Quick And Easy Vegetable Stock Recipes

QUICK AND EASY VEGETABLE STOCK RECIPE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a heavy-bottomed stock pot or soup pot, heat the oil over medium heat.
• Lower the heat, add the onion, leek, carrot, celery, parsnip, celery, and garlic, and gently sauté, with the lid on, for about 5 minutes or until the onions are softened and slightly translucent. Don't brown the vegetables, though.
• Add the wine and reduce until the liquid is about three-fourths evaporated.
• While the liquid is evaporating, create the sachet d'épices . Combine the bayleaf, thyme, parsley, and black peppercorns in a cheesecloth and tie with butchers twine.
• Add the water and sachet d'epices and bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer. Simmer for 30 to 45 minutes. Skim off any scum that rises to the surface, but don't stir or otherwise agitate the stock. Just let it simmer away.
• Remove from heat, pour through a strainer into another large pot or container. Cool, then refrigerate.

BASIC VEGETABLE STOCK

Steps:

• Chop scrubbed vegetables into 1-inch chunks. Remember, the greater the surface area, the more quickly vegetables will yield their flavor.
• Heat oil in a soup pot. Add onion, celery, carrots, scallions, garlic, parsley, thyme, and bay leaves. Cook over high heat for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Add salt and water and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Strain. Discard vegetables.
• Other ingredients to consider: mushrooms, eggplant, asparagus (butt ends), corn cobs, fennel (stalks and trimmings), bell peppers, pea pods, chard (stems and leaves), celery root parings, marjoram (stems and leaves), basil, potato parings . . . Get the idea?