roughly chop all vegetables into large pieces. Place all ingredients in a large stockpot and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover partially, and simmer for 1 hour. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Strain the broth through a fine-mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth. Discard the solids and season the broth with additional salt to taste.
Nutrition Information (per 1-cup serving):
| Calories | 45 |
|---|---|
| Protein | 1g |
| Carbohydrates | 10g |
| Fiber | 2g |
| Sodium | 890mg |
| Fat | 0g |
| Sugar | 4g |
For the best flavor, avoid cutting vegetables too small as this can make the broth cloudy and bitter. You can customize the herbs based on availability and preference, but avoid strong-flavored herbs like rosemary which can overpower the broth. If planning to freeze, leave enough headspace in containers to allow for expansion during freezing.
Vegetable Broth Nutrition
The nutritional profile of this garden herb vegetable broth offers a light yet nourishing foundation for healthy cooking. With mindful ingredient sourcing, this broth provides essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants while remaining low in calories and free from added sodium.
Fresh garden herbs contribute natural flavor compounds that offer various health benefits. The combination of thyme, rosemary, and parsley provides immune-boosting properties, while the base vegetables release beneficial compounds during the slow-simmering process.
This broth is an excellent alternative to store-bought versions for those watching their salt intake. The natural sweetness from carrots and onions, combined with the aromatic herbs, creates depth without artificial additives or preservatives.
When properly strained, the clear broth delivers pure vegetable essence, perfect for both cooking and sipping.
Summing it up
Building upon its healthful properties, this garden herb vegetable broth stands out as a versatile and rewarding kitchen staple. The combination of fresh garden herbs and seasonal vegetables creates a foundation for countless culinary applications, from hearty soups to flavorful grain dishes.
The herb’s benefits extend beyond taste. It offers natural antioxidants and immune-supporting compounds that enhance the broth’s nutritional profile. Home cooks can explore numerous broth variations by adjusting herb combinations and vegetable selections according to seasonal availability or personal preference.
Whether simmered slowly on a Sunday afternoon or prepared in bulk for future use, this aromatic broth brings the garden’s bounty directly to the kitchen. It serves as a demonstration of the simple yet profound connection between wholesome ingredients and nourishing food.
To Sum it Up
Making homemade garden herb vegetable broth is a rewarding way to use fresh ingredients while creating a versatile cooking base. This simple recipe transforms everyday vegetables and herbs into a flavorful foundation for countless dishes. Beyond its rich taste, the broth offers excellent nutritional benefits and helps reduce kitchen waste. Whether sipped alone or used in recipes, this wholesome broth brings warmth and nourishment to any kitchen, proving that sometimes the simplest ingredients yield the most satisfying results.
