VEGETABLE STOCK/BROTH; LIQUID GOLD FOR PENSIONERS

LIMITED EFFORT, GREAT REWARDS

Vegetable stock repays the time and limited effort involved, big-time. Once the chopping is done - a mere ten minutes - the stock simmers for a couple of hours and you end up with a lovely savoury broth which makes terrific soups.  It freezes beautifully. 

A cup of Vegetable Broth is especially recommended for pensioners who don't enjoy meals and people recovering from 'flu or other debilitating ailments.

This recipe was adapted from Martha Rose Shulman's Vegetarian Feast, published in the UK in 1979 but out of print.  

Cost : £2.00'ish

Yields: 2 pints/ under a litre

In a large heavy bottomed pot, place:

2 med onions, quartered

2 carrots, coarsely chopped

2 stalks celery, coarsely chopped

2-3 unpeeled washed potatoes, in large chunks

2 leeks, white only, well washed, in chunks

4 sprigs fresh parsley or chive

1 bay leaf

1/2 tsp dried thyme

1 whole bulb garlic, separated into cloves
1x 2 inch piece peeled ginger
4 whole black peppercorns

1 tablespoon reduced-salt soy sauce

2 tsps bullion powder (opt) 

salt & pepper to taste

2 1/2 pints/ 1 1/3 litre cold water

Method:

1. Bring to a boil; boil hard 5 minutes, skimming off any scum
2. Reduce heat; mixture should be gently bubbling.
3. Simmer on low heat for for 2 hours, partially covered.
4. Check seasoning.  Simmer longer if needed.   
5. Strain.  (Keep the vegetables which are very flavourful and can be pureed to thicken soup or serve as soup. ) 
6. Cool and leave overnight in the fridge. Use within four days of cooking or freeze.  

Tips: 

• replacing the bullion cubes with a 40g packet of white instant miso soup also adds flavour (67 used Clearspring)
• Clear out the salad drawer before making stock, adding peeled old carrots, lettuce leaves with the nasty bits torn off or any other salad veg to intensify the flavour of the broth
•  Speedy Vegetable Broth: A faster version of Veggie Broth using salad ingredients

This recipe has been developed by B  Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises and may not be reproduced, in any form, without the author's written permission.