A really easy chicken stock that will transform your recipes.
Ingredients
1kgchicken bones
2large onionsroughly chopped
2carrotsroughly chopped
2sticks of celeryand their leaves if you have them, roughly chopped
3clovesgarliccut in half
1leek roughly chopped
3mushroomshalved
10peppercorns
1bay leaf
1bunch of parsleyincluding stalks
1small bunch of thyme sprigs
Instructions
Clear Chicken Stock
Put the bones in a large stockpot and cover with 4 litres of cold water and heat until the water starts to boil.
Bring to a gentle simmer for a few minutes. Skim off the scum that forms after a few minutes.
Add the vegetables, herbs and peppercorns and simmer very gently for 4-6 hours. The water should be simmering so gently that only pin prick bubbles break the surface.
Strain in a chinoise.
Brown Chicken Stock
Roast the chicken bones for 20 minutes, then add the the chopped vegetables (but _not _the herbs/ peppercorns) for a further 20 minutes.
Remove from the oven and put the bones and vegetables in the stockpot, along with the herbs and the peppercorns, being careful not to add any fat from the baking tray.
Bring to a gentle boil, then simmer for 4-6 hours, removing any scum that forms.
Strain in a chinoise.
Notes
Keep the chicken stock in the fridge for up to 3-4 days or freeze in batches for up to 3 months.I prefer to add the vegetables after I have skimmed off the scum as the vegetables float and make it harder to skim off the scum.