
Court bouillon is one of those foundational kitchen preparations that transforms the way you poach fish, shellfish, or vegetables — and this version is deeply aromatic, built entirely from fresh produce, wine, and whole spices. White wine and white wine vinegar give the broth a bright acidity, while carrots, celery, onion, lemon rounds, parsley, thyme, and bay leaves slowly simmer together into something that smells absolutely incredible. The optional fennel seeds add a subtle anise note that pairs beautifully with delicate seafood. Because every single ingredient here is a whole, unprocessed food, there are no hidden preservatives or cured-meat additions to worry about — just clean, honest flavor from start to finish. Store-bought broths and poaching liquids can be surprisingly tricky territory, often containing additives you'd rather avoid, so making your own takes all the guesswork off the table. The strained liquid keeps in the fridge for up to three days or freezes well for up to three months, meaning you can batch it ahead and have a pristine, preservative-free poaching base ready whenever you need it.
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Combine the water, white wine, and white wine vinegar in a large saucepan or Dutch oven.
Add the carrots, celery, onion, lemon slices, parsley sprigs, thyme sprigs, bay leaves, black peppercorns, fennel seeds (if using), and kosher salt.
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