Masala Bone Broth
60 Min
DF
GF

Masala Bone Broth

My first memory of bone broth is at a Neiman Marcus café here in Houston, where they handed steaming cups out to all customers who came in for lunch. In those days, everybody ate almost everything and I would happily slurp down the tasty stock. A good source of nutrients including collagen, bone broth helps hydration as well as skin elasticity. Fast forward three decades, while most people’s food choices have become highly specific, bone broth is still popular, especially during this colder weather. However, there is a way to make bone broth tastier by amping it up with aromatic spices and herbs. Let it simmer overnight and you will wake up the aroma of saffron and cinnamon wafting through your kitchen! 

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Cook Time

1 hour + simmer & rest time

Serves

4

Step 1
Combine the chicken with water in a large stockpot over high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, then simmer for 30-45 minutes. If any scum (impurities) rises to the top, skim it off.
Step 2
Rough chop the vegetables, garlic and ginger and add it to the stock. Let it simmer, covered for 8 to 10 hours or overnight at the lowest setting. If it appears too dry, add more water. It should reduce by a third.
Step 3
During the last hour of cooking, add the whole spices, saffron, salt and herbs. Turn the heat off then let the broth rest for an hour before straining. Discard or compost the bones and vegetables.
Step 4
Strain, cool and refrigerate. Within 2 days, a layer of fat will harden at the top of the container. Remove it or use it for something else and freeze the broth in batches.

2-3 pounds chicken (or other meat) bones*

12 cups of water

2 cups of raw vegetables (leeks, carrots, celery, etc)

Few cloves of garlic

2-inch piece of unpeeled ginger

2 to 3 tablespoons of whole spices*

Generous pinch of saffron

1.5 teaspoons sea salt

Handful of herbs like mint, parsley or cilantro

Notes & Variations

  • *Use chicken legs, wings and/or breast cages. If you can get your hands of chicken feet, they make the best stock. Bone broth can also be made with any sort of bones like beef marrow, turkey or lamb bones.
  • For whole spices, one can use cinnamon sticks, black peppercorns, cardamom pods and or cloves.
  • A well-cooked broth should be gelatinous when chilled. If it remains watery when chilled, it means it needs to cook down more.
  • Adding starches like raw potatoes might make the broth a little cloudy but add any vegetables in your refrigerator that you are not going to use.
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60 Min
DF
GF

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