Vegetable Bouillon

I’m married to a Romanian and have found that vegetable bouillon comes in handy for soups, ciorba, borscht and broths, even stews. I call it a hearty soup packed into a block. Vegetable bouillon is easy, comforting, and filling with home baked bread, and these concentrated blocks take less space in the freezer than fully prepared soups.

You can use any vegetables except potatoes, which don’t freeze well. I have made suggestions for the proportions of the vegetables, but what you choose is entirely up to you. Parsnips are sweet, and leeks and kohlrabi will add rich flavor. If you can’t get fresh turmeric it’s okay – the carrots will provide a warm yellow color – but do NOT use turmeric powder. Your soups will then taste like curry. Trust me on this, unless you don’t care.

I make lots of Romanian ciorba, hence the usage of lovage and dill in my vegetable bouillon.

For a fast soup on cold evenings, all you need to do is pop one or two vegetable bouillon squares into the pot with water or stock, and add meatballs, dumplings or potatoes. If you feel like it, you can add extra vegetables. But when the temperature is minus 20 degrees Celsius (minus 4°F) I don’t want to muck around in the kitchen, I want something easy, hearty and comforting.

1. 1. In a flameproof casserole or other large wide pan, heat the oil or lard over medium heat.  Start sautéing the vegetables as follows: Begin with grated carrots, which impart a beautiful yellow color. Then add the onion.

2. Now add the root vegetables one by one, sauteeing each one a minute or two before adding the next vegetable. You are building flavors when you add the vegetables one at a time. The last root you’ll add is the turmeric root.

3. Add the bell pepper, leeks, and garlic. Saute the mixture until softened, about 20 minutes; it doesn’t have to be fully cooked.

4. Remove the pot from the heat. Using a hand blender, puree the mixture.  If you prefer to use a food processor or blender, allow the mixture to cool until no longer steaming before blending. Add the chopped herbs last. They do not have to be cooked. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

5. To freeze the mixture, line a baking sheet with parchment paper (not wax paper) and pour the contents onto the tray. Use a knife or pastry cutter and indent the portions now, before it goes into the freezer. If you do this correctly the next step will be easier. Freeze the mixture until solid, preferably overnight.

6. The next day, remove the tray and break the bouillon cubes into pieces. Wrap them individually in foil and store in a closed container in the freezer.