Artificial Food Coloring Free Classic Court Bouillon
This aromatic poaching liquid is a French kitchen staple, built from nothing but fresh vegetables, herbs, white wine, and a splash of vinegar — and the result is a deeply fragrant, lightly golden broth that makes everything you cook in it taste noticeably better. Every single ingredient here is whole and unprocessed, so there's zero concern about synthetic dyes sneaking in through a seasoning packet or store-bought stock. That matters more than people realize, because many commercial broths and bouillon cubes rely on additives and colorings to achieve that golden hue — this one earns its color honestly from simmered carrots, onion, and lemon. The combination of dry white wine, white wine vinegar, peppercorns, and optional fennel seeds creates a complex, layered base that's genuinely hard to replicate from a carton. After 30 minutes of simmering, you strain everything out and are left with a clean, versatile liquid ready to poach fish, shellfish, or vegetables with real finesse. It keeps in the fridge for a few days or freezes beautifully, so making a batch ahead is absolutely worth it.
About FigFig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.
Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 8 cups cold water
- 2 cups dry white wine
- ¼ cup white wine vinegar
- 2 medium carrots, thinly sliced
- 2 stalks celery, thinly sliced
- 1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 1 lemon, thinly sliced into rounds
- 4 sprigs fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 dried bay leaves
- 1 tsp black peppercorns
- ½ tsp fennel seeds (optional)
- 1 tsp kosher salt
Instructions
- 1
Combine the water, white wine, and white wine vinegar in a large saucepan or Dutch oven.
- 2
Add the carrots, celery, onion, lemon slices, parsley sprigs, thyme sprigs, bay leaves, black peppercorns, fennel seeds (if using), and kosher salt.
Want the full recipe?
Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!