Make Ahead

Easy Everyday Vegetable Stock

October 30, 2009
4.6
5 Ratings
  • Serves 4 cups
Author Notes

The great thing about vegetable stock is it starts with a base of carrots, celery, onions and garlic. The other fresh veggies, if you're adding more, are negotiable and totally based on what you have on hand. This recipe easily doubles and triples as well. Watch a video of this recipe being prepared during dinner time at my blog: http://mamachronicles.typepad.com/in_jennies_kitchen/2009/10/quick-easy-homemade-vegetable-stock.html. —Jennifer Perillo

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Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 ribs celery, sliced
  • 4 carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 1 medium onion, cut into quarters
  • 2 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 1 dried bay leaf
  • small handful of fresh parsley leaves
  • 8 to 10 whole black peppercorns
  • 1 tablespoon coarse salt
  • 6 cups cold water
Directions
  1. Heat a deep stock pot over medium flame. Add oil, then toss in celery, carrots, onion, garlic and other vegetables you're using. Saute for 5 to 7 minutes, until the carrots begin to caramelize and the mixture becomes very fragrant.
  2. Add the bay leaf, parsley, peppercorns and salt. Stir to mix well, then slowly pour in the water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until vegetables are extremely tender (read: they've released all their flavor).
  3. Pour through a metal sieve or strainer, discarding cooked vegetables. You're ready to use for soup, as a consomme, or store in the refrigerator (up to one week) or the freezer (up to two months).

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Jennifer Perillo is the Consulting Food Editor at Working Mother magazine, and a regular a contributor to Relish Magazine and FoodNetwork.com. She shares stories about food, family and life at her blog In Jennie's Kitchen and in her debut cookbook, Homemade with Love: Simple Scratch Cooking from In Jennie's Kitchen (Running Press 2013).

4 Reviews

FrugalCat January 19, 2021
My mom would also put a turnip or a parsnip in her stockpot.
yukus M. April 18, 2020
Great simple quick stock!
yukus M. April 18, 2020
Great simple quick stock!
Ghazzzit December 16, 2015
I've had this recipe saved for over a year and realized I'd never commented as to what a *staple* it really is! Now that the weather is cold again I'm getting into more frequent soup mode. Thank you for all the fantastic stocks inspired with this as a foundation that I've been able to create between then and now!