Basic vegetable stock, the most important recipe to have
This recipe is probably the most important addition to the Haricoco website. I always have a vegetable stock in my fridge and freezer ready for use, because it truly changes the level of your dishes.
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
🥘 Main ingredients
- onion
- carrots
- leek
- celery stalks
- fennel bulb
- mushroom
- bay leaves
- parsley
- peppercorns
- star anis
💭 Thoughts and ideas
During the week I tend to keep any off cuts from vegetables that I can use. And every week I make a big pot of at least 2 litre of vegetable stock. I use this in many different dishes, like; Risotto’s, paella’s, soups, and just adding a splash to any stir fries, noodles, or curries makes a world of a difference to the dishes.
For me, there is simply no comparison with a home made vegetable stock or the shop bought cubes and powders. Try it for yourself. Home made stocks enhance your dishes and bring them really to a different level of cooking. And once you get into the habit, it doesn’t take any time at all. I often put a big pot on in the evening, let it sit overnight, and drain it in the morning.
The stock can keep in the fridge for 5 days, and freezes very well.
I never put salt in my stocks as I prefer to do that when I use it for the final dishes. That way I can decide on the amount of salt I want for a specific dish.
Now…. is it a Stock or a Broth??
To be honest, I always find this a bit of a tiresome discussion, but I do want to mention it. Technically I should use the word broth. But as English is not my first language (which is Dutch), the word ‘broth’ just doesn’t sound as smooth and easy to me. Stock and broth are mostly used interchangeably, unless you are talking to the professionals. But for those who want to know; Officially a stock is made by long time simmering of bones, which releases the collagen. So every vegetarian/vegan stock, is actually technically speaking a broth.
📖 Variations Tips
You can adjust the ingredients to your own liking, and to how you will use the stock later.
If I make a stock for Chinese dishes, I usually add a small handful of dried mushrooms, this gives a beautiful rich umami flavour.
Sometimes I add a good big splash of white wine, which adds to the flavour of the stock.
Ideas for things to add;
- Thyme
- Cloves
- Ginger
- Garlic
Not to add (might give bitterness);
- potatoes
- peppers
- cabbage
- kale
- cauliflower
- Be careful with strong herbs (coriander,dill,tarragon,rosemary,oregano)
If using onions, make sure to take the skin of the onion out after 1 hour, because this might go bitter.
So get your stocks or broths on the go! and change the finesse of your dishes. Let me know if you came up with some interesting ingredients to add to the basic stock. Add @haricoco1 to your Instagram posts, or comment down below.
📋 Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 liter (4¼ cups) water
- 1 onion quartered, skin on
- 2 carrots roughly chopped
- 1 small leek roughly chopped
- 2 celery stalks roughly chopped
- 1 small fennel bulb quartered
- 1 mushroom roughly chopped
- 2 bay leaves
- 4 parsley stems
- 8 whole peppercorns
- 1 star anis
Instructions
- Put all the ingredients in a large pot. Bring to the boil, and turn down the heat to a steady simmer. Leave for 1,5 hours.
- Let the stock sit for several hours or overnight (minimum 2 hours)
- Drain the stock into another saucepan with a colander, discard the vegetables.
Notes
- Whenever I make a stock for Chinese dishes, I usually add a small handful of dried mushrooms, this gives a beautiful rich umami flavour.
- Sometimes I add a good big splash of white wine, which adds to the flavour of the stock.
- Thyme
- Cloves
- Ginger
- coriander seeds
- potatoes
- peppers
- cabbage
- kale
- cauliflower
- Be careful with strong herbs (coriander,dill,tarragon,rosemary,oregano)
- !! Make sure to take the skin of the onion out after 1 hour, this might go bitter.
- !! Don’t add any salt to the stock, but do this later when you use it in an particular dish. That way you can adjust the saltiness.
