Bone Broth: Nutritional and Restorative

Try these bone broth recipes this January for a healthy, hearty meal.

January is a great month to start afresh, to set new goals and start thinking about our health. For many, this month may consist of fad diets, bulk buying vegetables or taking out a new gym membership. But maybe the secret ingredient to your New Year health regime should be exploring the world of organic bone broth. Bone broth is extremely nutritious and restorative – just what we need after a festive period of indulgence. Here’s why you should try organic bone broth, how to make bone broth at home and a few bone broth recipes using our Home Farm Kitchen Range of bone broths – currently on offer until the end of January.

The Benefits of Bone Broth

Ossa’s Organic Bone Broth can be a great addition to a hearty winter stew, a warming soup or even used as an alternative to a cup of tea or coffee. The nourishing, restorative nature and natural proteins and nutrients are just what we need in the middle of winter. Made from the bones of organic, grass fed and free range animals, Ossa simmer the bones in water for 24-48 hours to release the nutrients. This is also what happens when you make your own bone broth from home, using organic meat bones.

Bone broth is full of protein in the natural form of collagen, known for improve the structure of skin and strengthening bones and joints. However, bone broth is not just a one trick pony, and is also full of other beneficial elements such as amino acids, calcium, gelatine, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium.

Chicken Bone Broth Recipe

One way to get your fix of beneficial bone broth, is to make your own at home. We recommend this chicken bone broth recipe to really make the most of a whole organic chicken, bones and all. As with all bone broths, this recipe is nutritious and immune boosting, plus simple and cost effective to make. Use up your Organic Whole Chicken carcass from Sunday’s roast dinner or add some Organic Chicken Stock Bones to your next organic meat delivery to give this one a try.

Ingredients:

• Organic Chicken Bones
• Organic Cider Vinegar or Lemon Juice
• Organic Onions, Carrots, Celery or Leeks, 100g offcuts or ends
• Organic Black Peppercorns, 5-6
• Organic Bay Leaves, 1

Method:

1. Put the organic chicken bones, organic vegetable ends, vinegar, herbs and seasoning into a large saucepan.
2. Cover the contents with cold water and pop the lid on.
3. Bring to the boil, then lower the heat and simmer with the lid on for at least 6 hours. Up to 12 hours is optimum, allowing the bones to begin to break down and release nutrients.
4. Use a spoon to skim off any foam that sits on the top of the broth as it cooks.
5. Once cooked, strain the broth through a fine sieve. Enjoy right away or allow to completely cool before storing in the fridge or freezer.

Oxtail Stew Recipe

Fancy something a bit more substantial? This hearty organic oxtail stew recipe is a winter warmer classic. Perfect for starting your week with an easy, gut-friendly recipe.

Ingredients:

• Ossa Organic Bone Broth, 500ml
• Organic Ox Tail, 1kg
• Organic Rosemary, 2 sprigs
• Organic Thyme, 2 sprigs
• Organic Red Wine, 250ml
• Organic Garlic, 4 cloves
• Organic Red Onions, 2
• Organic Sweet Potatoes, 3
• Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, 2 tbsp
• Organic Bay Leaves, 4
• Organic Butter, 1 tbsp
• Salt & Pepper to season
• Parsley, for garnishing

 Method:

1. Lightly season the organic Ox Tail with salt and pepper, then add to a pan with organic butter and brown the meat on all sides over a high heat.
2. Add the organic rosemary and thyme towards the end of browning whilst the heat is still high.
3. Add the organic red wine to deglaze, keeping the heat high for 2 minutes, then remove from the heat.
4. Add the organic garlic, red onions, sweet potatoes (cut into chunks), apple cider vinegar, bone broth and bay leaves to an oven pot. Then add the contents of the pan to the pot too. Top up the pot with water.
5. Place in the oven at 170 degrees for an hour and a half. Then reduce the heat to 100 degrees for a further four hours.
6. Reduce the heat once more to 70 degrees and continue cooking until the meat falls away from the bone.
7. Remove the bay leaves and serve, finishing with a little bit of parsley.

There’s never been a better time to try bone broth, keeping us nourished throughout the winter and warming up from the inside.