Homemade vegetable broth made with fresh carrot tops! Don’t throw your carrot greens away after you use the carrots, instead make this simple vegetarian broth perfect for your favorite soup! Freezer option if you want to preserve it!
Use Your Fresh Carrot Tops for Soup Broth!
If you’re a gardener, then you put so much love and energy into every single one of your plant babies! So when it’s time to pull carrots in the garden, use the carrots but save the bushy green carrot leaves to make this homemade vegetable broth!
The vegetable broth is so easy to make with water, carrot tops and bay leaves. All you need to is simmer it to get full flavor and then it’s ready to use in your favorite soups!
From there you can use it any recipe that calls for vegetable broth or freeze it to use when chilly weather hits and you’ll be making soup all the time!
Looking for more no waste garden recipes? Make Vegetable Broth with Broccoli Leaves, Tomato Powder with Tomato Skins and Parsley and Basil Pesto.
Can you eat carrot greens?
Yes, carrot leaves are completely edible. Not only are they edible, but some European markets actually sell them!
Carrot Tops Broth Recipe Ingredients
- water, the liquid base for the broth.
- carrot tops, about 8 inches, rinsed so they’re cleaned. If you have lots of carrot tops, you can double this recipe!
- bay leaves and salt for flavor
- Optional: If you have carrots that are freshly peeled, you can add the peels to your broth too!
This recipe makes about 7 cups of vegetable broth. During the simmering process you will lost 1/2 cup-1 cup of liquid. So for example, for the 8 cups of water I used , this made 7 cups of vegetable broth.
How to Make Homemade Vegetable Broth with Carrot Leaves
Clean the carrot tops making sure to wash well to remove any dirt or debris, especially if they are coming straight from your garden. I use my salad spinner to clean our greens.
Add the carrot tops to a large soup pot along with water, bay leaves and salt. Note: If you have carrots that are freshly peeled, you can add the peels to your broth too!
Bring to a boil and then reduce temperature to a low simmer for 1 hour. After an hour, you’ll see how much the carrot greens have broken down.
Pour the broth through a strainer or colander into a bowl, and discard (compost!) the carrot leaves and bay leaves. Now you have homemade vegetable broth to use!
Storing Homemade Vegetable Broth
Store vegetable broth in the refrigerator in a mason jar, good for 5-6 days. For long time storage, place in freezer bag, making sure to completely seal and then freeze. Frozen vegetable broth is good for 6-8 months. To defrost, thaw in the fridge overnight or use the microwave to defrost.
I hope you all enjoy this Carrot Tops Vegetable Broth! Happy gardening and happy cooking!
Pin for later:
Fresh Carrot Tops Vegetable Broth (No waste!)
PrintIngredients
- 8 cups water
- 8 ounces carrot tops rinsed and cleaned
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Add water, carrot tops, bay leaves and salt to a large pot. Bring to a boil.
- Reduce temperature, cover with lid and let simmer for 1 hour.
- Pour the broth through a colander, catching the liquid broth in a bowl below. Discard (or compost) the carrot tops and bay leaves.
- Use the broth right away in your favorite soup, put it in the refrigerator for a few days or freeze to use months from now. Enjoy!
Corey says
Can you can the brothV
DKM says
Actually, a bit of “dirt” (think “immune-enhancing matter”) in one’s stock pot is probably not a bad thing, presuming one is using organic produce. Then again, slug stock may be nutritious, but…slug? Dirt, though, dirt is immunity-boosting 🙂
Sherrie I Balfanz says
You don’t mention how to can the broth for storing .but show it in a canning jar.
Jacques 7 says
I will try tomorrow to use my plentiful harvest ready carrot tops Your recipe sound so tempting
Barbara Karr says
I NEVER find carrot tops in the supermarket! They are cut off before reaching the store. Having recently started to make homemade broths this makes me a little miffed. I love summer and the farmers’ market so I can use the whole carrot! Hear that produce people?
Pamela says
That stinks Barbara! Sometimes the organic section has some carrots with the stops still on here. Perhaps you can find a farmers market around you that has the carrot tops?
Mandy says
I’m so happy I found this! I can’t keep a compost pile because my puppies can’t stay out of it, so I freeze and use all veggie scraps to make veggie stock and I’ve added carrot tops before, but never used only carrot tops. I pulled carrots today and had enough to double this recipe. I can’t wait to try it! Thanks!
Pamela says
Hey Mandy, I’m so happy to hear you’ll be able to put your carrot tops to good use! Enjoy the broth!
Peggy Guerin says
The broth idea is super! I usually use my carrot greens along with some other “sweeter” greens to make a lovely green, fresh pesto.
Pamela says
I love the idea of making a pesto Peggy – thanks for sharing!
Jacqueline Doran says
Just making broth now and pesto after with another bunch of tops
dave says
Can you share how you make your pesto with this carrot top broth recipe? 🙂
Jacqueline Doran says
Trying one off Pinterest
Michelle says
Has anybody actually TASTED this broth? What’s it like???
Pamela Reed says
It tastes just like vegetable broth. Hope you give it a shot Michelle! 🙂