Chicken Stock

4 lbs chicken parts with bones - backs, wings, necks, and leftover bones from rotisserie chicken - at least half of the bones should be raw
2 medium onions - peeled and cut into large pieces
3 cloves garlic- peeled and left whole
3 medium carrots - peeled and cut into large pieces
2-3 stalks celery - cut into large pieces - add leaves of celery too if you have them
a handful of parsley stems (reserve leaves for another use)
6 sprigs fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
2 bay leaves
6-8 whole black peppercorns
1/4 cup vinegar - apple cider, white, or other light-colored vinegar
5 quarts water - preferably filtered

Put everything in a large stockpot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat then turn down to a low simmer. Skim off and discard any foam that rises to the surface.
If using whole chicken parts, simmer stock for 1 hour, then remove the chicken and allow to cool before taking the meat from the bones. Return the skin and bones to the stock pot and continue to simmer for an additional 6 hours.
When the stock has cooled slightly, strain it through a fine-meshed sieve into another large pot. Transfer into storage containers and refrigerate overnight. Scrape the fat from the top and either save for future use in the freezer, or discard in the trash (never down the drain). Cover, label and refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze up to 4 months.
This recipe for a lovely, intense stock is full of flavors and provides a perfect base for soups, risotto, and many delicious braised dishes. The nutrition facts represented here are from the USDA database for chicken stock as it is difficult to determine the actual values due to the fact that the solids and fat are discarded and no salt is added. Chicken stock nutrition can be easily modified based on the ingredients you've chose to use as many plant-based foods are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. The addition of different herbs and spices such as ginger, turmeric, oregano, cloves, rosemary, etc will also boost the flavor and enrich the stock with antioxidants.

Nutrition Information