Chicken Bone Broth
Drinking bone broth is quite the trend right now, and there is good reason for it. I know what some of you may be thinking, YUCK, bone broth? I could never. However, there are many beneficial elements of bone broth, that make the thought of drinking it a little easier. Glucosamine helps protects joints, glycine helps promote better sleep, and collagen helps with longer hair, nails, improving skin, healing your gut, and aiding in digestion.
I have started to make it part of my weekly routine to roast an entire free range chicken, remove the meat to eat throughout the week, and use the chicken carcass to make my homemade bone broth. It's actually become a task I really enjoy! I'll make my trip to the market, typically on a Sunday, get my chicken, and then come home to roast it. Still living at home, I am lucky enough to have the help of my mom in this process. She sprinkles the spice, as I make sure to fully coat the chicken, we are a pretty good team I must say! Then once it's done roasting we'll bond over eating the crispy skin. This is something my Hungarian mama is very proud of, also something I wouldn't have always been likely to do. However, being in school at Bastyr, they focus a lot on eating the WHOLE food, because there are benefits to each and every part. Therefore, I have opened my mind a bit and really started to enjoy getting the most out of the foods I buy.
Once the chicken is cool enough, I remove the meat completely from the bones and save for later, throw all bones and carcass into my small crock pot, and the bone broth making process begins. It really couldn't be any simpler! I spend on average about $12 on a small 3-4 pound, free range chicken, and I get plenty of meat for meals throughout my week, as well as a nutrient packed broth to enjoy. WIN!
I typically enjoy my bone broth heated up in a coffee mug everyday for up to a week, or I use it in my homemade chicken zoodle soup. (pictured above, recipe coming soon) I have noticed a significant improvement in my digestion, as well as in my skin, and the length of my nails! Trust me, it's worth a try!
Chicken Bone Broth
Makes: 1 gallon
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 12-24 hours
Ingredients:
Carcass from a 3-4 pound chicken
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar ( I like Braggs)
10 peppercorns
1 tsp salt
2 onions roughly chopped
2 carrots roughly chopped
3 stalks celery, roughly chopped
1 sprig fresh thyme
Instructions:
- Place all ingredients in a slow cooker and set on high until it boils, then turn temp down to low and simmer for 12-24 hours.
- Strain broth through fine mesh colander, discarding solids.
- Transfer to multiple containers to speed up cooling. Allow broth to sit in fridge uncovered for several hours until fat rises to the top and hardens. Scrape off with spoon and discard.
- Refrigerate for up to 3-4 days, freeze up to 6 months.
**Note: Properly prepared bone broth will look jiggly when cold (GELATIN FROM COLLAGEN) once heated it will turn to liquid state.
Use the hashtag #FareToned on Instagram if you make this recipe!
**Credit for this recipe goes to the Whole 30 cookbook!**