How to Repurpose Your Thanksgiving Leftovers to Make Your Own Homemade Bone Broth
Thanksgiving is right around the corner and that means family, food, and football. The best part about Thanksgiving though is - by far - the leftovers. If your family is anything like ours, there’s usually a TON of food leftover after the Thanksgiving holiday, which means multiple meals for your tastebuds to enjoy. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end (eventually), but before you toss the turkey carcass, consider keeping those bones so you can make your own batch of homemade bone broth.
What is Bone Broth?
Bone broth can be considered just a really good quality stock, but it’s easy to see why things get confusing because terms have changed meaning throughout the years What we used to know as traditional soup stock was thick and hearty and made with bones, while broth was thinner and made with meat, and there was no such thing as “bone broth.”
Over time, however, people started referring to traditional soup stock as “bone broth”, your standard thin broth stayed just “broth” and soup stock became something a little different (basically broth, but without the seasoning). Bone broth is defined by its thickness and has a gelatin-like consistency when chilled, just like JELLO. This gel-like texture comes from the collagen that seeps out of the bones and joints during long-term cookings. Collagen is a super important protein derived from cartilage and is what gives bone broth many of its numerous health benefits.
Health Benefits of Bone Broth
Bone broth has been around for centuries and for good reason. Here are some of the health benefits of consuming bone broth:
Gut health: The collagen found in it protects and heals the digestive tract, potentially even helping heal “leaky gut.” Bone broth also supports better digestion and proper nutrient absorption within the body.
Protects joints: Bone broth is naturally full of glucosamine, which can help heal and protect joints.
Supports the immune system: There is a high concentration of the minerals responsible for supporting and strengthening the immune system in this healing broth. Ever wonder why your grandmother’s homemade chicken soup always made you feel better? Turns out, there was some science mixed in with all of that grandmotherly love.
Strengthens bones: Calcium, magnesium and phosphorus found in bone broth provide the essential building blocks for your own healthy bones.
Supports hair, skin and nails: Bone broth is a rich source of collagen, which is great for hair, skin and nails.
How to Make It
Bone broth may sound intimidating to make, but it’s actually easier than you think!
#1 Select High Quality Bones
Since animals need to be at their healthiest in order to pass on the maximum benefits to YOU, you should always start with the highest-quality bones and meat. Look for labels that say grass-fed and pasture-raised. The types of bones you choose are entirely up to you, but if you are repurposing your Thanksgiving turkey bones, then use those. If you don’t have any bones lying around, then head to your local butcher and ask for soup bones like feet, knuckles and neck. These cast offs have lots of joints, which contain enough cartilage and meat to give you the thick consistency your bone broth needs.
#2 Pick Your Produce
Next, select the herbs, seasonings, spices, and vegetables you want to include in your recipe. Just like the type of bones, your vegetable selection is completely up to you. Think of bone broth as a blank canvas for your culinary creativity. Anything goes, but this is the best excuse to use up some of those other lingering leftovers from Thanksgiving. Some ideas include:
Bay leaves
Carrots
Celery
Garlic
Ginger
Green onion
Leeks
Onion
Parsley
Pepper
Red pepper flakes
Rosemary
Sage
Salt
Thyme
Alaskan Kombu Dried Kelp or Alaskan Wakame Dried Kelp. It may sound like an odd addition, but trust us, adding sea vegetables to your diet is incredibly delicious and nutritious. Use dried kelp like you would a bay leaf: keep it whole, then when finished cooking, remove and discard.
Tip: Avoid vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, collard greens, green peppers, mustard seeds, and turnip peels as these will make your bone broth bitter.
#3 Get Cooking
Once you’ve gathered all of your ingredients, roast your bones and vegetables on a baking sheet for 20-30 minutes at 450 degrees Fahrenheit. This will give your homemade bone broth a richer, more complex flavor and (not to mention a darker color), but is completely optional.
Place the bones and vegetables in a large stockpot and add enough water to cover the entire contents of your pot, but be sure to leave a couple of inches at the top of the pot so you have room to stir. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low and simmer for 12-24 hours. The longer the time, the richer the flavor! You can also use a slow cooker here too.
Optional: Skim the fat off the surface of your bone broth periodically, but if you prefer to leave the fat - you totally can. Remember, this is entirely your own culinary creation!
#4 Sip, Sip, Hooray
Once your broth has finished cooking, strain the liquid gold through a sieve to remove any remaining solids then sip and enjoy any way you please. If drinking bone broth isn’t for you, then use it as a base in all of your fall and winter soups instead. Here are some inspiring soup ideas to help get you started:
Don’t forget to include a side of Sourdough Seaweed Crackers for dipping!
#5 Store Properly
If you plan on storing your batch of homemade broth, let it cool fully before dividing it up. Bone broth can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days and can be kept in the freezer for up to one year. Be sure to keep your bone broth in an airtight, glass, freezer safe container or pour it into ice cube trays for easy access when cooking.
We can’t wait to hear about your bone broth experiments! Tell us about them in the comments below.
When planning your socially distant football party, strive for an event that appeals to the entire group and all ages. Enlist the help of your guests if needed and get everyone involved. Maybe make it a BYOB or even a potluck? At the end of the day, whether your team wins or loses, it’s all about making the best of this crazy year and creating memories with family, friends, and anyone else in your bubble so have fun, stay safe, and keep it light. You’ve worked hard this year and YOU deserve to have a break too!
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