Vegan Beef Broth (or Stock) Recipe - Yup, it's Vegan (2024)

Print Recipe Jump to Recipe

This vegan beef broth is a savory, umami-packed vegetarian beef stock that can be used as a substitute for the real thing.

Vegan Beef Broth (or Stock) Recipe - Yup, it's Vegan (1)

I knew from the moment I typed “vegan beef broth” on this post that the name would anger some people. I see you and I see your anger. If you don’t want to make this recipe because of the name, feel free to make a different one :).

The inspiration for this recipe comes from America’s Test Kitchen‘s plant-based cookbook that came out last year. The whole book is great, but their umami broth was one of the first things I fixated on. It packs a punch with many very savory ingredients, so much so that my kitchen smelled “beefy” as I whipped it up.

Vegan Beef Broth (or Stock) Recipe - Yup, it's Vegan (2)

The most unusual (and I think crucial) ingredient in the recipe is fermented black beans. They can be purchased on Amazon at that link, or found at Asian grocery stores. You can’t use regular black beans, it’s a different thing. These are black soybeans that have been salted and fermented. The unique flavor is a necessity for this vegan beef broth. It’s the same thing that would be found in black bean sauce at Chinese restaurants.

Vegan Beef Broth (or Stock) Recipe - Yup, it's Vegan (3)

ATK uses a bunch of dried mushrooms in their stock, but as you might know by now, I hate mushrooms. I can tolerate them somewhat if there are no solid pieces of them remaining in a dish, but I didn’t really want to have to furnish my pantry with them because I wouldn’t use them in anything else.

Instead I turned to a replacement umami bomb that I *do* keep on hand all the time: sundried tomatoes, which I’ve always found to have a slightly meaty flavor. Tomato is a natural glutamate powerhouse, so it makes sense to me that the sun drying process would concentrate it even more. The tomatoes also help give this beef-less broth a nice, rich, golden color in the end product.

After you get all of the (admittedly) weird vegan ingredients assembled for this recipe, the rest is super easy. Put everything in a pot, bring it to a boil, strain it, and then die and go to umami heaven.

Vegan Beef Broth (or Stock) Recipe - Yup, it's Vegan (4)

The level of straining is a matter of preference. If you want your beef-less stock super clear, you can strain it through cheesecloth. I don’t care too much about that, so I strain mine with a sieve only.

I prefer this recipe over the powders or concentrates (sold by various brands like Orrington Farms, Better than Bouillon, etc.) because it’s made with whole foods that I recognize and honestly tastes better too. There are certain foods where I prefer the commercial version to homemade and I’m not afraid to admit it… but vegan beef broth is not one of those foods.

I’ll be back here soon to violate the sensibilities of traditionalists who love a certain classic French recipe that uses beef broth. In the meantime, this would also be fantastic in my hearty vegetable stewor in a batch of vegan gravy.

Vegan Beef Broth (or Stock) Recipe - Yup, it's Vegan (5)

This makes enough for two big pots of soup. It freezes great, so feel free to do that with the excess, reducing it first if you prefer. I like to freeze mine in an ice cube tray so that I can use the cubes as needed.

Vegan Beef Broth (or Stock) Recipe - Yup, it's Vegan (6)

Print Pin

5 from 4 votes

Vegan Beef Broth

This homemade vegan beef broth is an umami-bomb that's perfect as a vegetarian substitute for beef broth anywhere it's normally used.

Course basics

Cuisine American, gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, refined sugar-free, vegan, vegetarian

Keyword beefless broth, vegan beef broth, vegetarian beef stock

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes

Servings 4 quarts

Calories 22kcal

Author Yup, it's Vegan

Equipment

  • Large pot

  • Sieve or cheesecloth

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Combine all of the ingredients except for the water in a large pot. Add the water gradually, stirring to incorporate the ingredients evenly, especially the miso paste.

  • Bring the mixture to a boil, then cover the pot and reduce to a gentle simmer. Cook for 30 minutes.

  • Strain the broth through a sieve. For very clear broth, layer the sieve with cheesecloth first.

  • Prepared broth can be stored for a week in the fridge, and freezes great for at least a month.

Notes

Recipe adapted from America's Test Kitchen.

Nutrition facts are an estimate based on the assumption that some of the nutrition is retained by the solids which are strained out of the broth after cooking.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 22kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 236mg | Potassium: 1mg | Fiber: 1g

Vegan Beef Broth (or Stock) Recipe - Yup, it's Vegan (2024)

FAQs

Is there vegan beef bouillon? ›

Buy more and save! Vegetarian Better Than Bouillon® No Beef Base is Certified Vegan beef flavor, which can be used in soups, gravies and stocks. Better Than Bouillon blendable bases easily spoon right out of the jar and let you add as much, or as little, flavor as desired.

What is a vegan substitute for beef stock cube? ›

Vegetarian/vegan alternatives to beef stock cubes include mushroom or vegetable bouillon cubes, miso paste, soy sauce, or tamari for umami flavor. Additionally, kombu (seaweed) or nutritional yeast can enhance richness.

What is vegan broth made of? ›

Here's how to make a fast vegetable broth:

Sauté alliums (onions, leeks, scallions, garlic) and aromatics (chiles, herbs like rosemary and thyme, lemongrass, ginger), then add nutritional yeast and water, and simmer, partially covered, until flavorful—start checking around 10–15 minutes.

What is a substitute for beef broth in a recipe? ›

The combination of soy sauce and steak sauce is a wonderful substitute for beef broth. To use this substitute, combine some soy sauce with the steak sauce.

What beef stock cubes are vegan? ›

Elevate your home-cooked meals with OXO Meat-Free Beef Flavour Stock Cubes. Packed with full-bodied flavour, these stock cubes will transform your plant-based dishes. Dissolve one cube in 190ml of boiling water for mouth-watering vegan beef stock.

Which bouillon cubes are vegan? ›

Best Vegan Bouillon Brands
  • Better Than Bouillon.
  • Born Simple Broth Concentrate.
  • Edward & Sons Bouillon.
  • Hella Phat Vegan.
  • Kitchen Accomplice Concentrate.
  • Knorr Bouillon Cubes.
  • Kroma Veggie Powder Mix.
  • Marigold Vegan Bouillon Cubes.
Dec 19, 2023

Are Knorr stock cubes suitable for vegans? ›

Knorr Vegetable Stock Cube

This is a classic stockpot that's vegan and always handy to have stocked in the cupboard. It's also a great choice for any vegan and gluten-free foodies out there. There's also a zero salt version in case you want to flavour your food creations with salt yourself.

What is the difference between vegan stock and broth? ›

Vegetable stock likely comes unseasoned, while broth usually contains salt and other seasonings. Vegetable stock is made with untrimmed, sometimes whole vegetables, while broth is made from trimmed, roughly chopped vegetables.

Can I use Worcestershire sauce instead of beef broth? ›

Worcestershire Sauce

To substitute, I would mix one tablespoon to a cup of water or, if you have it, vegetable, mushroom, or chicken broth. You can then substitute this mix on a 1:1 ratio with beef broth.

How do you thicken vegan broth? ›

Mix mix 1 tablespoon of arrowroot starch with 2 tablespoons of cold water until smooth then stir into the soup. May need to double or triple that depending on how much soup you have. Simmer gently to thicken. The advantage of arrowroot starch over cornstarch is that it does not break down as quickly when heated.

How to get beef flavor without beef? ›

If you're not actually vegetarian, things like worcestershire, fish sauce, or beef stock can add a lot of that flavor you're looking for without adding meat directly. For actual vegan options: mushrooms, miso, fermented black bean, smoked salt, nutritional yeast, kombu, marmite.

What not to put in vegetable stock? ›

Some vegetables that don't do well in stock are:
  1. Leafy green parts of carrots and celery.
  2. Brassicas, including cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, turnips, rutabagas, collard greens, kohlrabi, and kale.
  3. Artichokes.
  4. Beets.
  5. Potatoes and sweet potatoes.
  6. Squash flesh, including winter squash and zucchini.
May 16, 2024

What can I use if I don't have broth or stock? ›

If you need a chicken broth substitute, you can use the same amount of white wine or a combination of water with 1 tablespoon of olive oil or melted butter. For beef broth, combine water with 1 tablespoon soy sauce.

Is homemade beef broth the same as stock? ›

Although both stock and broth involve simmering in water, broth uses meat while stock uses bones. As a result, broth contains very little protein, a key ingredient in building flavor. Additionally, broth often does not contain vegetables or herbs, thereby requiring higher sodium levels to impart flavor.

What is the difference between a stock and a broth? ›

Stock is generally made from bones, and broth is generally made from flesh. In both cases, they are often supported with aromatic vegetables, but in the case of stock, left unseasoned for maximum flexibility in recipes, whereas broth will usually contain at least salt and pepper.

Is Knorr bouillon vegan? ›

This product contains 2 ingredients that are not vegan and 5 ingredients that may not be vegan. Which diet do you follow? Follow more than one?

Is Herb Ox beef bouillon dairy free? ›

This product has 2 ingredients that may have dairy.

Is vegan bouillon good for you? ›

Vegetable broth is low in calories and has fibre and water content that can help in maintaining weight loss.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Duncan Muller

Last Updated:

Views: 6442

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (79 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Duncan Muller

Birthday: 1997-01-13

Address: Apt. 505 914 Phillip Crossroad, O'Konborough, NV 62411

Phone: +8555305800947

Job: Construction Agent

Hobby: Shopping, Table tennis, Snowboarding, Rafting, Motor sports, Homebrewing, Taxidermy

Introduction: My name is Duncan Muller, I am a enchanting, good, gentle, modern, tasty, nice, elegant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.