Herbal Vegetable Scrap Broth

An herbal broth is a tasty way to enjoy the benefits of herbs and use kitchen scraps. Broths can be used in soups, to replace water when making your kids’ pasta or grains, or enjoyed on their own as a savory sipping broth on a crisp day.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

• 8-12 cups water
• 1/4 dried or fresh herbs. We love to use thyme, rosemary, nettle, sage, parsley, and whatever else is laying around or growing in the garden
• 1 onion (quartered, with skin),
• 1 tbsp peppercorns
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 garlic bulbs (smashed),
• Optional: 2-inch piece of ginger (roughly chopped), 
• Optional: 2-inch piece of turmeric (roughly chopped)
• Additional vegetables. Mixed chopped vegetables and peelings (e.g., carrots, celery, leeks, mushrooms, potatoes, sweet potatoes, beet greens, or whatever other scraps you have!
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  
• A splash of apple cider vinegar to help extract minerals, or a blend of seaweeds for added nutrients 
• Salt to taste

DIRECTIONS:

1. Sauté Aromatics: In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and ginger, and cook for a few minutes until fragrant.
2. Add Ingredients: Add all remaining ingredients to the pot, including the dried nettle, mixed vegetables, herbs, spices, and water. Ensure all the vegetables are covered by the water.
3. Simmer: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a low simmer. Cover and let it simmer for at least 2-3 hours to extract the maximum flavor and nutrients. We love to put ours on in the morning and let it cook until the kids are in bed for 10-14 hours total for an extra rich broth. 
4. Strain: Once cooked, strain the liquid into a large bowl using a fine-mesh strainer or colander. Discard the solids.
5. Season and Store: Season the resulting broth with salt to taste. The broth can be served immediately, or cooled completely and stored in the fridge for a few days or frozen for future use. 

Enjoy this fun and tasty way to make kitchen scraps and herbs go further with this nourishing broth. And remember - have fun! You can mix and match, add other elements like citrus or miso, and find what you like best!