5 Best Vegetarian Beef Broth Substitutes: An Ultimate Guide For Vegetarians
Are you looking for a vegetarian substitute for beef broth? This article is for you.
Eating vegetarianism has become a trend in recent society because it is packed with many health benefits.
So let’s accompany us to find out the best vegetarian beef broth substitutes so that you can have a healthier and more humane diet without having to give up on tasty dishes.
What is beef broth?
Beef broth is a staple in many kitchens, along with chicken broth, which can both be used as a base for many dishes like soups, stews, gravies, or sauces.
Beef broth is made by simmering beef in water and spices for hours to tenderize the meat and let all the flavor penetrate into the liquid.
Normally, the beef broth recipe requires a bit more ingredients compared to its chicken version.
People often add a bit of wine and acidity like lemon juice or vinegar to balance out the strong taste of red meat.
You can also use dried or fresh herbs while cooking beef broth to enhance the flavor of the broth.
Beef broth is widely used in many cuisines in the world.
However, despite the delicious taste and nutrient values of beef, many researchers have pointed out that eating too much red meat or products from red meat might pose some risk to your heart health, or even worse, it can raise certain cancers.
Therefore, you should limit your family’s consumption of beef broth, and it is always better to make your own beef broth rather than buying the canned version.
Can you substitute beef broth in cooking recipes?
Of course, you can substitute beef broth in any cooking recipe with various replacements.
Many people argue that the flavor will be off and the dish won’t taste right when you use other ingredients to alternate beef broth.
It is true to some extent, but the resulting dish will be as great as using beef broth.
What can you substitute for beef broth?
There are many ingredients that can work as a great substitute for beef broth.
However, below are the alternatives that we find best suitable to replace beef broth without resulting in a completely different dish.
1. Vegetable stock
Vegetable stock is the first thing that comes to our mind when finding a great substitute for other kinds of meat broth.
Vegetable stock is typically made with aromatic vegetables like celery, carrot, onion, or corn.
The texture of vegetable stock is often thinner than beef broth, and the flavor is also milder.
However, you can still have a sweet liquid with many vitamins and minerals.
2. Mushroom broth
Mushroom is always one of the staples in a vegetarian diet because it also offers a rich source of protein besides being packed with many other nutrients.
The mushroom broth has a dark color that looks like beef broth, and a special umami taste that can make your dish taste more delicious.
3. Red wine
Red wine can work as an amazing substitute for beef broth thanks to its dark color and sweet taste.
There is also a slight kick of alcohol that is just enough to make the dish more interesting instead of being overpowering.
4. Soy sauce
You can also use soy sauce to replace your regular beef broth and cut down the meat animal protein intake.
Soy sauce is a popular condiment in many cuisines, especially Asian cuisine.
However, it can be easily found in any grocery store or supermarket across the world.
5. Water and butter
Believe it or not, you can even use water and butter to replace beef broth.
This substitute combination will work better in dishes that also call for other fragrant ingredients, from meat, vegetables, seafood, or herbs.
With a ratio of one cup of water with one tablespoon of butter, you can create a rich taste and texture of beef broth.
Other ingredients in your dish can provide the flavor themselves.
The bottom line
So what are the best vegetarian beef broth substitutes? It is important to note that not all of these ingredients will taste exactly like traditional beef broth.
However, they can still provide a similar flavor profile and many health benefits for your diet.
Whichever product you decide to try out, let us know how it goes by leaving a comment below!