Make your own vegan beef broth and bouillon at home! This quick and easy beef broth substitute is a great way to add umami and depth of flavor to recipes that call for beef broth, while keeping them vegetarian and vegan. You can also use it to replace store-bought vegan beef flavor products and bouillon. Made with dried mushroom powder, nutritional yeast, and a few herbs and spices, this homemade version of meatless broth is much more wholesome and versatile.
Whip up a batch in minutes, and you'll be ready to use it in everything from vegan "beef" stew to soups, sauces, seitan, and casseroles! Contains no oil, gluten, soy, nuts, or refined sugar.
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A Useful Pantry Staple
After some really positive feedback on my vegan chicken broth powder recipe I figured it's time for a beef version!
I've tried a variety of vegan bouillon products over the years, especially when testing recipes like Seitan Ribs and Vegan Turkey Roast.
Last summer I made many test batches of the ribs recipe because not only was it for a local vegan BBQ cookoff (and I wanted it to be juuuust right), but I also knew I'd be sharing the recipe here on the blog.
I ended up buying multiple jars of the vegan beef flavor seasoning by Orrington Farms (pictured below). Unfortunately, it's sort of pricey for what it is, and it's not exactly made with the highest quality ingredients.
It worked fine in the seitan ribs, which have LOADS of flavor from a variety of other ingredients, but on its own, the store-bought beef broth mix doesn't even taste that great!
But this homemade broth powder actually tastes wonderful! Try it mixed in hot water for a soothing and nutritious broth.
This versatile umami seasoning is pantry-friendly and shelf-stable, so it's an easy ingredient to always have on hand.
If you're not sure how else you might use it beyond making broth, keep reading for ideas!
Ingredient Notes
While there isn't a lot of room for substitution in this recipe, a few of the ingredients are flexible. I recommend trying the recipe as written first. Then, if there's something you'd like to tweak, you can adjust the individual ingredient amounts to suit your taste.
- shiitake mushroom powder - ordering shiitake mushroom powder online is probably easiest, although with the popularity of dried mushrooms and supplements surging in recent years, some well-stocked grocery stores now carry mushroom powder.
- nutritional yeast - this is a key ingredient in this recipe and cannot be omitted.
NOTE: If you think you don't like nutritional yeast but have only tried fortified brands (e.g., Bragg's, etc), I highly recommend this non-fortified one by Sari Foods.
Their nutritional yeast contains naturally occurring B1, B2, B5, and B6, as well as 18 amino acids and 15 minerals. It does not contain B12 or folate, which are usually added to other brands of nutritional yeast. You can learn more about fortified vs. non-fortified nutritional yeast on the Sari website. - smoked paprika - adds color and smokiness
- onion and garlic powder - important for overall flavor
- dried oregano - often associated in our minds with Italian recipes made with beef; feel free to use basil or parsley instead
- ground ginger - this one's optional, but I do like to include a small amount for subtle flavor
- fine sea salt and black pepper
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How to Make It
This part couldn't be easier! Simply combine the ingredients in a bowl or lidded jar, then whisk or shake it to combine. Ta-da! Homemade beef-y seasoning.
If the nutritional yeast you're using contains large flakes you may want to pulse it in a blender a few times to make it more powdered, similar to the mushroom powder, but that's totally up to you.
How to Store
I like to keep a jar of this powdered umami seasoning in the refrigerator, right next to a jar of this chicken-less seasoning, so I can quickly grab them while cooking. Since this it made entirely of dried ingredients it keeps for months.
It's also fine at room temperature (as long as it's cool and dry) or in the freezer, if preferred.
Preparation Tip
If you include oil in your diet, try adding a few drops of a mild-tasting olive oil or refined coconut oil when using the powder to prepare broth. Oil contributes a richness that would normally be found in beef stock or broth.
FAQs
Absolutely. When a recipe calls for regular vegetable broth, this mushroom-based vegan broth mix is a perfect substitute. Simply follow the recipe instructions to prepare the amount of liquid broth needed.
That's a great question and one that's difficult to answer definitively. The general answer is "many months." Refer to the freshness dates on the packages of mushroom powder and nutritional yeast to get an idea. To extend freshness store the powder mix in the refrigerator or freezer.
Ways to Use Vegan Beef Broth Powder
Now the fun part! Add spoonfuls of this seasoning powder directly into recipes, or whisk into hot water to create a vegan beef broth base.
- Try it with soy curls in this vegan taco meat.
Speaking of soy curls, prepare the broth to re-hydrate soy curls for use in all sorts of recipes. A lot of soy curl recipes call for rehydrating the curls in water before using, but why use plain water when you can add more flavor? - Saute it with crumbled seitan for nachos, burritos, enchiladas, and taco bowls.
- Add it to your favorite vegan burger patties.
- Include a tablespoon or two of the powdered mix when cooking rice, quinoa, and other grains.
- Add a scoop to the pot when cooking lentils, curries, stews, and chili. Reduce the salt you would normally add to accommodate the saltiness of this seasoning.
- And use it instead of chicken-less broth to make a "beef" version of this vegan rice-a-roni!
The next time you see a recipe that calls for vegan beef broth, you're all set with a healthy homemade option!
If you try the recipe I would love to hear from you. Comment below to let us know your favorite ways to use this beef-less seasoning!
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Recipe
Vegan "Beef" Broth Powder and Seasoning
Ingredients
- ¼ cup shiitake mushroom powder
- ¼ cup nutritional yeast - Any type is okay, but I highly recommend the non-fortified one by Sari.
- 1 to 1 ¼ teaspoons fine sea salt - Adjust to suit the intended use and/or your dietary needs. See Notes.
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper - Adjust to taste.
- ⅛ teaspoon dried oregano
- ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger
Instructions
- If the nutritional yeast you're using contains large flakes you may want to pulse it in a blender a few times for a more powdered texture (optional). Starting with the lesser amount of salt, combine all ingredients in a bowl or lidded jar, and whisk to combine. Taste a pinch and add more salt if desired.
- Always stir before using so the flavors are well combined. To make broth, use 2 to 3 teaspoons powder per 1 cup of hot water (depends on how strong you want the broth to be; start with lesser amount). Tip: when preparing broth you can also incorporate a splash of soy sauce or a spoonful of miso for even more saltiness and umami richness.Refer to the post above for more ideas and ways to use your homemade beef-less seasoning.
Notes
Estimated Nutrition (per serving)
Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on the exact amounts and specific products and ingredients used.
Andrea says
My family loves this recipe. We use it in recipes often. So easy and flavorful. My husband and daughter also request a warm cup of this broth when they are feeling under the weather. We like to drink it with a squeeze of lemon. I keep a big batch in my cabinet - I quadruple the recipe each time I make it. Thank you for sharing!