Bone Broth Recipe

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Chances are high you've heard me touting the benefits of bone broth in the office. Making bone broth at home is easy and economical, plus you get to put your own love into your nourishment. Read on for Laura's recipe for bone broth.

 

Nourishing Bone Broth Recipe

Ingredients

  • Water
  • Bones (from grass-fed beef, pasture-raised poultry, or pasture-raised pork)
  • Vegetable scraps, if available
  • Apple Cider Vinegar

Equipment needed

  • Slow cooker
  • Scissors
  • Fine mesh strainer/colander
  • Glass jars
  • Spoon

Instructions

1) Place bones in slow cooker. Add any vegetable scraps you have on hand (peels, rinds, stems, etc). If there are veggies in your crisper that are on the verge of "turning," toss 'em in.

2) Fill the slow cooker with water.

3) Add a generous splash of apple cider vinegar (approximately 1/8-1/4 cup, depending on the size of your slow cooker). The vinegar will soften the bones, releasing minerals into the broth and making step 5 easier.

4) Cover with lid and set on low heat.

5) After 12 hours, remove lid and use the scissors to cut the bones, releasing marrow into the broth. If the bones are too tough to cut, add more apple cider vinegar and try again in 6 hours (repeat as necessary until bones are malleable). Add water to maintain liquid volume in slow cooker.

6) Replace lid. Cook for at least 12 more hours. I recommend a 24-36 hour minimum for bone broth cooking.

7) Strain the broth from the bones/scraps into clean jars. Allow to cool on the counter without lids.

8) Once cool, place jars into fridge, lidless. Fat will rise to the top of the broth as it cools further. Spoon off and discard the fat.

9) Screw lids onto the jars and label with the date. Consume or freeze within 5 days. For freezing, remove lids and place jars in freezer. Once liquid is frozen, screw on lids.

10) Consume! Drink the broth as it is, use in place of water for rice/grain cooking, or make a nourishing homemade soup or stew.

Bone Broth Benefits

Bone broth is one of my all-time favorite health foods. Here's a quick list of health benefits from both broth:

  • strengthens the immune system
  • fights inflammation
  • supports joint health
  • strengthens teeth and bones
  • nourishes skin and hair
  • stabilizes the digestive system
  • supports healthy sleep cycles
  • provides a plethora of amino acids that may be lacking in our diets