Growing up, my grandmother always made bone broth. If I was sick, I was either to drink the healing tonic or eat the soup and hearty dishes prepared with the broth base. The broth was easy on digestion and essential to recovery she would say. She was also raised in a truly sustainable way, no waste meant at times being creative with food. When you think about it, bone broth is inherently sustainable! We now know that this mouth watering elixir is rich in protein, collagen, electrolytes, vitamins and minerals, and of course packing so much flavor. It’s no wonder that for thousands of years this versatile superfood has been consumed around the world for its culinary and medicinal tradition.

Before you read further, let’s talk semantics. Technically, you can make a bone broth out of anything with bones cooked for an extended period of time. Traditionally, adding skin and meat produced a richer, more flavourful liquid which is hands down my go to broth. Keep in mind, the latter also changes preparation style and technique. A mix of bones can also be used, personally I like to have a primary choice in addition to a single complimentary option but this can be a fluid process. Even using leftover rotisserie chicken bones and skin can make a great broth. Don’t be afraid to add vegetable scraps for added nutrition, I have been known to save carrot tops and parsley stalks for my broth.

A quick google search will have you simmering your broth for 48 hours, but I’m a traditionalist. Consider instead bringing your broth to life using a Vitaclay slow cooker made of organic, unglazed clay. Simply add ingredients to filtered water, set for two hours and voila! If you’re adding vegetables to the broth, only cook for the last 30 minutes. Strain and enjoy. While there are a plethora of trendy broth options in the market, the sodium content alone is frightening. If you want to see the healing power of broth for yourself, bring this traditional food to your modern kitchen. A gentle reminder to source your ingredients from local farms that use sustainable practices. Use ingredients that are free from herbicides, pesticides, hormones, antibiotics or synthetic fertilizers- hint, this is usually labeled organic, dynamic or regenerative.

I can’t say enough about the benefits of this elixir of life, so I will leave you with a South American proverb which holds that “a good broth can resurrect the dead”.