Authored by Dr. Susan E. Brown, PhD
Bone broth is the perfect food for these cooler months of fall and winter. Simple, warming and rich in minerals as well as other helpful compounds, the health benefits of bone broth almost magically line up with some of the season’s most common health concerns.
Trying to boost your immune system against colds and flu? Need relief for your achy joints? Trying to give up your pumpkin spiced latte indulgence?
If the answer to all these questions is yes — then try bone broth.
So here are three tasty and healthy homemade bone broth recipes to make this fall. Try them all and then tell us which one is your favorite!
Grandma’s Chicken Soup Broth
Your grandmother was right — chicken soup IS exactly what you need when you have a cold or the flu. This homemade chicken soup broth is rich in immune-boosting compounds, drawn from both the bones and veggies in this recipe.
Tip: Adding apple cider vinegar to your broth recipes helps to draw out even more minerals and gelatin from bones.
Ingredients
2 pounds of chicken bones (i.e., bones from a whole chicken)
2 medium carrots, chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 Tbsp Kosher s
1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
Enough water to cover ingredients
Directions
Place bones as well as chopped vegetables in the stockpot or slow cooker. Fill slow cooker with water (enough to cover ingredients), then add apple cider vinegar. Season with salt. Slow cook on low heat for 12 hours. If using a stock pot, bring to boil and then lower to a simmer, leaving on stove burner for about four hours. (If using a stove stock pot, then monitor water level and add as needed.) Shut off slow cooker or remove from heat. Strain through a cheesecloth or strainer into a clean pot. A layer of fat may congeal on the surface of the broth when thoroughly cool. Finally, remove the fat with a spoon and discard. Store in fridge for up to two weeks, or freeze. Makes approximately one quart of broth.
Want to turn your broth into soup? Once it’s strained, add in fresh carrots, celery, onion and cooked chicken meat. Simmer until veggies are tender, season, then serve.
Gelatin-Rich Beef Broth
Bone broth is easy to digest and its high gelatin content is also soothing to the digestive tract, helping to heal digestive problems and even facilitate weight loss. Gelatin is also great for easing achy joints. Long cooking times allow more digestion-enhancing gelatin to be released from the bones into the stock, so try this one in a slow cooker.
Ingredients
2-3 pounds of beef bones (Ask your butcher if you don’t see soup bones in the meat section.)
2 medium carrots, chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 Tbsp Kosher salt
1 tsp crushed peppercorns
1 tsp dried thyme
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
Enough water to cover ingredients
Directions
Add bones and chopped veggies to slow cooker. Cover with water, stirring in vinegar, then thyme, pepper and salt. Set slow cooker to low for at least 12 hours. Add additional water if needed. Drain into clean pot. Cool and strain fat. When cool, broth can be stored in glass jars in the refrigerator for up to two weeks, or can be frozen. Use as a soup or stew base, or sub in for water when making rice or other favorite boiled grains. Makes approximately one quart of broth.
Soothing Sipping Broth
Instead of a pumpkin spiced latte when you crave a warming drink, try this super flavorful sipping broth. Bone broth contains electrolytes, so it’s a good choice after exercising outdoors. Sipping broth can be made with either chicken or beef bones.
Ingredients
2 pounds of chicken or beef bones
2 medium carrots, chopped
1 medium leek, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
2 bay leaves
2 Tbsp black peppercorns
2 tsp dried oregano
2 tsp dried thyme
2 tsp dried rosemary
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp Kosher salt
Herbs for garnish
Water to cover ingredients
Directions
In a slow cooker, add bones and chopped veggies. Cover with water and stir in remaining ingredients. Leave slow cooker on low for 12 hours. Strain, then serve. Add a pinch of salt or pepper to taste, or additional fresh or dried herbs (or lemon for chicken broth) for a flavorful garnish. For on the go sipping ease, serve in a lidded travel mug. When cool, broth can be stored in the fridge for up to two weeks, or freeze. Reheat before serving. Makes approximately one quart of broth.
