When most people think of a garden they envision sprawling green plants, their fruits tucked away under the cover of stems and leaves. But the very foundation of the garden, and the ultimate key to its success, is the soil. Properly amended soil can make all the difference between a lackluster harvest and a bounty.
I guess you could say that making soup is a lot like gardening. When we’re imagining up the ingredients for a pot of soup, we tend to focus on the ‘filling’ – what kind of meat, what kind of veggies, what kind of seasoning. But what about the base? Oh – that’s just bouillon and water, right?
Enter bone broth.
Bone broth is a stock that is made from slow cooking animal (chicken, beef, turkey, etc) bones for an extended period of time, anywhere from 24 hours to a few days. It’s surprisingly easy to make, and it is probably the most important ingredient that you could add to your soup. It’s downright medicinal: a gold mine of minerals, amino acids, collagen and gelatin. These are all good things, I assure you. Just take a look at the chart below, courtesy of the Mercola site. Yep… bone broth can do all that. I’d say it’s a step above bouillon or canned broth (which typically contains MSG). Wouldn’t you?
mercolabonebroth
You don’t need to reserve bone broth for making soups. I keep a container in the fridge and help myself to a serving on a daily basis. It might sound a little strange, but it’s actually comforting to sip a mug of steaming broth. Not to mention, outrageously nourishing.
Another bonus: bone broth is super cheap to make. Are you planning on roasting a chicken at some point? Just save the bones after your meal and toss them into a crock pot. You could also hunt down inexpensive bone-in cuts of meat, like chicken backs and necks, or visit your local farmer’s market and purchase ‘dog bones’ which are usually marrow or knuckle bones. Whatever you decide, it’s best to seek out good quality bones, such as grass-fed beef and free range chicken, because they will result in a cleaner broth that is much more nutrient dense.
See below for a couple basic recipes. I sometimes make it even more basic by adding only the bones, water, and apple cider vinegar. Three ingredients – not too bad, right? So why not give it a whirl? Call it chicken broth if it sounds a little less freaky, and try incorporating it into your daily routine!