During the height of the cold and flu season, bone broth is an easy way to support a healthy immune system while savoring the flavors of your Thanksgiving table. Bone broth has been used as a healing soup for thousands of years.
Hello, my fellow health-conscious individuals! It’s that time of year again – Thanksgiving is quickly approaching, which means there will be an abundance of leftover turkey bones! However, before you throw those bad boys in the garbage, hold on! They are the main component of the enchanted concoction known as turkey bone broth and a veritable gold mine of nutrients.
What’s the Big Deal About Bone Broth?
Bone broth ain’t your average broth. This simmered goodness is packed with collagen gelatin, and a whole host of amino acids that work wonders for your gut health and immune system. It’s like a superhero in a mug, ready to fight off those pesky winter colds and keep your digestive system happy.
Benefits of Bone Broth:
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Gut Health Hero: Bone broth is like a soothing balm for your gut. Collagen and gelatin help repair the lining of your stomach and intestines, while glycine reduces inflammation and promotes healing. It’s also a great source of glutamine, which helps seal up leaky gut and reduce inflammation.
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Immune System Booster: This broth is packed with nutrients like zinc, iron and vitamin A, which are essential for a strong immune system. It also helps your body absorb other nutrients more effectively giving your immune system an extra boost.
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Collagen is an essential part of cartilage, which helps maintain the flexibility and health of your joints. Bone broth is a great option for anyone with arthritis or other joint issues because it can help reduce joint pain and stiffness.
Making the Most of Your Leftover Bones:
Don’t let those precious bones go to waste! Here’s how to make a delicious and nutritious turkey bone broth:
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Collect Your Ingredients: You’ll need water, apple cider vinegar, peppercorns, parsley, thyme, bay leaves, onions, carrots, and celery as well as some leftover turkey carcass.
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Put all the ingredients in a pot, add water to cover, and simmer for at least 12 hours (the longer, the better) before straining. After straining the broth to get rid of the solids, you’ll have a golden pot of liquid gold.
Bonus Tip: Add a splash of miso paste to your broth for an extra umami kick.
Bone Broth: Your New BFF:
Whether you’re looking to boost your gut health, strengthen your immune system, or soothe your joints, turkey bone broth is your new best friend. It’s a delicious and nutritious way to use up those Thanksgiving leftovers and give your body a healthy boost. So grab those bones, fire up the stove, and get ready to sip on some seriously good stuff.
Happy Thanksgiving, and happy bone broth brewing!
A Thanksgiving Tradition to Savor
During the height of the cold and flu season, bone broth is an easy way to support a healthy immune system while savoring the flavors of your Thanksgiving table. Bone broth has been used as a healing soup for thousands of years. Regular ingestion of bone broth, rich in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and other trace minerals, has been linked to improved gut health, joint pain alleviation, and a stronger immune system. Furthermore, it’s simple to prepare at home by turning food scraps that would otherwise spoil into a tasty, nutrient-rich broth that you can store in the freezer for a long period.
The difference between stock and bone broth:
To extract the collagen from the bones and joints, bone broth is simmered for a long period. When cooled, bone broth will thicken and gel whereas stock will remain liquid and thin in consistency. The benefits of bone broth go beyond its flavor. It is rich in collagen and gelatin, which are great for maintaining healthy joints as well as skin, hair, and nails. It’s also full of nutrients that can contribute to improved gut and immune system health.
Make use of every portion of the leftover turkey carcass, including the skin and cartilage (be adaptable and make do with what you have; chicken or beef bones also work well). Vegetable leftovers can include celery leaves, carrot shavings, onion skins, green stalks, cilantro, or any other vegetable you happen to have on hand! (When cooking your Thanksgiving meal, plan ahead and save your vegetable leftovers, or freeze them weeks in advance to use later.) Water about enough to fill the pot, but be careful not to let it boil over or fill the pressure cooker to the top. 1 Tablespoon of apple cider vinegar for every 8 cups of water. Another option is to squeeze in some lemon juice and throw away the peel, or you could pour the last sip of wine from the bottle. The acidity helps break down the bones releasing nutrients like collagen and minerals into the broth.
Combine all the ingredients into a large stockpot, slow cooker or pressure cooker
Cook:
- Pressure Cooker: high pressure for 2 hours or 120 minutes. Allow pressure to naturally release.
- Slow Cooker: simmer on low for 24 hours
- On a stovetop, cover and simmer the ingredients for 24 hours on low heat, adding water as needed to keep them covered.
Strain: Pour the stock through a colander into a large bowl to cool. Toss the solids in the compost.
Store:
- Refrigerator: Store in airtight jars in the refrigerator for up to five days.
- Freezer: Allow the broth to fully cool before freezing. Freeze in freezer bags or airtight jars for up to 3 months (allow the liquid to expand in the freezer by leaving 1/4 of the jar empty). If using bags, remove as much air as possible before freezing them flat for optimal storage.
Notes on Flavor: The addition of potato skins will make a stock hazy, but this can be desirable if the stock is intended for a stew or risotto. Tomatoes will make it bitter, asparagus can make it sharp, but these may be flavors you like. Experiment, and use what scraps you can. Food goes farther when you turn those kitchen scraps into delicious, nutritious stock.
Is Bone Broth Good For You? – Dr.Berg’s Opinion
FAQ
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