Silky Clear Broth Recipe

Sip Pure Joy: Clear Broth Recipe for Soul-Warming Bliss

Simmering with comfort and warmth, this classic clear broth delight recipe offers a soul-soothing experience that transcends ordinary soups.

Fragrant herbs dance alongside tender vegetables, creating a harmonious blend of simple yet profound flavors.

Every spoonful whispers stories of traditional kitchens and time-honored cooking techniques.

The broth shimmers with a delicate transparency that belies its rich, deep taste.

Gentle seasonings weave through the liquid, releasing an aroma that draws you closer with each breath.

Light and nourishing, this recipe promises a culinary journey that feels like a warm embrace.

Dive into this delightful recipe and let its pure, clean flavors restore your spirit.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes

Calories: 45 kcal

Servings: 9

Ingredients for Clear Broth

For Base Ingredients:
  • Chicken Broth: Provides a rich, savory foundation with deep poultry flavor that adds complexity to the soup's taste profile.
  • Beef Broth: Enhances the overall depth and creates a robust, meaty undertone that complements the chicken broth beautifully.
  • Water: Helps balance the intensity of broths and ensures the perfect liquid consistency.
For Aromatic Vegetables:
  • Onions, Garlic: Builds a flavor-packed base with their intense, warming essence that creates a delicious aromatic foundation.
  • Carrots: Introduces subtle sweetness and vibrant color while adding nutritional depth to the broth.
  • Ginger: Contributes a zesty, warming note that brightens the entire soup's flavor profile with its distinctive spiciness.
For Garnish and Finishing:
  • Scallions: Adds a fresh, sharp crispness and beautiful green color that provides a light, oniony brightness.
  • Mushrooms: Brings an earthy, umami element with delicate texture that elevates the final presentation and taste.
  • Salt: Balances and enhances all the underlying flavors, creating a harmonious and well-rounded broth experience.

Tools Needed to Make Clear Broth

  • Stock Pot (8-quart): Large, spacious pot essential for creating and simmering the broth.
  • Skimmer: Perfect tool for gently removing vegetables from the finished broth without disrupting the liquid.
  • Cutting Board: Sturdy surface for chopping vegetables like onions, carrots, and scallions.
  • Chef's Knife: Sharp knife for precise vegetable slicing and chopping.
  • Ladle: Ideal for serving the hot, flavorful broth into individual bowls.
  • Measuring Cups: Helpful for accurately measuring broths and water.
  • Wooden Spoon: Great for stirring and mixing ingredients during cooking.

Steps to Cook a Perfect Clear Broth

  • Veggie Prep

Slice and chop vegetables into delicate pieces, creating a colorful medley that will infuse your broth with incredible depth and warmth.

  • Flavor Foundation

Warm oil in a large pot and gently dance onions, garlic, carrots, and ginger until they release their aromatic magic and turn golden brown.

  • Liquid Symphony

Pour chicken and beef broths into the pot, allowing the liquids to mingle and create a harmonious base that will become your delightful clear broth.

  • Slow Simmering

Let the broth bubble softly on low heat, transforming simple ingredients into a complex and rich liquid treasure. Give it time to develop deep, comforting flavors.

  • Final Touches

Strain out the softened vegetables, creating a smooth and pristine broth. Adjust the seasoning to make it sing with just the right balance of saltiness.

  • Elegant Serving

Pour the steaming broth into beautiful bowls. Sprinkle fresh scallions and delicate mushroom slices on top, adding a final flourish of freshness and texture.

Variations for a More Flavorful Clear Broth

  • Flavor Boost Techniques: Add a splash of white wine during sautéing for a deeper, more complex taste profile that elevates the entire broth.
  • Protein Power-Up: Toss in shredded chicken, thin beef slices, or tofu cubes during the last 15 minutes of simmering to transform this broth into a hearty meal.
  • Spice Exploration: Experiment with different herbs like thyme, rosemary, or star anise to create unique flavor dimensions that make your broth extraordinary.
  • Veggie Variety Swap: Replace standard vegetables with seasonal produce like parsnips, leeks, or fennel to keep the recipe fresh and exciting throughout the year.
  • Storage Wisdom: Cool the broth completely before refrigerating in airtight containers. It'll stay delicious for up to 5 days, with flavors developing and intensifying over time.

Serving Suggestions for Clear Broth

  • Warmth in a Bowl: Serve this clear broth as a comforting starter that wakes up taste buds and prepares guests for the main course. Its light, clean flavor sets a delightful tone for the meal.
  • Wellness Boost: Pack each serving with extra nutrition by adding fresh herbs like parsley or cilantro, which enhance both flavor and health benefits. These green additions provide a vibrant color contrast to the golden broth.
  • Protein Power-Up: Transform the broth into a hearty meal by stirring in shredded chicken, tender beef strips, or tofu cubes. These protein additions make the soup more substantial and satisfying for hungry diners.
  • Texture Adventure: Sprinkle crispy fried shallots, toasted sesame seeds, or crunchy rice noodles on top to create an exciting textural experience. These garnishes add a delightful crunch that complements the smooth, silky broth.

Storing Clear Broth Properly

  • Smart Batch Cooking: Prepare double the recipe and freeze extra broth in sealed containers for quick future meals. Divide into single-serve portions for easy weeknight dinners or lunch options.
  • Refrigeration Strategy: Store remaining broth in airtight glass containers for maximum freshness. Consume within 3-4 days to maintain optimal flavor and quality. Always cool broth completely before refrigerating to prevent bacterial growth.
  • Flavor Enhancement Technique: Keep vegetable chunks separate from liquid when storing. Add fresh herbs or additional seasonings when reheating to refresh the broth's taste and aroma.
  • Freezing Wisdom: Transfer cooled broth to freezer-safe containers, leaving slight space for expansion. Label containers with date and contents. Frozen broth remains delicious for up to 3 months when sealed properly. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before reheating gently on stovetop.
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Silky Clear Broth Recipe

Silky Clear Broth Recipe


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4.7 from 40 reviews

  • Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
  • Yield: 9 1x

Description

Vietnamese pho showcases delicate beef broth with rice noodles, tender meat slices, and fresh herbs. Fragrant spices and balanced flavors make this classic soup a comforting culinary journey you’ll savor to the last spoonful.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 cups (1.9 L / 64 fl oz) chicken broth
  • 4 cups (0.95 L / 32 fl oz) beef broth
  • 4 cups (0.95 L / 32 fl oz) water
  • 1 large sweet onion, peeled and cut into wedges
  • 2 large carrots, cut into chunks
  • 10 button mushrooms, sliced thin
  • 6 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
  • 4 whole scallions, chopped
  • 2-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced
  • 2 tsps sesame oil (or peanut oil)
  • salt to taste

Instructions

  1. Preparation: Orchestrate your culinary workspace by precisely slicing onions, mincing garlic, dicing carrots, and finely chopping ginger into uniform dimensions, ensuring optimal flavor integration and visual appeal.
  2. Flavor Development: Ignite oil in a capacious stock pot over medium-high temperature. Introduce aromatics – onions, garlic, carrots, and ginger – allowing them to caramelize and release their intrinsic essences, stirring persistently to achieve a golden, fragrant foundation.
  3. Liquid Composition: Pour chicken and beef broths seamlessly into the pot, complementing with water. Integrate ingredients thoroughly, creating a nuanced liquid environment that will become the broth’s soulful core.
  4. Flavor Extraction and Infusion: Propel liquid to a robust boil, then modulate heat to a gentle simmer. Allow the broth to evolve and concentrate for approximately one hour, enabling ingredients to harmonize and deepen their complex flavor dimensions.
  5. Refinement and Seasoning: Meticulously strain softened vegetables using a fine-mesh skimmer, revealing a pristine, translucent liquid. Calibrate seasoning with salt, achieving a balanced and sophisticated taste profile.
  6. Culinary Presentation: Transfer the aromatic broth into elegant serving vessels. Garnish with vibrant scallions and delicate mushroom slivers, elevating the dish from simple sustenance to a gastronomic experience.

Notes

  • Slice Smart: Uniform vegetable cuts ensure even cooking and consistent flavor distribution, preventing some pieces from becoming mushy while others remain undercooked.
  • Caramelize Carefully: Stir vegetables frequently during initial sautéing to develop deep, golden colors without burning, which releases complex flavor compounds and enhances overall taste profile.
  • Simmer Strategically: Maintain a gentle, consistent simmer rather than a rapid boil to extract maximum flavor essence from ingredients without creating a cloudy or bitter broth.
  • Seasoning Subtly: Taste and adjust salt incrementally, understanding that flavors concentrate during cooking, preventing an overly salty final result.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Category: Drinks, Dinner
  • Method: Simmering
  • Cuisine: Asian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 9
  • Calories: 45
  • Sugar: 1 g
  • Sodium: 800 mg
  • Fat: 2 g
  • Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 1.5 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 8 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 2 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg
Jessica Martin

Jessica Martin

Recipe Developer & Food Writer

Expertise

Recipe Development, Food Styling and Photography​, Seasonal and Local Ingredients​, Vegetarian and Vegan Cuisine​, Culinary Education​

Education

Portland Community College

  • Degree: Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Comprehensive training in culinary techniques, kitchen management, and food safety. Gained hands-on experience in preparing diverse cuisines and understanding flavor profiles

Oregon Culinary Institute

  • Program: Baking and Pastry Certificate
  • Focus: Specialized education in baking fundamentals, pastry arts, and dessert presentation. Emphasized creativity and precision in crafting baked goods.​

Jessica Martin is a talented food writer and recipe creator who specializes in seasonal cooking and approachable home baking. 

Educated at Portland Community College with additional pastry training from Oregon Culinary Institute, Jessica’s culinary journey spans nearly a decade of creating and sharing flavorful recipes. 

Her deep appreciation for local ingredients shapes each of her recipes, making them both accessible and inspiring. At Beard and Bonnet, Jessica uses her cheerful, down-to-earth writing to help readers effortlessly bring new tastes and creative dishes into their daily routines.

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