Bone Broth Recipe: Traditional Spanish Comfort Elixir 2026

Bone broth is a traditional, savory and deeply comforting preparation that has been simmered in Spanish kitchens for generations. This recipe shows you how to make it so you can use it as a base for other dishes or simply enjoy it on its own as a warming elixir on cold days.

Beyond the bones, the broth can be enriched with vegetables and aromatic herbs. Among the most commonly used are carrot, onion, celery and leek, which add flavor and nutrients to the broth.

Although making bone broth is relatively simple, it requires a long cooking time to achieve a quality broth. The longer the bones and other ingredients simmer, the more concentrated and flavorful the final result will be.

Ingredients for Bone Broth

This recipe makes about 2 liters, serving 6.

• 300 g pork spine
• 250 g beef marrow bone
• 250 g beef knuckle bone
• 200 g ham bone
• 1 carrot
• 1 red onion
• 1 leek
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

How to Make Bone Broth Step by Step

1. Roast the bones in the oven

To prepare a delicious and full-bodied broth, start by placing 300 g of pork spine, 250 g of beef marrow bone, 250 g of beef knuckle bone and 200 g of ham bone on a baking tray. Roast the bones at 200 °C for 20 minutes until toasted.

2. Transfer the bones and vegetables to a pot

After roasting, transfer the bones to a large pot with a capacity of at least 6 liters. Add 1 peeled carrot, 1 red onion with the first layer removed and 1 leek cleaned of dirt.

3. Add the bay leaves, salt and vinegar

Next, add 2 bay leaves, 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. The apple cider vinegar helps extract the substance from the bones.

4. Cover with water and cook for about 5 hours

Cover the ingredients with 4 liters of water and bring the pot to a boil over high heat. Once it starts boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook the broth for about 5 hours.

5. Skim the broth during cooking

During cooking, remove the foam that forms on the surface to obtain a clean, clear broth.

6. Strain the broth

After 5 hours of cooking, strain the broth and set it aside in a large bowl until it cools so you can place it in the refrigerator.

7. Refrigerate it and remove the fat

Once the broth is cold, refrigerate it for at least 12 hours. After this time in the refrigerator, discard the fat that has formed on the surface.

8. Reheat it before drinking or using

Since the broth will be quite gelatinous once refrigerated, reheat it before using. This broth can be consumed as is or used as a base for other culinary preparations.

Tips for the Best Bone Broth

Enrich it with vegetables and herbs

Beyond the bones, the broth can be enriched with vegetables and aromatic herbs. Carrot, onion, celery and leek are among the most commonly used and add both flavor and nutrients.

Give it enough cooking time

Ideally, cook it over low heat for a minimum of 4 or 5 hours. In many cases these broths have been simmered for periods of up to 24 or even 36 hours using equipment suited to long cooking, which intensifies the flavor even further.

Use it as a base or store it

This broth can be used as a base for another recipe that calls for a consistent, flavorful stock. It can also be consumed as is or frozen once cold for later use.

30 Top Recipes I Keep Coming Back to at Home

Like a lot of home cooks, I like having a go-to rotation that covers cozy comfort plates, well-known dishes from around the world, and sweets that please a crowd.

When a rich, indulgent treat is what I'm after, my picks are usually this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luscious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when I want something fruity and cozy, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is the one I reach for.

Mornings and lighter plates call for these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple I can keep on hand, this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the job.

Tapas and Mediterranean cooking are a mood I return to often, and I tend to cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, these crackly Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, a velvety Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This chilled Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe also makes the table when I feel like something a bit more elevated.

Come lunch or a slow dinner at home, I'm quick to suggest this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, a time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, a deep-flavored Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and silky Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When hunger runs bigger, I'll bake this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Street-food cravings and party spreads usually mean this saucy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, golden Salchipapas recipe, a punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These simple Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe also work nicely as a light starter or snack.

And when guests are coming and drinks are part of the plan, dinner often gets paired with a cool Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a jug of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the spread, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe alongside, or ending with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After years of trying, tweaking, and remaking dishes in my own kitchen, I've come to see that the ones that stick around are built on straightforward steps, methods you can trust, and serious flavor.

What follows is the set of recipes I keep circling back to—whether it's a fast plate just for me or a bigger spread for the people I love.

On the sweet side, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is one I turn to when I want something that feels fancy without much fuss. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the well-known Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better texture in desserts comes in handy, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

For something light and uncomplicated, I'll usually reach for the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. And for heavier comfort plates, my usual picks are the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the velvety Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the speedy weeknight go-to One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm just as happy sharing dishes with roots in other countries, like the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crunchy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and Spain's own Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another area I use all the time, since it cuts down on effort while still giving you excellent results. The ones I make most are Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a baked pasta classic can still be creamy, cheesy, and completely satisfying without any gluten.

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