Homemade Turmeric Bone Broth

With the added anti-inflammatory benefits of turmeric and soothing ginger, this bone broth is the ultimate for supporting health and healing!

Turmeric Bone Broth

The health and healing benefits of bone broth are second to none, and this turmeric bone broth is no exception! In addition to the goodness and nutrients you get from a traditional bone broth, you are also getting the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits of turmeric and ginger making this recipe the ultimate one-two punch! 

Origins of Bone Broth

Bone broth has long been used in Chinese medicine (think: origins that date back to over 2,500 years ago!) to strengthen the kidneys, build blood volume, and support digestive health. Bone broth has a deep history of healing significance! It is also a way of utilizing the otherwise inedible parts of the animal. The making of bone broth dates back to before the invention of a pot – ancient cultures would actually cook meat, bones, vegetables, and water inside of the abdominal cavity of the animal using hot stones that were warmed in the fire.  

What are the benefits of bone broth?

There are SO many health benefits from consuming a quality-made bone broth! Generally speaking, bone broth is super nutritious and loaded with vitamins and minerals. 

• Animal bones contain a bounty of trace minerals (like calcium, magnesium, phosphorus to name a few) that are vital to building and strengthening your own bones!
• The connective tissues add glucosamine and chondroitin that help support joint health.
• When consuming bone broth, you also get a big dose of protein collagen that contains important amino acids.
• Bone broth is super easy to digest and easy on the stomach thanks to the gelatin that is created in the process.
• The amino acids in bone broth have anti-inflammatory compounds.
• The collagen proteins that are extracted in the cooking process are great for strengthening and thickening your hair, skin, and nails.

Bone broth truly is an MVP in the kitchen for its versatility and nourishment for your body!

Ingredients for Turmeric Bone Broth

To get the highest quality, most nutritious bone broth, you’ll want to use a variety of bones, including the feet, knuckles, and marrow. Here’s the full list of what you’ll need:

For Turmeric Chicken Bone Broth

• Chicken feet, wings, or necks – 2 pounds of chicken feet, wings, or necks make up the bone base of this turmeric chicken bone broth.
• Onion – 1 onion, unpeeled and quartered, heads in next to add a luscious flavor to the base.
• Carrots – 2 carrots, unpeeled and cut into large chunks, help add both a subtle sweetness and depth of flavor to the broth.
• Garlic – 1 bulb of garlic, unpeeled and cut in half cross-wise, finish out the base flavor trio.
• Apple Cider Vinegar – 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar help break down the connective tissues and provide acidity to the broth.
• Bay Leaves – 2 bay leaves head into the pot to provide the ultimate enhancement of the other flavors.
• Turmeric Root – you’ll need a 3-inch piece of fresh turmeric root, sliced into discs (or 1 teaspoon of ground turmeric) to add an earthy note to the broth, in addition to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
• Ginger Root – a 3-inch piece of fresh ginger root, sliced into discs (or 1 teaspoon of ground ginger) adds a great spice along with the soothing properties that aid with digestion.
• Sea Salt – sprinkle in 1 tablespoon of sea salt to round out all the flavors of the broth.
• Water – 4 quarts of water will act as the base of your broth.

For Turmeric Beef Bone Broth

• Beef Bones – 2 pounds of beef bones (knuckles, marrow, etc.) make up the bone base of this turmeric beef bone broth.
• ALL of the other ingredients listed above head into the pot also!

Supplies Needed for This Recipe

• Instant Pot -or-
• Slow Cooker -or-
• Large Stock Pot

How to Make Homemade Bone Broth with Turmeric

Making bone broth is actually a really easy, hands-off process. We’re giving you 3 options for making your homemade bone broth (Instant Pot, slow cooker, and stovetop!)

• Instant Pot – combine all of the ingredients in the pot and cook on high pressure for 2 hours. 
• Slow Cooker – combine all of the ingredients in the crock pot and cook on low for 12-24 hours.
• Stove – combine all of the ingredients in a large stockpot and cook on a low simmer for 12 hours.

Is bone broth with turmeric good for you?

Bone broth with turmeric is great for you! Whether you are looking for something to help support your general health and wellness, aid in healing from surgery or an illness, or help with postpartum recovery (to name a few), bone broth is a great addition to your general intake! 

What does vinegar do in bone broth?

The acid in the vinegar helps loosen and dissolve all the tough bits to extract the most nutrients from the bones and cartilage. This helps get the best of the “good stuff” you want out of the bones, including collagen, amino acids, and minerals. 

Does homemade bone broth have collagen?

Yes! Collagen is present in the connective tissues of the bones and breaks down into the broth through the cooking process. You may notice that your broth becomes gelatinous and jiggly when cooled – that’s because the collagen becomes gelatin-like when extracted, so think: the jigglier the better!

Is it cheaper to make your own bone broth?

Making your own bone broth can definitely be cheaper than purchasing cartons at the store. Stopping by the butcher counter at your local grocery store and asking if they have any bones for sale is a great way to get your hands on some bones for a reasonable price. Another easy cost-hack is to save the scraps from vegetables (onions and carrots) and bones (e.g., chicken wings, thighs, whole chickens) that you’re already using day-to-day in a storage bag or container in the freezer and pull them out when you are ready to make your bone broth. 

What are some ways to use bone broth?

There are SO many ways to use bone broth! Here are a few ideas:

• Sip it. Heat it in a mug and sip your bone broth for a warm and comforting drink.
• Use it in soup. Use your bone broth as the base for your favorite soup recipe.
• Substitute for water. Bone broth can replace any water or liquid component in a dish (bone broth rice is especially tasty–simply replace the water with bone broth in a 1:1 substitution!).
• Mashed Potatoes. Mashed potatoes are so comforting and flavorful with the addition of bone broth to smooth out the puree. 

How to Store and Reheat Bone Broth

If you are making a larger batch or not planning on using your bone broth within 3-5 days in the fridge, you have plenty of options for storage. For more details, check out our article HERE on How to Freeze Bone Broth.

• Ice Cube Trays – this is the most cumbersome process but gives you the most flexibility in defrosting smaller portions at a time. To make bone broth ice cubes, you’ll pour the bone broth into the trays, freeze, then transfer to a bag or container once frozen. 
• Gallon Ziploc Bags – this method is super quick but can be difficult to use after freezing if your broth is not completely thawed. Simply cool your broth, then portion into the ziplock bag, label, and lay flat to freeze. 
• Plastic Jars – while this isn’t my personal preference, it is definitely an option to freeze in plastic jars. To freeze in plastic jars, let your broth cool to handling temperature, pour into the jars (leaving an inch at the top), secure the lids, and freeze. 
• Glass Mason Jars – my personal preferred method for freezing. Just make sure you leave at least 1 inch of space at the top of the jar to account for the broth expanding as it freezes. Read THIS ARTICLE for tips on how to successfully freeze your broth in glass jars without them breaking on you.

To serve: defrost your bone broth in the refrigerator overnight (if frozen). Reheat in a pot on the stove or in the microwave until warm. For sipping, I recommend adding an extra pinch of sea salt and fresh lemon juice (about 1 whole lemon per quart of broth) to reinvigorate the flavors and add some brightness. Enjoy!