Homemade Vegetable Stock Recipe (2024)

Published April 7, 2021.This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Learn how to make a delicious homemade vegetable stock recipe that is loaded with flavor and is perfect to use in soups, stews, and braises.

No matter if it’s beef stock, chicken stock, or vegetable stock, it’s one the most fundamental recipes of basic cooking. It is a must know-how if you’re serious about cooking or what to take your cuisine to the next level.

Homemade Vegetable Stock Recipe (1)

Vegetable Stock

Vegetable stock is a veggie-based liquid consisting of water and vegetables that are simmered together to make a flavorful broth to use in a myriad of recipes. If you are vegan or even vegetarian, then this is absolutely the recipe for you.

The best way to make vegetable stock is by saving old veggie scraps and freezing them until you have enough to make it. There is no perfect number of leftover veggies to make a stock, it’s whenever you feel like you have enough to make it. In that way, don’t let this recipe be so prescriptive, use what you have when you have enough.

Here are some ingredients to go really well in this:

  • Onions (every single kind)
  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Mushrooms
  • Tomatoes
  • Parsnips
  • Turnips
  • Asparagus
  • Squashes
  • Parsley
  • Thyme
  • Fennel

How to Make Vegetable Stock

Follow these simple instructions to make a delicious homemade vegetable stock recipe:

In a large pot over low heat with olive oil, lightly sweat all of your root vegetables for 15-20 minutes.

Homemade Vegetable Stock Recipe (2)

Next, add any remaining vegetables to the stockpot.

Homemade Vegetable Stock Recipe (3)

Place fresh herbs, bay leaves, and peppercorns in the pot.

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Fill the pot with cold water until it is about 2” over the top of the veggies and bring to an active simmer.

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Turn the heat down to low and simmer for 1 hour.

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Strain the stock completely and store or use.

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What Should You Not Put It?

Almost all veggies are fair game when it comes to making this recipe except for a few. The two main things you do not want to put into a vegetable stock are:

  • Beets – they can really discolor your stock to whatever color the beet is.
  • Peppers – no matter if they are spicy or bell, they will alter the flavor and often cause the stock to be bitter.

Make-Ahead and Storage

Make-Ahead: You can make this recipe up to 3 days ahead of time. Keep refrigerated before using.

How to Store: Cover and refrigerate for up to 7 days. This will freeze very well covered for up to 6 months. Be sure to completely cool the stock before freezing.

How to Reheat: Add your desired amount to a saucepot and cook over low heat until warmed.

Homemade Vegetable Stock Recipe (8)

chef notes + tips

  • Before using your vegetable stock, it is wise to season it with salt and pepper.
  • Sweating vegetables when cooking means cooking over low heat to soften but not too brown.
  • It is absolutely fine if your vegetable stock is lighter or darker than mine

What to Use It In

  • Minestrone
  • Pasta E fa*gioli
  • Risotto
  • Vegetable Soup
  • Cream of Mushroom

Be sure to follow me onFacebook,YouTube,Instagram,andPinterest,and if you’ve had a chance to make this then definitely drop me a comment and a rating below!

Homemade Vegetable Stock Recipe (9)

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Homemade Vegetable Stock Recipe

Homemade Vegetable Stock Recipe (10)

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5 from 7 votes

Learn how to make a delicious homemade vegetable stock recipe that is loaded with flavor and is perfect to use in soups, stews, and braises.

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3-4 roughly chopped yellow onions
  • ½ roughly chopped celery bunch
  • 10-12 roughly chopped carrots
  • 2 roughly chopped leeks
  • 10-12 garlic cloves
  • 1 to ½ gallons of leftover frozen vegetable scraps
  • 1 bunch parsley
  • 15-20 fresh thyme sprigs
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 15-20 black peppercorns

Instructions

  • In a very large pot over low heat add in the olive oil and gently sweat the onions, celery, carrots, leeks, and garlic cloves for 15-20 minutes. Do not brown.

  • Next, add in all of the remaining ingredients and fill the pot up with cold water until it is about 2” over the veggies.

  • Turn the heat up to medium-high and bring to an active simmer.

  • Turn the heat down to low and simmer for 1 hour.

  • Strain the stock and use or store it.

Notes

Chef Notes:

  • Make-Ahead: You can make this recipe up to 3 days ahead of time. Keep refrigerated before using.
  • How to Store: Cover and refrigerate for up to 7 days. This will freeze very well covered for up to 6 months. Be sure to completely cool the stock before freezing.
  • How to Reheat: Add your desired amount to a saucepot and cook over low heat until warmed.
  • Before using your vegetable stock, it is wise to season it with salt and pepper.
  • Sweating vegetables when cooking means cooking over low heat to soften but not too brown.
  • It is absolutely fine if your vegetable stock is lighter or darker than mine.

Nutrition

Calories: 114kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 5gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 79mgPotassium: 377mgFiber: 6gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 9853IUVitamin C: 18mgCalcium: 48mgIron: 2mg

Course: Soup

Cuisine: American, French

Author: Chef Billy Parisi

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16 comments

    • Angie
    • Homemade Vegetable Stock Recipe (11)

    It was absolutely delicious, makes all the difference in my recipes

    • Reply
      • Chef Billy Parisi

      thank you!

      • Reply
      • Chef Billy Parisi

      Glad you enjoyed it!

      • Reply
    • Loraine Graham

    Hi Chef,
    I’m about to make my first vegetable stock by following your recipe. Please tell me what you do with the cooked vegetables once you’ve strained them? Do we just discard them? Seems a bit of a shame.
    Loraine

    • Reply
    • Homemade Vegetable Stock Recipe (13)

        yes

        • Reply
      • Kara
      • Homemade Vegetable Stock Recipe (14)

      Literally just got through making this! Mine made 17 cups! I used carrots, onions, celery (stems and leaves also), small bits of frozen broccoli, dried thyme, pepper, and parsley flakes. It definitely needed little more seasoning but I’ll adjust as I use. Thanks for posting this recipe! I will now be keeping all
      my scraps!

      • Reply
      • Homemade Vegetable Stock Recipe (15)

          Fantastic!!

          • Reply
        • Kenneth
        • Homemade Vegetable Stock Recipe (16)

        You inspired me to start making my own stock. It is amazing and easy. To be honest I typically only use the scraps and vegtables that are near going bad. I love the repurpose of the scraps and the flavor they give. Oh, my favorite has been cooking beans with it. Then using the liquid to make an incredible gravy. The beans had so much more flavor.

        • Reply
        • Homemade Vegetable Stock Recipe (17)

            perfect!

            • Reply
          • Lori
          • Homemade Vegetable Stock Recipe (18)

          Hi Chef, Love your channel. Are you able to can this vegetable stock? I’ve already canned batches of your beef and chicken stock and I’ll never go back to store bought. Your recipes are Amazing, so I’m automatically giving you five stars for this one as well!
          Thank you,
          Lori

          • Reply
          • Homemade Vegetable Stock Recipe (19)

              I appreciate that!

              • Reply
            • Leslie
            • Homemade Vegetable Stock Recipe (20)

            Absolutely delicious! Save your veggie scraps and try this stock.

            • Reply
            • Dimitria liberty

            May you please tell us the name of your strainer and where to get it?
            Sometimes is difficult to understand or how the spelling is.
            Thank you for making us better cooks by your generous shering of your recipes.
            Best wishes Dimitria

            • Reply
            • Homemade Vegetable Stock Recipe (21)

                It’s a chinois.

                • Reply
              • Catrina Watkins
              • Homemade Vegetable Stock Recipe (22)

              I can’t wait to make this. I love vegetable stock. I’m smiling 😃.
              Thank you. Thank you.

              • Reply
            Homemade Vegetable Stock Recipe (2024)

            FAQs

            What is the ratio of vegetable stock? ›

            The Vegetable Stock Ratio

            The first tier tastes are leek, carrot, and celery (from celery root). These are in the stock in equal parts. Onion, mushrooms and turnip are added at half the amounts of the first three.

            What not to put in veggie stock? ›

            What Not to Use for Making Vegetable Stock
            1. Moldy or rotten vegetables. ...
            2. Anything with a very strong, specific flavor (or color)—Cabbage, broccoli, artichokes, and beets are a few examples.
            Oct 5, 2021

            How to make homemade vegetable broth taste better? ›

            Add bright, fresh flavor to vegetable broth

            Don't boil fresh herbs in broth, though, or they could make the stock bitter. To brighten any soup, stock, or broth, a splash of lemon juice or vinegar is always a good idea.

            What vegetables are good for vegetable stock? ›

            Good stock really is key. I prefer whole vegetables for my stock, rather than scraps. I use: onions, carrots, celery, leeks, garlic, thyme, parsley, bay leaves, and black peppercorns.

            How to make stock from scratch? ›

            To make homemade chicken stock, place chicken bones, vegetables, herbs and spices into a large pot. Cover with cold water then simmer for about 3 hours. Let it cool, then skim the fat. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months.

            Should potatoes go in vegetable stock? ›

            Vegetables to Avoid When Making Vegetables Stock

            Starchy vegetables like potatoes and turnips will make for a gummy, cloudy vegetable stock. Beets overpower their aromatic counterparts. Zucchini and greens beans become bitter when slowly simmered for as long it takes to make this stock.

            What two types of vegetables should be avoided in stocks? ›

            Avoid bitter greens and members of the brassica family (kale, cabbage, Bok Choy). Other greens can be used in small quantities. Good in small quantities (no more than 1/5 of the stock ingredients). Foods in the Brassica family, such as kohlrabi, are too strong for stock/broth and can impart a bitter taste.

            What veggies are not good for stock? ›

            7 Vegetables to Avoid Adding to Vegetable Stock

            1. Leafy green parts of carrots and celery. 2. Brassicas, including cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, turnips, rutabagas, collard greens, kohlrabi, and kale.

            Do tomatoes go in vegetable stock? ›

            Add carrots, leeks, garlic, tomato, apple, parsley, bay leaves, basil, peppercorns, salt, dulse flakes and water. Bring to a gentle boil. Turn down to a simmer cover with a with a lid slightly vented for an hour. Let cool.

            What makes vegetable stock bitter? ›

            Turnips and radishes

            While you can toss in the tops of most produce, there are some root veggies she recommends leaving out. "Stay away from some of those really bitter root vegetables, like turnips and radishes," says Jawad. They can ruin the balance of your stock, making it come out very bitter.

            Why does my vegetable stock taste like nothing? ›

            Use spices as well as herbs: Broths are somewhat synonymous with herbs, but spices really add a rich depth (which you'll know if you've ever made deliciously fragrant pho before). Not only do they pack more flavor than ground herbs, they won't settle on the top of your soup like a powdery film.

            What is the difference between vegetable broth and vegetable stock? ›

            Vegetable stock likely comes unseasoned, while broth usually contains salt and other seasonings. Vegetable stock is made with untrimmed, sometimes whole vegetables, while broth is made from trimmed, roughly chopped vegetables.

            What scraps to put in vegetable stock? ›

            Ingredients
            1. onion, tops, bottoms, and skins.
            2. celery, tops and bottoms.
            3. 1 cup carrot, tops, bottoms, and skins.
            4. mushroom, stem.
            5. garlic, tops, bottoms, and skins.
            6. potato, tops, bottoms, and skins.
            7. parsley, stems.
            8. water, as needed.
            May 17, 2024

            Can you put potato skins in stock? ›

            Save those vegetables that may have lost their crunchy appeal for a flavorful veggie stock. Even if stored properly, celery and carrots may become floppy after some time, but don't let them go to the compost. Throw in your onion skins, potato peels, and other veggie scraps from cooking to add more flavor to the mix!

            Is lemon good in vegetable stock? ›

            Plus adding lemon to the stock adds that savory flavor, but without the salt. Lemons are a great substitute for salt if you are trying to decrease your sodium intake. Well there you have it, an easy to make and delicious vegetable stock.

            What is the ratio for making stock? ›

            A 3:1 ratio by volume of bones to mirepoix is a good starting point when making stock. More mirepoix may compete with the protein, whether chicken or beef. Many chefs prefer a higher ratio of up to 5:1 (bones:mirepoix), so that the chicken and beef flavors are more pronounced.

            What is stock ratio? ›

            The stock turnover ratio (STR) is a financial metric that measures how often a company's inventory is sold and replaced over a specific period. Two different approaches to calculating the stock turnover ratio exist, each focusing on different aspects of inventory management. Table of contents.

            How much water for veggie stock? ›

            Add the vegetables to a large pot with the salt, bay leaves, and peppercorns. Add 10-12 cups of water and simmer, covered, for 1 hour. Finally, strain the stock through a fine mesh strainer to remove the vegetables and peppercorns.

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