Basic Vegetable Japanese Style Stock Recipes

BASIC VEGETABLE STOCK

Steps:

• Chop scrubbed vegetables into 1-inch chunks. Remember, the greater the surface area, the more quickly vegetables will yield their flavor.
• Heat oil in a soup pot. Add onion, celery, carrots, scallions, garlic, parsley, thyme, and bay leaves. Cook over high heat for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Add salt and water and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Strain. Discard vegetables.
• Other ingredients to consider: mushrooms, eggplant, asparagus (butt ends), corn cobs, fennel (stalks and trimmings), bell peppers, pea pods, chard (stems and leaves), celery root parings, marjoram (stems and leaves), basil, potato parings . . . Get the idea?

DASHI STOCK (KONBUDASHI)

Steps:

• Wipe away any dirt from the kombu with a paper towel, being careful not to rub off the white powdery deposits on the seaweed. Place the kombu and water in a saucepan, and allow it to soak for 30 minutes to become soft.
• Remove the kombu from the water, and cut several lengthwise slits into the leaf. Return the kombu to the water, and bring it to a boil. As soon as the water begins to boil, remove the kombu to prevent the stock from becoming bitter.
• Stir the bonito flakes into the kombu-flavored water, bring back to a boil, and take the pan off the heat. Allow the water to cool. When the bonito flakes have settled to the bottom, strain the dashi through a strainer lined with cheesecloth or a coffee filter.

BASIC VEGETABLE JAPANESE STYLE STOCK

Steps:

• Slice the leeks into thin rounds. The bouquest garni consists of 2 bay leaves, 3 sprigs parsley, 1 sprig thyme.
• EZ method: Pressure cooker. Put everyting in the pressure cooker. Bring to high. Reduce and cook over low for 10 minutes. Cool and strain.
• Non pressure cooker: Bring to everything to a boil, lower heat and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes. Again cool and strain.
• Storage:.
• Will store for 5 days in airtight container in refrigerator. Also freezes well.

BASIC VEGETABLE BROTH

Steps:

• Put all of the ingredients in a large pot and cover them with 6 quarts of cold water. Bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer gently, until it reduces to 2 1/2 quarts, about 2 to 3 hours. Strain through a sieve lined with cheesecloth.

VEGETABLE STOCK

Steps:

• Tip everything into a large saucepan with a pinch of salt then cover with 2 litres of water. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 2 hours. Pass through a sieve and use for your intended recipe. Will keep in the fridge for a week and for six months in the freezer.