Making your own homemade vegetable stock paste is a healthy way to add flavour to your dishes and allows you to know what you have added to your stock. Store in the fridge or freezer (please make sure you read the whole post to know how and why). Keeps for 6 months
175gparmigiano reggiano cheese (OPTIONAL)I bought a block to grate but you could of course buy it already grated if it’s easier. Now, the cheese is optional, if you are vegan just skip it, I just love the depth of flavour it adds. Update, I've stopped adding the cheese altogether in the last couple of years (more cost-efficient this way and still gorgeous)
Don't forget you can add other vegetables: I highly recommend courgette, scraps, peelings... don't throw anything away, read the whole post for lots of useful information on this)
300gcelery stalkscut in chunks
3 tomatoesquartered
140gmushroomshalved
200gleekssliced in chunks (green bit included)
2big carrotscut in chunks
200gonions
3clovesgarlicpeeled
1broccoli stalk
1teaspoonturmericyou don’t have to add this, I like to add turmeric to things because of its anti-inflammatory properties
2tablespoonoregano
1teaspoonmixed herbsyou can also use fresh herbs of your choice, above all if you have homegrown ones
55mlcider vinegaror white wine, whichever you have to hand
1.5tablespoonextra virgin olive oil
200gsaltif using less vegetables, use 150 g salt, I use Maldon Sea Salt or salt from the Grape Tree
1bay leaf
Instructions
If using parmesan (which is optional), grate the parmesan cheese or blitz it in your food processor. In the Thermomix: Turbo 3 seconds, 3 times. RESERVE FOR STEP 4.
175 g parmigiano reggiano cheese (OPTIONAL)
Cut the vegetables into chunks to pressure cook OR (and this is my preferred method). Blitz the vegetables with the turmeric and the herbs (in the Thermomix: 7 seconds speed 10). You may need to do this in a couple of batches, I did.
300 g celery stalks, 3 tomatoes, 140 g mushrooms, 200 g leeks, 2 big carrots, 200 g onions, 3 cloves garlic, 1 broccoli stalk, 1 teaspoon turmeric, 2 tablespoon oregano, 1 teaspoon mixed herbs
Transfer to the pressure cooker. Add the vinegar, oil, salt and bay leaf. Stir to mix well. No need to add water as the vegetables will release a whole lot of liquid which will help your pressure cooker reach pressure.
55 ml cider vinegar, 1.5 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, 200 g salt, 1 bay leaf
Lock the lid in place making sure your sealing ring is properly in place and the steam release set to Sealing.
Pressure cook 10 minutes, high pressure. Do a quick release at the end. Thermomix: If you want to cook it in your Thermomix (which you can only do if not too full): 20 minutes, Varoma temperature if a TM31 and 120º if a TM5, speed 2. Of course you could cook it on the hob at this stage for about 25 minutes on a low heat, making sure you keep an eye on it and stir every once in a while so that it doesn’t stick.
Place the cooked vegetable mix in the blender (discard the bay leaf), and blitz with the reserved parmesan if using (Thermomix 1 minute speed 10, if you have cooked it in Thermie let it cool down a little bit first before blending, to about 60 degrees at least).
Pour into sterilised Kilner jars. Make pretty labels. Gift to friends. Ask friends to store in fridge and, very important, return Kilner jars when empty.
Magimix Cook Expert instructions
Add everything to the bowl (bearing in mind it might not all fit in one batch) and press Cream Soup programme. Let it do its thing, come back to it ready for you
Notes
Note: It will last about 6 months in the fridge. But really it won’t last that long as you will get through it, use it in everything and anything to add flavour. Enjoy!Tip: If you have room in the freezer, freeze in ice cube trays, each will be a portion. It won’t quite freeze (due to the amount of salt) and you can use it straight from frozen.Get creative and use scraps: you don't have to use the exact same ingredients detailed here. Make sure you use up what you've got. Got more than one broccoli stalk? Perfect!The one that I would say is a must is the celery, I hate raw celery but love love love it in this stock paste for the flavour it provides once cooked