Homemade chicken stock is a versatile ingredient that adds richness and depth to soups, stews, risottos, and more. This simple recipe allows you to control the ingredients and customize the flavor to suit your taste preferences.
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken, cut into pieces
- 2 onions, quartered
- 3 carrots, chopped
- 3 celery stalks, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, smashed
- 1 bunch of fresh parsley
- 2 bay leaves
- 10 whole peppercorns
- Water
Directions
- Place the chicken pieces in a large stockpot and cover with water.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and skim off any foam that rises to the top.
- Add the onions, carrots, celery, garlic, parsley, bay leaves, and peppercorns to the pot.
- Simmer the stock for 1.5-2 hours, skimming off any impurities that float to the surface.
- Strain the stock through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a clean container.
- Let cool, then refrigerate or freeze for later use.
Interesting Facts
Homemade chicken stock is a great way to utilize leftover chicken bones and vegetable scraps.
Freezing chicken stock in ice cube trays makes it easy to portion out for recipes.
Adding vinegar to the stock helps extract minerals from the bones for a more nutrient-rich broth.