Vegetable broth is a flavorful liquid made from a combination of vegetables, herbs, and spices in water. It mostly serves as a base for healthy dishes including soups. But you can have a nutrient-dense liquid, which offers health benefits. So, check out this vegetable broth recipe and stay warm this winter.

Making vegetable broth is simple and involves boiling chopped vegetables like onions, carrots, celery, garlic and herbs in water until their flavors infuse the liquid. It’s a healthy alternative to meat-based broths, so it’s suitable for vegetarians and vegans, says child nutritionist Tanya Mehra.

What are the benefits of vegetable juice?

First, let’s explore the health benefits of this versatile broth, which enhances the flavor of soups, stews, sauces, and even works wonders when used to cook grains or knead dough.

Here are some benefits –

1. It boosts immunity

Vegetable broth is full of nutrients and it strengthens your immune system. It may also help relieve cold and flu symptoms, the expert says.

2. It helps in weight loss

It is high in fiber and water content and low in calories. So, if your goal is to lose weight, go for vegetable juice.

3. It is good for intestinal health

Consuming vegetable broth improves digestion, says Mehra. If diarrhea bothers you, you can eat vegetable broth. It helps relieve dehydration caused by diarrhea, which causes you to lose a lot of body fluids.

4. It can make your bones stronger

The vegetables used in the broth contain calcium, which helps build strong bones. Therefore, it helps prevent osteoporosis, a health condition that weakens your bones.

Recipe for homemade vegetable juice

The broth goes beautifully with just a few vegetables. You can embrace its versatility with this simple yet rewarding recipe.

What’s needed

• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 5 cloves of minced garlic
• 2 large chopped onions
• 5 carrots
• 150 grams of spinach
• Half a pumpkin

method

• Heat the olive oil in a large pot or pressure cooker over medium heat.
• Add finely chopped garlic, chopped onions and carrots and wait till they soften. This should take about five minutes, but stir often.
• Add water to the mix, reduce the heat to a gentle boil, partially cover and let the flavors weave in the pressure cooker for 25 minutes or until two whistles.
• Filter the broth through a fine mesh strainer, allow it to cascade into a heat-proof bowl or pot, and separate to solids.
• Once the liquid gold has cooled, place it in airtight plastic containers or freezer bags to store in the ice-filled compartments of your freezer.
• Use leftover vegetables to make a soup or stir them into batter for a nutritious twist.

Bone broth vs vegetable broth

During the colder months, bone broth, especially made with chicken, is ideal for its rich nutrients. Chicken broth is low in calories, mainly made from water and chicken bones. Vegetable broth, on the other hand, may contain additional ingredients such as vegetables, oils and spices, effectively increasing its calorie count, says Mehra. However, vegetable broth remains an excellent choice due to its diverse nutritional composition. Both broths contribute to moisture and warmth in winter, but the choice between them depends on specific dietary needs or preferences.

Vegetable broth is very simple and great to beat the cold.