Homemade bone broths are an essential staple in the kitchen. They are a cheap and wonderful source of minerals including essential nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium. They also contain gelatin, collagen, hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate. As an added bonus these broths help quiet inflammation, heal a leaky gut and is a brilliant immune support. Bone broth strengthens the teeth, joints, bones, skin and hair.
Use only organic/free range bones or wild game, to avoid toxins. You want to see a jelly consistency once refrigerated. This shows you’ve made the broth correctly and this won’t happen if you use commercially raised animal bones. You can add in any fresh herbs, spices, vegetables and meat you like once you have the broth.
Recipe for Bone Broth using chicken bones (but can substitute beef or fish bones)
Ingredients:
1 whole organic/free-range chicken or the equivalant of bony chicken parts, such as necks, backs, breastbones and wings
4 cups cold filtered water
2 bay leaves 2 tablespoons unpreserved apple cider vinegar 1 large onion, coarsely chopped 3 celery stalks, coarsely chopped
1 carrots, peeled and coarsely chopped Roughly a handful of your choice of herbs – e.g. parsley, coriander, rosemary
Method:
Place chicken or chicken pieces in a large stainless steel pot with water, vinegar, bay leaf and all vegetables except herbs.
Leave for at least an hour as the apple cider vinegar helps leach the minerals from the bones. Bring to a boil, and remove any scum that rises to the top.
Reduce heat, cover and simmer for at least 12 hours or you can put in a slow cooker overnight.
About 10 minutes before finishing the stock, add herbs. This will give additional mineral ions to the broth.
Once the stock has cooled, strain the stock into sterilized jars and put in your fridge until the fat rises to the top and congeals. Skim off this fat before you use the stock.
Ideas for use:
Heat about 2 cups on the stove and add 1 tsp turmeric powder and sliced pieces of ginger and 1 chopped up garlic clove. This is a great immune support number and will help clear your body of any infection or virus. This is also any excellent number to have on a day of fasting or when you a healing
You can use this just as you would for any recipe that calls for stock and know that your are ramping up the nutrient content of the meal massively. A carton from the supermarket is no comparison.
An excellent base for soups, curries, slow cooked meals the option really are endless.