It’s so easy and inexpensive it is to make your own Vegan Instant Pot Bouillon! You just need a few veggies and herbs plus a little inspiration.
What is a vegetarian substitute for chicken bouillon?
Why this recipe is! It’s based on cooked veggies, a few herbs, and some nutritional yeast.
It’s the nutritional yeast that really brings the umami and makes it taste like vegan chicken.
Is Bouillon the Same As Veggie Broth Or Vegetable Stock?
To me, bouillon is broth’s practical big sister. Both bring the depth of flavor that your soups, stews, and other recipes need. If you prefer broth by all means use it, but I like grabbing a cube out of the freezer as I need it.
Broth takes up a lot of space in your fridge and/or freezer because it’s the strength that you will use it. Bouillon’s concentrated flavor so you use less, which means it takes up less storage space. Broth can be made with leftover scraps while my vegan bouillon recipe uses whole veggies and herbs.
At its base, vegetable bouillon is just cooked and pureed veggies. The flavor becomes more complicated as you cook an onion, carrot, and celery along with some herbs. After that, you can add flavorings like nutritional yeast, mushroom powder, tomato powder, and many more to add a slant. Nutritional yeast makes the flavor chickeny and mushroom powder makes it beefier – all while being 100% vegan.
Are Bouillon Cubes Vegan? Gluten-Free? Oil-Free? Salt-Free?
One great reason to make your own bouillon is to know exactly what’s in it so you’re guaranteed that’s it’s vegan, gluten-free, and has no added salt or oil. In fact, you can change out any ingredient that you are allergic to or simply don’t like.
Store-bought bouillon is another story altogether! There is vegan chicken bouillon that sometimes sits next to real chicken bouillon so always read the labels carefully.
You can get bouillon powder and some of those are oil and/or salt-free, but you always want to read the labels. Same thing for any bouillon cubes you can get at the store.
They tend to sneak in oil, salt, and even preservatives into them. Honestly, once you make your own bouillon, you’ll never look back!
It’s Easy to Make Vegetarian Bouillon Cubes
All you’re going to cut up a few veggies, through in some herbs, and cook them in your Instant Pot in a strainer.
Then you’ll puree them with some extra flavoring like nutritional yeast. Easy peasy!
Can I Freeze Bouillon Cubes?
Yes, you can, and it’s the best thing ever! Once you puree the veggies and add your flavorings, portion the bouillon into ice cube trays. Most regular-sized ice cube trays hold 2 tablespoons. Once frozen, pop out into resealable bags or a freezer-safe container.
Both the ice cube trays and your Instant Pot Lid can go in the dishwasher!
How Much of this Homemade Bouillon Do I Use in Place of Store-bought?
I use 1 of my frozen bouillon cubes, where it calls for 1 store-bought cube. If I want more flavor, I may sneak in a second one, but since there’s no salt, it doesn’t throw off your recipe.
If you add salt to yours or use Better than Bouillon, that’s very salt heavy, you should do it by taste. It can get too salty fast so don’t let it sneak up on you.
How Do I Use Bouillon in Place of Broth?
Basically use the same amount of water that the recipe calls for in broth. Then add a bouillon cube for every 2 to 4 cups of water depending on how strong you want the flavor to be and how much salt is in the vegetable bouillon cubes you are using.
More Recipes to Try
- Creamy Mushroom Curry and Pilaf – Pot in Pot Method
- Instant Pot Quick Pickled Beets
- Instant Pot Caballero Bean & Soy Curl Chili
- Instant Pot Orange Lime Chile Jackfruit
- Instant Pot Vegetable Bolognese
- Instant Pot Vegan Tomato Soup
- Thai Style Eggplant Mushroom Stew w/ Tofu
Salt-free Instant Pot Vegan Bouillon
Equipment
Ingredients
Instant Pot Ingredients
- ½ cup water
- 2 large onions quartered
- 6 medium carrots cut into 2 to 3 inch pieces
- 4 celery stalks ,cut into 2 to 3 inch pieces
- 3 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried rosemary optional
Blender Ingredients
- 1 cup nutritional yeast
Instructions
For your pressure cooker
- Add the water, onions, carrots, celery and herbs to your Instant Pot liner.
- Put the lid on and cook with manual/pressure cook on high pressure for 10 minutes.
- Let the pressure release naturally.
For the blender
- Carefully scoop the cooked veggies and broth into your blender.
- Add the nutritional yeast. Blend until smooth.
How to store
- Store what you can use in a week in the refrigerator. Freeze the rest in ice-cube trays and put into resealable contianers.
- Use 1 to 2 cubes in place of 1 commercial bouillon cube.
Sandy Knapp says
Is this msg free with the inclusion of nutritional yeast?
Kathy Hester says
Honestly, I wouldn’t know. Many things naturally contain msg like potatoes, peas, tomatoes, etc. If you are on an msg free diet I would consult your Doctor.
P says
Can I make it without onion and yeast? And if yes, will that taste like chicken broth? Thanks!
Kathy Hester says
You can, but it will not taste like chicken broth. It’s the nutritional yeast that makes it taste similar.
Colleen says
Are you pureeing it with a food processor or mixer or blender? Thanks!
Kathy Hester says
You can use a food processor or a blender. I use a blender.
alyr says
OMG this is fantastic. I’ve been using it for a couple months now and you have saved me countless hours making 12 cups per week home made broth/stock in my Instantpot. I’m a vegan Nutritarian and eat A LOT of soup! LOL I came back today since I misplaced the recipe and didn’t feel like making regular broth.
Now if I run out of my weekly soups or base, I can throw a “cube” in a pot or my Vitamix with some water and sauted mushrooms and onions or broccoli/asparagus etc and onions and have mushroom or broccoli or asparagus soup (etc.) in no time.
When I do make the stock/broth, here’s my recipe:
(Ratio 1:1 onion to half carrot half celery or if you just weigh them make sure you have double the amount of onion to the total of both celery and carrot.)
This will be slightly sweet but I use even less onion now since I’ve been completely Nutritarian for a long time and as time passed I wanted things less sweet.
I don’t use any added sodium so there’s no salt or fake salt involved.
Throw in:
Jumbo red onions chopped – covering about 2 inches in the pot bottom
Two inches half carrot and half celery covering the onion- chopped
2 bay leaves
cap full of whole peppercorns
few cloves of smashed garlic
A lot of thyme sprigs – at least 8-10
Fill with water
On “soup” or pressure cook for about 45 min.
Thank you for inventing this great recipe/idea.
Kathy Hester says
I’m so happy you like it and made it your own! I have saved so much money making my own.
alyr says
I’m back lol. No you misunderstood. I make the bouillon exactly as your recipe. The recipe I wrote is for regular IP stock. 🙂 Thanks again for a great website.
Barbie says
I’m allergic to onions, mushrooms, and peppers. What do you recommend to replace these to get a savory bouillon?
Kathy Hester says
It’s going to be a bit of a challenge, but maybe try potato and carrot as the body with herbs of your choice.
alyr says
I’m back lol. No you misunderstood. I make the bouillon exactly as your recipe. The recipe I wrote is for regular IP stock. 🙂 Thanks again for a great website.
Deidra says
We have a yeast allergy…is there anything that can be used to replace it?
Kathy Hester says
You can just leave it out.
Arpita Patel says
I didn’t use low sodium broth but wish I had or left out the extra salt but was great soup! Good taste, easy to make, and fast! Will make again.
Ilene says
what if you don’t have an instant pot?
Kathy Hester says
Try this recipe on my other blog: https://healthyslowcooking.com/thrifty-vegan-customize-your-own-veggie-bouillon/
Ilene says
can you use something other than thyme?
Kathy Hester says
Yes, you can use your herb of choice.
Kristina says
How long does this last in the fridge?
Kathy Hester says
It lasts in the fridge less than a week – maybe 5- 6 days. But frozen it lasts months.
Buffie says
Are the veggies being cooked in the water or are you using a steamer basket and steaming them?
Kathy Hester says
You can do it either way, but in the video I show putting the veggies in a steamer basket. If you cook int he water , you will need to strain and reserve some of the cooking liquid just in case you need it for blending.
I hope this helps!
Debra says
Can I freeze dry this and use it as a dry boullion?
Kathy Hester says
I’ve never done that, so I’m not sure. I have another dry bouillon recipe that I make.
Heather says
Which dry bouillon do you use? I searched the website and couldn’t find it, and everything I’ve found at the store has corn products in it (Maltodextrin, my son is allergic) so I’m trying to find a good replacement for those. Thank you for your time!
Kathy Hester says
The recipe is on my other sire: https://healthyslowcooking.com/vegan-chicken-bouillon-powder-recipe/
Lori F. says
For the Beefy version, would sun-dried tomatoes (no oil) work better including in the IP, or afterward when you blend…or are sun-dried tomatoes a good idea at all? I don’t want to make them into a powder and would prefer to use them right out of the package, if that makes sense.
Kathy Hester says
I think they would work in the initial cook. I do have a beefy powder recipe here: https://healthyslowcooking.com/vegan-beef-broth/
Kevin says
If I don’t have an instapot, can I do the first stage in an crockpot on high for twelve hours or so and then blend with the nutritional yeast?
Kathy Hester says
Yes – you can even cook less. Find the slow cooker recipe here: https://healthyslowcooking.com/thrifty-vegan-customize-your-own-veggie-bouillon/
Kevin says
Thank you so much for this recipe! I’m putting together meals for a friend who has to limit sodium and salt, so this bouillon can serve as a base for several meals for her. I was wondering though if you have any tips on how to get the frozen cubes out of ice trays? I’ve tried a few times now and can’t get a good twist on the ice cube trays and can’t pry the cubes out with a fork. I don’t usually make ice cubes so maybe there’s something I’m missing. Any tips on how to get the bouillon cubes out would be appreciated though.
Kathy Hester says
I wonder what kind of ice cube trays you used. I use cheap hard plastic ones and they are harder to get out of those. If you can’t get it to twist, run some warm water over the bottom and give it a good smack on a cutting board and see if that doesn’t help.
alyr says
I bought 2.4 oz silicone cups with silicone lids for storage in the freezer (or anywhere) from Amazon. Name “Koluti”.
Kelly Vollmer says
I made this for the Tomato soup. I have most of mine in the freezer in my 2 TBS Souper Cubes. This is delicious.
Kevin says
Thanks! When I let the ice trays sit at room temperature for a bit it was easier to get the cubes out. They are delicious! They do stick to each other when I put the frozen cubes in a ziplock in the freezer. I just plan to leave the bag at room temperature to pry one or two cubes off when needed. Should be easy enough.
eileen says
I do not have an instant pot
What would I do to make this recipe on the stove?
Thank You
Lori says
An easy way to get the cubes out of the tray is to first line the tray with plastic wrap. Just lay a large sheet over the tray and then push it down into the indents (I use my thumb). Then pour the cooled bouillon into the wells and pop the trays in the freezer. Once frozen, it\’s easy to just pull the plastic wrap up and the whole tray will release the cubes. I hope you find this helpful. PEACE