Beef Broth: the best recipe for the basic preparation everyone loves (2024)

Beef broth is one of the most versatile and basic recipe. Tasty and invigorating, you can enjoy it with pasta, or for making soups, stews or a risotto as it gives an intense flavor. It is the classic comfort food suitable for the colder seasons and that is way better than the store-bought.

This traditional beef broth recipe calls for beef cuts suitable for stews like chuck, flank or shank, and classic vegetables such as carrot, celery and onion, cherry tomatoes and potatoes. In this way we get a tasty and light broth, perfect to be served or used as you prefer.

Once ready, you can enjoy the boiled meat together with its own broth or you can reuse it to create delicious stewed meatballs. Follow the instructions step by step.

Beef Broth vs Beef Stock

Make sure not to confuse beef broth with beef stock. People often use these two terms as synonyms, but they are different.

Beef stock is unsalted and calls for the bones. Moreover, it is cooked for a long time over a low flame in order to extract all the meaty flavors and nutrients. On the other hand, the beef broth uses only meat, vegetables and seasoning such as herbs and spices.

There is also bone stock, especially among those who follow the paleo diet. Anyway, it is just another way of calling beef stock.

What is the Best Beef Cut for Homemade Broth?

When you make a beef broth, it is best to use cuts suitable for stews. For a light beef broth, you can use leaner cuts, such as the shank, the shoulder, or the anterior muscle.

Instead, for a more flavorful beef broth, add the belly, broth bones or brisket.

Tips for making Easy Beef Broth

To eliminate the patina that will form on the surface, let the broth cool in the pot in the refrigerator, until it has solidified. At this point, you can take it directly with a skimmer.

To prevent the broth from being too savory, add just a little salt during cooking, adjusting the flavor at a later time.

You can also add other vegetables, such as zucchini, aromatic herbs and spices, for an even more fragrant and tasty recipe.

How to use Beef Broth

You can enjoy beef broth as it is, or use it for other recipes. You can simmer beef and vegetable mains, use it as a base for soups, stews or sauce.

How to store Homemade Beef Broth

The meat broth can be stored in the refrigerator, in a special airtight container, for a maximum of 2-3 days.

Can you freeze Beef Broth?

If you have used fresh ingredients, you can also freeze beef broth for about 5-6 months. Make sure to leave at least an inch of space when you pour the broth into the airtight container, so the liquid will have enough room to expand once in the freezer.

If you don't have an airtight container, you can freeze beef broth in freezer bags by pouring about 4 cups.

How to make Beef Broth

Step 1

Step 1

Collect the water in a large saucepan and immerse the pieces of meat in it 1. Then put on the fire and bring to a boil.

Collect the water in a large saucepan and immerse the pieces of meat in it 1. Then put on the fire and bring to a boil.

Step 2

Step 2

Peel the potatoes 2, rinse them and dry them with kitchen paper. Then cut them into chunks.

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Peel the potatoes 2, rinse them and dry them with kitchen paper. Then cut them into chunks.

Step 3

Step 3

Clean and peel the rest of the vegetables. Then cut these into not too small pieces 3.

Clean and peel the rest of the vegetables. Then cut these into not too small pieces 3.

Step 4

Step 4

As soon as the meat begins to form a dark foam on the surface, remove it gradually with a spoon 4.

As soon as the meat begins to form a dark foam on the surface, remove it gradually with a spoon 4.

Step 5

Step 5

When the surface of the broth appears quite clean, add the salt 5.

When the surface of the broth appears quite clean, add the salt 5.

Step 6

Step 6

Also dip the potato chunks 6.

Also dip the potato chunks 6.

Step 7

Step 7

Also add the remaining vegetables and mix 7.

Also add the remaining vegetables and mix 7.

Step 8

Step 8

Cover the pot with the lid 8, lower the heat and let the broth boil for at least two hours.

Cover the pot with the lid 8, lower the heat and let the broth boil for at least two hours.

Step 9

Step 9

When the meat appears tender and well cooked, turn off and filter the broth through a tightly meshed colander 9.

When the meat appears tender and well cooked, turn off and filter the broth through a tightly meshed colander 9.

Step 10

Step 10

Serve the broth by adding the pieces of meat 10 and a sprinkling of pepper, or use it as a base for pasta, tortellini and risotto.

Serve the broth by adding the pieces of meat 10 and a sprinkling of pepper, or use it as a base for pasta, tortellini and risotto.