Making Vegan Stock with Celery, Leeks, Fennel, and Carrots
vegan
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© Melanie Scherer for diet-health Canned vegetable stock in a jar -
© Melanie Scherer for diet-health The “mise en place” for the vegetable stock, which includes the spices and herbs and other ingredients for the stock — here without equipment -
© Melanie Scherer for diet-health Coarsely chopped vegetables for the stock -
© Melanie Scherer for diet-health Vegetable stock simmering in a saucepan -
© Melanie Scherer for diet-health Canned vegetable stock in a jar next to the bowl of vegetables used to make the stock
Ingredients (for servings, )
| For the vegetable base | |
| 1 | Onion (3.9 oz) |
| 5 ½ oz | Celery root |
| 5 ½ oz | Leeks |
| 5 ½ oz | Celery |
| 5 ½ oz | Carrots, raw |
| 3 ½ oz | Fennel bulbs |
| 1 tbsp | Canola oil (0.49 oz) |
| For seasoning and canning | |
| 2 liter | Tap water (mineral water, drinking) (70 oz) |
| 1 bunch | Parsley, fresh (1.1 oz) |
| 3 leaves | Bay leaves (0.02 oz) |
| ⅛ oz | Black pepper |
Equipment
- saucepan or pressure cooker
- vegetable peeler
- stove
Type of preparation
- cook
- sieve
- sweat
- can (bottle)
- sauté
- remove the skin
- peel
Preparation
For the vegetable base
Peel the onion and celery root. Clean the leeks, cut in half lengthwise, and wash. Clean and coarsely chop the celery stalks, carrots, and fennel.The onions don’t need to be completely peeled before sautéing — just make sure to remove the outermost layer.
Heat the canola oil in a large saucepan. Briefly sweat the onion and then sauté all of the ingredients on medium heat. The ingredients should only take on a little color here.
For seasoning and canning
Pour the tap water on top so that the vegetables are covered with water and bring to a boil. Then let simmer for about 45 minutes.Add the herbs and spices and let boil down an additional 45 minutes.
A relatively low temperature can be used for this step. In contrast to normal “cooking,” you shouldn’t see any bubbles forming on the surface.
Pass the vegetable stock through a fine sieve into a saucepan. Press the vegetables down lightly and then transfer to a separate bowl.
You can still use the vegetables, for example, by serving as a side dish.
While still hot, pour the vegan stock into clean, ideally sterilized, jars, let cool, and then refrigerate or use immediately.
In contrast to broth, stock is not a ready-to-eat dish. This vegan stock made with celery, leeks, fennel, and carrots is easy to make and is a good base to use for soup.
Differences between broth and stock: In cooking, there are several differences between broth and stock. Broth can be used as an ingredient or served as a dish on its own whereas stock has been boiled down, concentrated, and isn’t salted and is therefore only used as an ingredient for other recipes.
Boiling down: You will end up with more or less stock, and more highly or less concentrated stock, depending on how long you boil it down. With a more highly concentrated stock, as is the case with this recipe, smaller amounts are required to season other dishes.
Estimated yield: Although it first seems that large amounts of fluid and ingredients are used here, a recipe to serve 4 people will in the end make about 1 to 1.5 liters. However, this amount depends on the temperature the burner is set to, the time the soup is boiled down, and the size of the pot. If you only plan to use part of the stock immediately, this is an estimated yield you can use to plan the number of containers you will need for canning.
Quick version: If you want to prepare the stock quickly, you can use a pressure cooker. Cook the stock for about 20 minutes, add the herbs and spices, and then let simmer for an additional 15 minutes.
Buying prepared stock: Stock is sold in most well-stocked supermarkets, usually in jars or Tetra Pak cartons. However, commercially sold stocks often contain salt. If this is the case, you should make sure to add less additional salt.
Less work with organic vegetables: If you use only organic vegetables to make the stock, you don’t have to peel them first. And this adds extra flavor to the stock.
Using vegetable scraps: Vegetable scraps can also be used to make stock and give it a stronger flavor.
Storage: If the stock is poured into clean containers, ideally sterilized with hot water, it can be stored for about 2 weeks in the refrigerator or 3 months in the freezer.
Varying the ingredients: You can ultimately use any type of vegetables, including vegetable scraps, to make a stock. And you might like to add additional herbs and spices such as cloves, allspice, thyme, or garlic.
Serving the leftover vegetables as a side: When the stock is finished, there will be a bowl of leftover vegetables and herbs. Instead of throwing these away, you can use them, for example, to make a quinoa salad. If you use a little of the stock to cook the quinoa, this will bring out the flavor of the vegetables.
