What Is Vegetable stock and How Can I Use It?

Vegetable stock rewards a little know-how: how to choose it, cook it, store it, and substitute in a pinch. Browse 571 recipes to cook with it.

What is vegetable stock?

Stock is a flavoured water preparation. It forms the basis of many dishes, particularly soups and sauces. Stock is made by simmering various ingredients in water.

Today, ready-made stock and stock cubes consisting of dried, compressed stock ingredients are readily available. These are commonly known as bouillon cubes in the US or oxo cubes, after a common brand of stock cube sold in Britain or cooking base.

Stock vs. Broth

Be further aware that in Britain, there is a distinct difference between Broth and Stock, very different to U.S. definitions.

A Stock is a thin liquid made by simmering raw ingredients until all the taste has been retrieved from them, finalized by sieving to get a result that is a liquid alone. This yields Beef Stock, Chicken Stock, Fish Stock.

Stock made from vegetables only is a Vegetable Stock.

Broth, on the other hand, is a soup in which there are solid pieces of meat or fish, along with some vegetables. The main difference being that the solid parts of the Broth are there to add flavour to the whole, the individual parts retaining their flavour.

Usually, a broth is made by using a stock as the base, then adding the required meat or fish and bringing the whole to a boil, with added vegetables.

Broth does not NEED to be made with stock, it can start as plain water.

Being a thin and watery soup, Broth is frequently made more substantial by adding e.g. rice, barley or pulses. Although strictly speaking a broth should contain some form of meat or fish, it is nowadays acceptable to refer to a Vegetable Broth, being a soup with just vegetables.

Nutrition

Where found

Vegetable stock is usually found in the canned goods section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group

Vegetable stock is a member of the Beverages US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

How much does vegetable stock weigh?

Related

Beverages

Recipes using vegetable stock

There are 571 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Chavrie Quick Tomato Soup

Adding fresh goat cheese to your favorite tomoato soup adds a great flavor of creamy zing! You are going to love it!

Chow Mein in Chanterelle Sauce with Fresh Herbs

Vegan. I always wondered how would chanterelles taste with typical ingredients of Chinese cuisine. Now I know. Of course I wouldn't be myself if I didn't make it my way.

Homemade Noodles Snack

Tasty and yummy snack.This recipe for the kids or adults.

Gazpacho (Salad Soup)

Classic gazpacho, the chilled Spanish salad soup, with fresh tomatoes, cucumber, green pepper, olive oil and white wine vinegar. No cooking required, just blend and chill.

Make-Ahead Gazpacho

Make-ahead gazpacho with a Mexican twist: chilled tomato soup brightened with green taco sauce, cucumber, bell pepper, and scallions. A quick simmer melds the flavors before chilling for a sharper, deeper bowl.

Tex-Mex Rice

Tex-Mex rice toasted in olive oil with garlic and onion, simmered in broth with cumin, and finished with diced red bell pepper. A flavorful Mexican-style side dish from scratch.

Ginger Broccoli Soup

Ginger broccoli soup steeps fresh grated ginger in vegetable stock with cayenne and lemon, then simmers broccoli florets just to tender. A vibrant, brothy bowl with Ayurvedic roots, ready in 40 minutes.

Vegan Cream of Broccoli Soup

Vegan cream of broccoli soup uses blended raw cashews and potatoes for body, no dairy required. Silky, plant-based, and ready in 35 minutes.

Chilled Leek & Potato Soup

Chilled leek and potato soup blended silky and lifted with Greek yogurt instead of cream, finished with fresh chives for a light vichyssoise that's vegetarian and summer-ready.

Blender Gazpacho

Quick blender gazpacho with tomato, cucumber, green pepper, and rice vinegar. Vegan no-cook Spanish-style cold soup ready in 10 minutes. Garnish with finely diced cucumber for crunch.

Lemon-Pepper Glazed Udon Noodles with Snow Peas & Coconut

A modern Asian twist brings this pasta salad to new heights. Udon noodles with crunchy snow peas glazed with a lemon-pepper coconut dressing and bursting with fresh basil and cilantro.

Indian Gazpacho

Indian gazpacho with hot green chiles, garlic, and dry red wine in a chilled tomato-based vegetable soup. The South Asian spin on Spanish gazpacho with a slow-burn heat.

Carrot-Leek Soup with Thyme

This creamy, smooth, flavorful carrot and leek soup is perfect when carrots are at their peak. The soup is easy to make and perfect for a light lunch or dinner. Garnished with fresh thyme leaves for an extra touch of flavor and sophistication.

Meatless Monday Chili

Vegan chili made hearty with marinated tempeh, kidney beans, mushrooms, and a long simmer in tomato and vegetable stock. Deep, savory, slow-cooked Meatless Monday meal.

So Good Carrot & Orange Soup

Carrot and orange soup with leeks, cayenne, and ginger blended into a silky vegan puree. Bright citrus and warm spice work together for a soup that shines hot or chilled.

Grandma's Broccoli Soup

Grandma's broccoli soup: a simple, silky pureed broccoli soup with sauteed onion and vegetable stock, lightened with a splash of warm milk instead of heavy cream. Six ingredients, ready in about half an hour.

Quick Lemon Rice Soup

A vibrant, healthy lemon rice soup with kale and aromatic spices, ready in under 20 minutes. Perfect for a light, flavorful meal. Vegan, low-fat, and packed with nutrients.

Jimmy's Butternut Squash Chowder

Vegan butternut squash chowder made creamy without a drop of dairy. Blended squash, sweet potato, and carrot form a velvety base, brightened with garlic, rosemary, and thyme and topped with toasted almonds.

Dad's Butternut Soup

Butternut squash soup with apples, onion, ground ginger, and apple cider. A creamy fall classic with a sweet-tart edge from the cider, finished with a swirl of milk or cream.

Comfy Corn & Potato Chowder

Corn and potato chowder simmers red potatoes, sweet corn, carrots, and celery in vegetable stock with a splash of sherry, then blitzes a cup of soup smooth to thicken the broth naturally. No cream, all comfort.

Vegan Creamy Pumpkin Soup

Healthy vegan pumpkin soup with butternut squash, aromatic garlic and onions, blended silky smooth for a plant-based comfort meal under 200 calories per serving.

Chilled Couscous Vegetable Salad

A scrumptious salad that's made with couscous, romaine lettuce, corn kernels and baby green peas.

So good Carrot & Ginger Soup

Carrot and ginger soup with apples, fresh ginger, and a splash of sherry blended into a smooth, naturally sweet vegan puree. Healthy, gluten-free, and ready in 30 minutes from one pot.

My Acorn Squash Soup

Acorn squash soup roasts squash and garlic until caramelized, then purées with vegetable stock and a kick of cayenne and Tabasco. Vegan, low-fat, and finished with cooked wild rice for a hearty, healthy bowl.

Vegetarian Mac & “Cheese”

Your family will be none the wiser when you offer up this vegetarian creamy “mac and cheese”.

All 571 recipes