Pork bone broth is the soul of many dishes worldwide, thanks to its rich and flavorful taste. In Asian cuisines, it plays an even more significant role in noodles and soups due to the natural umami flavor it imparts to the dishes. Let’s learn how to make pork bone broth simply at home, which is very versatile and can be incorporated into many recipes.
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Why Pork Bone Broth?
By simmering pork bones in water for an extended period of time, typically several hours or even days, you create pork bone broth. This slow cooking process allows the bones to release their flavors, nutrients, and gelatin, resulting in a rich and flavorful liquid. Thanks to this, this broth offers potential health benefits, including providing essential nutrients such as collagen, gelatin, and minerals like calcium and magnesium.
The biggest benefit of using pork bone broth in cooking is the natural umami flavor that bones bring. I can’t consume MSG, and ready-made bouillon cubes or seasoning mixes available in the market may contain MSG or other preservatives that compromise the natural taste. However, MSG helps enhance the flavor of the dish thanks to its umami flavor. Therefore, pork bone broth becomes my best option which offers natural sweetness and is also beneficial for our health.
This broth is a must-have ingredient in many Asian cuisines, where it often serves as a base for soups and noodle dishes. Some typical examples of noodles and soups using pork bone broth are Japanese ramen, Vietnamese hu tieu, thick noodle or rice vermicelli noodle, Cambodian kuyteav, hotpot, porridge, Chinese wonton soup, and noodle soup, among others. Therefore, pork bones, typically tubular bones, are popular items sold in grocery stores and supermarkets in several Asian countries such as Vietnam, Japan, and China. However, it can be quite difficult to find pork bones in Europe or the US, with only a few local butchers offering them.
A similar broth to this pork bone broth is vegan bone broth. It is used in vegan recipes such as vegan noodles, soup, and porridge. The simmering process is the same, but we’ll replace pork bones with vegetables.
Ingredients
As an Asian, my pork bone broth recipe is more of an Asian version to incorporate in various Asian noodle and soup recipes. The ingredients are very simple: pork bones (tubular bones/chine bones/others), water, and salt. Depending on the dish you’re making, you can add different seasonings and marinades to the broth. For example, add dried shrimp, white onion, and ginger to turn the broth into Vietnamese hu tieu broth, or keep the broth original to make porridge.
How to Make Pork Bone Broth
Step 1 (Optional). Roasting/Blanching Pork Bones
- Roasting pork bones is an optional step depending on your preference. Actually, I usually skip this step to save time and blanch the pork bones instead just to achieve cleaner broth. However, it does give the pork bones a smoky, fragrant smell, and a deeper flavor than the raw ones. To do so, preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C), or turn on the grill. Wash the pork bones carefully, blanch them in boiling water for 5 minutes, then roast them in the oven or on the grill for 30 minutes until the outside is blackened.
Step 2. Simmering Pork Bones in a regular pot/ instant pot/ pressure cooker
- Add all the bones and 1 tsp of salt into a large pot, then pour in enough water to fully cover the bones. Turn the heat to low and begin simmering the broth. If you’re using a regular pot, I recommend simmering the broth for at least 4-6 hours. However, with a pressure cooker or instant pot, the simmering time can be reduced to 2-4 hours. You can adjust the thickness of your broth to save storage space in the freezer/refrigerator; if you prefer a more condensed broth, continue to cook for an additional 1-2 hours.
- While simmering, skim the foam that rises to the surface to keep the broth clean. If cooking on the stove, skim every 30 minutes. If using a pressure cooker/Instant Pot, skim the foam after releasing the valve and opening the lid.
- Once done, transfer the broth into a container and allow it to cool down. For a cleaner broth, use a fine mesh strainer to filter it. Once completely cooled, store it in the fridge (up to a maximum of 3 days) or freezer (up to a maximum of 3 months).
Storing Pork Bone Broth
Typically, I make a large amount of pork bone broth to use in various noodle recipes. Consequently, I often condense the broth and freeze it for a maximum of 3 months. After the broth has cooled down, I divide it into smaller portions and store them in different small containers for freezing. When using, I simply take out one portion, add more water and seasonings as needed, and heat it up again.
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How To Make Pork Bone Broth
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 kg 2.2 lbs pork bones
- 3 L 3.2 quarts water
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
Step 1 (Optional). Roasting/Blanching Pork Bones
- Roasting pork bones is an optional step depending on your preference. Actually, I usually skip this step to save time and blanch the pork bones instead just to achieve cleaner broth. However, it does give the pork bones a smoky, fragrant smell, and a deeper flavor than the raw ones. To do so, preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C), or turn on the grill. Wash the pork bones carefully, blanch them in boiling water for 5 minutes, then roast them in the oven or on the grill for 30 minutes until the outside is blackened. Blanch tubular bones
- Step 2. Simmering Pork Bones in a regular pot/ instant pot/ pressure cooker
- Add all the bones and 1 tsp of salt into a large pot, then pour in enough water to fully cover the bones. Turn the heat to low and begin simmering the broth. If you're using a regular pot, I recommend simmering the broth for at least 4-6 hours. However, with a pressure cooker or instant pot, the simmering time can be reduced to 2-4 hours. You can adjust the thickness of your broth to save storage space in the freezer/refrigerator; if you prefer a more condensed broth, continue to cook for an additional 1-2 hours.
- While simmering, skim the foam that rises to the surface to keep the broth clean. If cooking on the stove, skim every 30 minutes. If using a pressure cooker/Instant Pot, skim the foam after releasing the valve and opening the lid.
- Once done, transfer the broth into a container and allow it to cool down. For a cleaner broth, use a fine mesh strainer to filter it. Once completely cooled, store it in the fridge (up to a maximum of 3 days) or freezer (up to a maximum of 3 months).
It is pretty worth for me. Thanks for sharing