Bone broth is a healing, nourishing liquid that’s both affordable and rich in collagen. This comprehensive bone broth recipe will guide you through creating restaurant-quality broth at home that’s packed with nutrients and flavor. Making your own bone broth recipe allows you to control the ingredients while maximizing the nutritional benefits.
Table of Contents
What is Bone Broth?
Bone broth is a flavorful, nutritious, and collagen-rich liquid made by simmering animal bones rich in marrow for an extended period. This traditional bone broth recipe typically includes additional ingredients like vegetables, herbs, and garlic. Apple cider vinegar or white vinegar is essential in any good bone broth recipe as it helps break down proteins and connective tissues, extracting maximum nutrients from the bones.
How is Bone Broth Different from Regular Stock or Broth?
While there’s no clear line of demarcation, several differences distinguish a proper bone broth recipe from regular stock or broth:
Bone Broth Recipe Characteristics:
- Made by simmering bones rich in collagen for longer periods (often 12 hours on stovetop or 3-4 hours in pressure cooker)
- Generally gels when cooled due to high gelatin content
- Most collagen-rich and nutritious option
Regular Stock:
- Can be quite gelatinous, typically simmered longer than regular broth
- May be made with whole chicken or just the carcass
Regular Broth:
- Typically thinner, contains much less collagen
- Made by boiling actual meat rather than marrow-rich bones
Health Benefits of This Bone Broth Recipe
While published research hasn’t confirmed these benefits with absolute certainty, this bone broth recipe may provide several health advantages due to its rich mineral and nutrient content:
6 Potential Benefits of Drinking Bone Broth
- Highly Nutritious: Rich in vitamins and nutrients including calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, Vitamin A, K2, and minerals like zinc, iron, boron, manganese, and selenium.
- Joint Protection: Collagen transforms into gelatin containing amino acids like glucosamine and chondroitin, thought to reduce arthritis symptoms and joint pain.
- Digestive Support: Particularly beneficial for people with inflammatory bowel diseases or leaky gut syndrome.
- Better Sleep: Glycine, a non-essential amino acid found in bone broth, may improve sleep quality.
- Weight Management: High protein content may help you feel fuller longer.
- Anti-Inflammatory Properties: Amino acids glycine and arginine have strong anti-inflammatory effects.
Essential Bone Broth Recipe Ingredients
| Main Ingredients | Quantity | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Beef bones (knuckle, short ribs, oxtail) | 4-5 lbs | Primary collagen source |
| Carrots | 3 large | Flavor base |
| Onions | 2 medium | Aromatic foundation |
| Celery stalks | 3-4 stalks | Flavor enhancement |
| Garlic head | 1 whole | Aromatic depth |
| Bay leaves | 3-4 leaves | Herbal notes |
| Black peppercorns | 1 tsp | Spice element |
| Apple cider vinegar | 2 tbsp | Nutrient extraction |
Equipment Needed for This Bone Broth Recipe
- Large stock pot (or two medium pots)
- Roasting pans
- Fine-mesh strainer
- Metal spatula
- Ladle
Best Bones for Your Bone Broth Recipe
| Bone Type | Benefits | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Knuckle bones | High collagen content | Gelatin-rich broth |
| Marrow bones | Rich flavor and nutrients | Deep taste |
| Oxtail | Meat and collagen combination | Flavor enhancement |
| Short ribs | Meat for added taste | Robust flavor |
| Chicken feet | Extremely high gelatin | Budget-friendly option |
The best bone broth recipe uses a combination of different bone types. Young animal bones (like veal) are prized for their cartilage content. Ask your butcher for the best bones and request they cut them in half to maximize surface area.
How to Make This Bone Broth Recipe
Step 1: Blanch the Bones
Place bones in pots, cover with cold water, bring to boil, simmer 10-15 minutes, drain and rinse. While not absolutely necessary, blanching is recommended for beef bones in this bone broth recipe to achieve a clearer broth by removing impurities, coagulated proteins, and blood.
Step 2: Roast Bones and Vegetables
Preheat oven to 450°F. Transfer blanched, drained bones and vegetables to roasting pans. Avoid overcrowding; use two pans if necessary. Roast 30 minutes, stir, then roast 15-30 minutes more. This step is crucial for developing deep flavor in your bone broth recipe.
Step 3: Transfer to Pots and Bring to Boil
Divide roasted bones and vegetables between two pots. Scrape brown residue and juices from roasting pans with metal spatula and water, adding this flavorful mixture to pots. Add bay leaves, peppercorns, and apple cider vinegar. Fill each pot with approximately 12 cups cold water, covering bones by about one inch.
Step 4: Simmer
Reduce heat to low and simmer with lid slightly ajar. Skim foam or excess fat as needed. Simmer for at least 8-12 hours, or up to 24 hours. Don’t leave stove on overnight; cool, refrigerate, and continue the next day. Add water if necessary to keep bones covered.
Step 5: Strain the Bones
Once ready, strain broth through fine-mesh strainer. For extra-clear broth, strain a second time through food-grade cheesecloth.
Step 6: Cool and Store
Add ice to accelerate cooling. Transfer to refrigerator to cool completely. A thick, hard fat layer will form on top (the broth below should resemble brown gelatinous jelly). This fat layer, often called tallow for beef, can be used for cooking.
Storage and Usage Tips for Your Bone Broth Recipe
Store in sealed jars or freezer bags. Keeps 4-6 days refrigerated or 4-6 months frozen. Always cool to room temperature quickly before storing to prevent contamination.
Usage Ideas:
- Drink warm with sea salt and cracked pepper
- Use as base for soups and stews
- Cook rice and grains (replace water for added flavor and protein)
- Make sauces and gravies
Daily Consumption Guidelines
For balanced nutrition and healthy lifestyle, 2-4 cups daily are suggested. This bone broth recipe is suitable for paleo and keto diets, gluten-free, and dairy-free eating plans, but not appropriate for vegetarian, vegan, or low-protein diets.
Conclusion
This comprehensive bone broth recipe provides you with all the knowledge needed to create nutrient-dense, flavorful broth at home. The key to success lies in using quality bones, proper preparation techniques, and patience during the long simmering process. Your homemade bone broth recipe will reward you with superior taste and potential health benefits that far exceed store-bought alternatives.
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