Bone Broth Recipe

Skin issues? Bone broth! Improperly functioning thyroid? Bone broth! Digestive problems? Bone broth! Could the fix for so many ailments really be as simple as the Paleo diet claims – a bone broth recipe?

Well, enough people believe in the claim to put “broth cafes” and “broth bars” in business from New York to Seattle. So, what’s so special about something Nana has been simmering in her slow cooker for years? Here are some of the reasons why people say bone broth should be served in a golden chalice:

Reduce Cellulite

Do we have your attention now? We thought putting this one at the top might work. Proline and collagen are responsible for making connective tissue, a lack of which creates those evil bumps and lumps. So, an increase in connective tissue will supposedly smooth away nasty cellulite.

Lubricate the Old Hinges (a.k.a. Joints)

Get moving with glucosamine and other GAGs. Studies show that amino acids may help to reduce inflammation and heal joints.

Get that Glow

Collagen and gelatin are two key components believed to contribute to healthy hair, skin, and nails.

Heal Yourself Right Down to the Bone

Bones are loaded with minerals like calcium and magnesium. Consuming these minerals may help to improve the strength and condition of your own bones.

Plug the Leaks

Gelatin and amino acids might help to repair the intestinal lining, which is good news to anyone suffering from “leaky gut.”

Beef Up the Ole’ Immune System

It may help to reduce white blood cells, which cause symptoms related to cold and flu. It may also help to reduce autoimmune conditions.

We’re not sure yet if it’s snake oil or not. But the old adage about chicken soup had to come from somewhere, right? And, regardless if there is any merit to all of the health benefits, the one merit of true value is that a good stock serves as the basis for countless recipes. So, at the very least, it is one recipe that makes “magic” in the kitchen.

Here is a quick rundown on how to make your own “magic in a mug!”

BONE BROTH RECIPE INGREDIENTS

4 pounds of beef bones
3 tablespoons Apple cider vinegar
A handful of your favorite herbs (We used rosemary and thyme, but feel free to adjust to your taste.)
A few garlic cloves (to your liking)
1 small onion
1 celery stalk
Salt (not if you’re not a bone broth die-hard)

You will also need a slow cooker and about 48 hours to monitor the simmering stock.

Bone Broth Recipe

STEPS

Brown the bones on the stove. (This will help with the flavor of the broth. You may opt to roast instead.)
Once browned on all sides, place the bones in the slow cooker.
Use apple cider vinegar to remove any morsels left on the pan. Pour over bones in slow cooker.
Add to the slow cooker chopped onion, whole garlic, herbs, and celery. (You might try carrots, mushrooms, or any other flavors you favor.)
Cover with water and bring to a boil.
Once the water is boiling, cover it, reduce the heat to low, and cook for 48 hours. (You may opt to skim foam. We didn’t, and the yucky stuff disappeared toward the end.)
After 48 hours, turn off and allow to cool. (You can simmer for less/more time, but this seems to be the “magic” number of hours.)
Strain ingredients using a sieve.
Freeze and/or put into the fridge for future use

NOTE: We added salt to our final product. Not sure if this mitigated the magic, but it made it taste much better.

OUR EXPERIENCE
We had our broth for one week. We weren’t expecting magic, as most say you need to consume broth daily for up to two months to see any results. What we did find were lots of uses for the broth, ranging from a tasty way to boil rice to a one-step flavoring for mashed cauliflower. The simplest way to enjoy our magic was with some poached chicken tossed in, as pictured here:

This bone broth recipe is definitely more of a wintery “comfort food”. We may try it for two months, come next January.

During the first 24 hours, the aroma that filled the home was drool-inducing. Not sure if it was the fear of “broth smell” invading our closets that turned us off on the second day, but it just wasn’t as heavenly.

So, there you have it; magic in a cup! We hope you try some haute broth today! Here are some pictures of our bone-to-broth process. They admittedly are pretty gross. But the end product was tasty.