Chicken Broth
With this big batch of broth, you’ll have plenty to serve as a first course and to freeze for later use in a variety of recipes. Save the cooked chicken for Chicken Salad (page 91) or Chicken, Barley, and Spinach Casserole (page 160).
Recipe information
Yield
Serves 12; 3/4 cup per serving
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
In a stockpot, stir together all the ingredients. Bring to a boil over high heat. Skim any foam off the top. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 1 to 2 hours if not using the extra bones or 3 to 4 hours with the extra bones (to prevent cloudiness, don’t let the broth return to a boil).
Step 2
Remove the chicken and reserve for another use. Discard the bones. Strain the broth into an airtight container, discarding the vegetables, peppercorns, and bay leaf. Cover and refrigerate the broth for 1 to 2 hours, or until the fat hardens on the surface. Discard the hardened fat before reheating the broth.
Cook’s Tip on Freezing Broth
Step 3
Freeze broth in airtight containers to use by itself or as the base for other soups. Freeze small amounts of leftover broth in ice cube trays for future use as an ideal low-sodium seasoning. Put 1 tablespoon of broth in each compartment of the tray, then freeze. Remove the broth cubes from the tray and store them in an airtight plastic freezer bag so you’ll have a tablespoon at a time whenever you need it. For some recipes, such as soups that use just a small amount of broth, you can toss in the still-frozen cubes. For dishes such as casseroles, first thaw the cubes in the microwave or for several hours in the refrigerator.
Step 4
This broth, Beef Broth (page 52), and Vegetable Broth (page 53) are much lower in sodium than most commercially available low-sodium broths, so it’s a good idea to have plenty of these homemade broths on hand.
Nutrition Information
Step 5
(Per serving)
Step 6
Calories: 8
Step 7
Total fat: 0.0g
Step 8
Saturated: 0.0g
Step 9
Trans: 0.0g
Step 10
Polyunsaturated: 0.0g
Step 11
Monounsaturated: 0.0g
Step 12
Cholesterol: 0mg
Step 13
Sodium: 19mg
Step 14
Carbohydrates: 0g
Step 15
Fiber: 0g
Step 16
Sugars: 0g
Step 17
Protein: 2g
Step 18
Calcium: 4mg
Step 19
Potassium: 75mg
Dietary Exchanges
Step 20
Free
