How to Make Vegan Bone Broth

You're looking for a vegan bone broth substitute and want to know that it's possible, don't you? Well... there is good news and bad news. The good news is that there are delicious and nourishing substitutes you can make today.

The bad news is that you cannot get the same health benefits of real bone broth using 100% plant based ingredients. Why? Collagen, gelatin and amino acids all come from the cartilage and bones. Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying and deceiving you.

Learn how to make bone broth with a plant-based, vegan substitute. It is an excellent source of minerals, adaptogens and vitamins. It is also high in immune boosting beta glucans which helps fight cancer risks and reduce anxiety.

First a quick note: if you are ever curious about trying meat based broth, the absolute best tasting bone broth powder is made by Bluebird Provisions.

It has 12 g protein with 300 mg potassium and no added salt (only 130 mg / cup). If you're struggling and need a convenient source of bone broth nutrition, collagen and glycine, then give it a try.

Onto the article.

Is there a vegan version of bone broth?

There is no vegan substitute for the unique miracle of bone broth made from bones and animal products connective tissue. This is because it is impossible to get these amino acids (glycine, proline) from vegan sources.

Vegans can make broth substitutes with entirely different benefits. But anyone who tells you it is superior to bone broth or the same benefits is lying to you.

What is vegan bone broth?

Vegan bone broth is a nutrient-rich and flavorful stock that is ready to serve in just 2 hours. It is made using all plant-based ingredients has a robust flavor it looks and tastes wonderful!

We substitute bones for dried mushrooms, adaptogens and wakame seaweed to give your an irresistibly nourishing beverage with a truly umami flavor.

You can buy premade vegetable broth bases, but my advice is to avoid them as they are truly the worst and most processed food products out there.

Vegan Bone Broth Benefits

The benefits of drinking vegan bone broth include:

1. Contains a ton of vitamins and nutrients, including vitamins C, magnesium, iodine, phosphorus and potassium to help you live a long and happy life.
2. Immune Supporting: Made using adaptogens reishi and shiitake mushrooms. Shiitake and reishi strengthen your immune system, help your brain rest and promote healthy energy levels.
3. Hydrating With Electrolytes: Low calorie source of potassium, magnesium, phosphorous and chloride to keep you hydrated throughout the day with no energy crashes.
4. Delicious & Low Calorie: This is truly a unique vegan broth hybrid with only 20 calories per cup... if you're on a diet. It is delicious and satisfying to drink on it's own thanks to the superfoods, mushrooms, garlic, ginger and wakame seaweed.
5. Rich in antioxidants so it can support your liver function and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer.

What is a plant-based substitute for bone broth?

A plant-based bone broth is a good alternative to traditional bone broth except it is missing one thing: gelatin protein. The best recipes use wakame seaweed and adaptogenic mushrooms to get a yummy savory taste with tons of added nutrition and health benefits.

These superfood ingredients can help to naturally destress your body and bolster your immune system like no other food can. It has different uses and advantages over animal based broths.

The Best Vegan Bone Broth Recipe

My recipe provides a nourishing and comforting vegan broth that you can make today in your kitchen. The recipe includes vegetables that are rich in minerals, with wakame particularly high in potassium and iodine. The ingredients for this vegan bone broth are easy to find and include seaweed, wakame, ginger, garlic and dried mushrooms.

This recipe is easy to follow and can be made ahead of time for an easy meal or quick drink when needed. You won't believe the amazing smell it leaves in your kitchen.

Gut Healing Vegan Broth Ingredients

The ingredients for gut healing vegan broth are glorious Shiitake mushrooms, superfoods, garlic and wakame. The ingredients list for vegan broth can be used up by vegetable scraps and peels and freezing them.

• 12 cups Water
• 1 cup Crimini Mushrooms, chopped to ½ inch pieces 
• 2 cups Dried Shiitake Mushrooms, chopped to ½ inch pieces
• 1 Thumb sized piece of Ginger (peeled and chopped)
• 3 Garlic cloves (peeled and chopped)
• 50 g or 1 big sheet Wakame Seaweed (Alaria Esculenta)
• 1 slice or 10 g of Dried Reishi Mushrooms (finely cut or diced in food processor)
• Himalayan Salt to taste

Some people like adding coconut aminos, but this is a lazy substitute for getting real flavor out of vegetables.

Step By Step Instructions For Vegan Mushroom Bone Broth

1. If you do not want to do all the vegetable chopping, you can add all the ingredients except water, seaweed and salt to a food processor and pulse until they are turned to one mushy mixture (little rice sized chunks). Looks gross but it saves you cook time gets a stronger broth.
2. If you don't do this, simply chop them as fine as you can.
3. In a large stock pot, add all the ingredients except seaweed and salt.
4. Cover with about 12 cups of water
5. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to a rolling simmer.
6. Cover the pot for extra pressure and simmer for 80 minutes.
7. Turn heat off, remove pot from heated stove. You can place it on another burner that is currently off or on the counter.
8. Add wakame seaweed and steep it for 10 minutes. Do not over steep or else it will be too strong.
9. Remove wakame immediately using a spider strainer or slotted spoon
10. Remove vegetables using the same.
11. Pour broth through a fine mesh sieve or strainer into bowl.
12. Place bowl in the fridge or freezer to cool to 4 degrees C or 40 degrees F. Once cool, pour into your jars or containers for storage.
13. Add salt to taste when you drink or plan on using it. Not before.
14. Enjoy the smell and meat free goodness!

What are some tips for making vegan bone broth?

Some tips for making vegan bone broth include using a food processor to pulse all of your vegetables ahead of time. This allows your to shorten the total cook times and maximize the flavor of the mushrooms.

A second tip is to wrap your processed or chopped vegetables in cheese cloth before you place it in your stock pot. The point of this cloth is that it keeps them all together and makes it way easier to clean up and strain when you are finished. No mess because you simply remove the cheese cloth.

The last tip is to make sure you do not over-steep the addition of your seaweed. Kombu can be used in place of wakame, but do not over-steep or else you risk a bitter taste of the entire batch.

Herbs can added to your preference by the bunch. As can juice to sweeten it up.

Does vegan broth have collagen?

Vegan broth does not have collagen because it's made from plants, not bones. You cannot get collagen from plant based sources, only animal bones, hides, skin and cartilage.

You can see a typical nutrition facts panel of homemade vegan stock below. You'll notice that there is only 1 g protein per cup. This is way less than you'd get from an animal based broth or stock. But it has other healing properties.

How to Store Vegan Bone Broth

Please remember to drink your vegan bone broth within a few days of making it, or it will spoil. Store it in glass airtight containers leaving 1 inch of space at the top for it to expand. Enjoy within 5 days if it is stored in the fridge or 6 months when frozen.

You can freeze it in zip pouches or ice cube trays for easy access in single serve sizes.

What are some common mistakes people make when making vegan bone broth?

Common mistakes people make when making vegan bone broth are not stirring the soup while it's cooking, not adding any vegetables to the broth before it's done, not using quality ingredients and not using enough ingredients, overly salting it before it's finished (sodium bomb), steeping the seaweed for too long and not cooking it hot enough.

You need heat to extract the flavor and nutrients from the liquid ingredients.

How to Use Healthy Vegan Broths in Recipes

Use vegan broths in recipes that call for vegetable broth, this includes in any soups, stews, pasta dishes, sauces (like our marvellous mushroom sauce) and stir frys. You can use it to deglaze pans when you are cooking or simply add some flavor to onions and veggies you're sautéing.

You can use it in place of water to make rice or other gain dishes for an amazing taste. Or you can do what I do and drink it warm in a mug. This helps me relax like nothing else.

Add more flavor and nutrition to your meals with this delicious reminiscence of childhood by using vegetable broth as a substitute for water in many recipes! You can add coconut aminos for a delicious boost.

Options To Source Seaweed and Adaptogenic Mushrooms

Seaweed and adaptogenic mushrooms are really difficult to find for some people depending where you live. They are really needed for this recipe to give it the extra boost in taste and nutrition.

I've had luck going to Chinese or Japanese grocery store providers. Luckily where I live in Vancouver ,there is an area called Chinatown which has tons of stores to find dried mushrooms and all types of seaweed. You can also order these ingredients online from Amazon or doing some googling.

For adaptogenic mushrooms, make sure you purchase certified organic varieties. These are usually imported from overseas, where they are subject to nasty sprays and pesticides.

What is a good replacement for bone broth?

There is no one perfect replacement for bone broth. There are mushroom broths and stocks that taste great but have different health benefits and nutrition. You can replace the electrolytes and hydration, but the problem is that there isn’t a vegetarian or vegan replacement for collagen protein. It is a matter of the physical properties of collagen and gelatin.

My advice is to consider taking bone broth if you really need it.

Closing Thoughts

Hopefully you have all the information needed to make a delicious vegan broth substitute. It really is a wonderfully versatile cooking ingredient in your kitchen. I prefer the taste and smell to any animal based bone broth.

If you are looking for a real and authentically made bone broth, you can always give my company: Bluebird Provisions Bone Broth a try. We make it the real way with no nasty gums, 'natural flavors,' junk fillers or processed ingredients.

Have you made this recipe? Leave a summary comment and tell me how it went. If you had issues leave a comment and I'm happy to help you troubleshoot.