Homemade Gelatin-rich Bone Broth

Ever since getting off birth control a few years ago, I have been prepping my body for healthy fertility. Bone broth has been something I have been trying to incorporate daily due to the incredible health benefits. This glycine-rich drink is very nourishing for the gut, skin, and fertility. I really enjoy sipping on it or adding it to soups. This recipe can be made with any bones you prefer (chicken, beef, lamb…etc.). I came across a recipe for chicken feet bones because they are high in collagen, cheap, and loaded with benefits. And my dogs love the nails for a treat…

One of the biggest reasons I decided to try this recipe is because of the insane prices of bone broth at the grocery stores, and I have yet to find one as gelatinous as this. With inflation in CA right now, I am always looking for ways to be smarter with my money and this is such an easy recipe and is a lot cheaper.

For the vegetables I put in the bone broth, I just use scraps from items I cook with throughout the week that would pair with the broth. My word for 2024 is purpose. And a form of purpose is repurpose, I am trying to be more purposeful and repurpose my food scraps. Being more intentional and less wasteful.

Prep time: About 10 minutes

Cook time: 12-24 hours (the longer the better)

INGREDIENTS

1-1.5 lb pasture raised chicken feet or backs ( any pasture-raised animal bones)

A few carrots or carrot scraps

A handful of celery or scraps

A handful of onion or scraps

2 bay leaves 

A handful of garlic cloves

A pinch of peppercorns 

1 lemon sliced in half and juiced 

A Pinch of salt 

Filtered water (enough to cover the bones - too much will result in a less gelatinous broth)

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar 

INSTRUCTIONS

Roughly chop ingredients. I use kitchen shears and cut the nails off of the chicken feet, this is optional. Place all ingredients in a dutch oven. Cover the bones with filtered water. Add tbsp of ACV. Cook on low simmer for 12-24 hours. The longer the better. Once you’ve reached 24 hours, it will be in liquid form and not turn gelatinous until after being refrigerated. Strain the liquid and pour into glass jars and refrigerate. It’s that easy! The vegetables used can be tossed, or you can add them to your dogs food. As for the chicken feet bones, you can use them up to 3 times to make broth with. I place them in a bag and freeze them until I am ready to use them next. *note: the more times you use the bones, the less gelatinous the broth will be, but even if it is not a thick gelatinous consistency, it is still loaded with benefits.

I keep my bone broth in glass jars and place in the fridge for the week. You can also freeze for up to 3 months. If you freeze your glass jars, only fill them up 3/4 of the way.

When I reheat my bone broth, I season to taste. I often like to add salt, lemon juice, and a pinch of marjoram or pepper. If I want more health benefits, I will add some ginger and turmeric when I heat it up.

Please share any of your favorite ways to enjoy bone broth, tag @kristas_kitchenn if you make the recipe and let me know what you think!

Strain the broth using a strainer and pour into glass jars. There is no one way to strain, so do what is comfortable and easy to you.

Place in glass jars and refrigerate!