I Heart Umami Chicken Bouillon
I Heart Umami Chicken Bouillon Powder is Paleo, Whole30, Keto, and gluten-free, easy to make in an oven. Healthy homemade chicken bouillon powder for instant chicken cup noodle soup or any stir-fry dishes!
Guys! I’m super excited to share my own brand of I Heart Umami Chicken Bouillon Powder with you today! I’m been dying to make my own homemade chicken bouillon for a long time and for some reason I didn’t think it was possible. In my mind, chicken bouillon is complicated to make and I’ve never seen mom or grandma make it at home so it never registered in my mind that this is something I should look into further.
Chicken bouillon is such a common seasoning that everyone uses back home and it’s the same in the west. Guess what? The flavor of the chicken bouillon vary, depending on the regions and countries. I first realize this after I moved to the states. The same brand – Maggi bouillon – actually tastes different in China/Taiwan/Hong Kong than in the U.S. How interesting!
I Heart Umami Chicken Bouillon (Paleo, Whole30, Keto, Gluten-free)
My version of homemade chicken bouillon draws flavor inspiration from Chinese and Taiwanese cuisine and one distinction is by using shiitake mushrooms. Shiitake adds rich meaty umami flavor and it’s so distinctive in Asian cooking so shiitake is a must-have to make Asian-flavored Chicken Bouillon!
Fresh or Dry Shiitake for Homemade Chicken Bouillon?
I highly recommend using dry shiitake because it’s easier to grind them to powder however I know not everyone has access to buy dehydrated shiitake so I also experimented with fresh shiitake. Both the dehydrated and fresh shiitake mushrooms give the same aroma to my chicken bouillon recipe but the fresh shiitake requires some extra bake time in the oven.
So why did I make my own chicken bouillon? Well, I had to stop using the store-bought bouillon because personally I really don’t like added sugar and cornstarch in my food. Beyond that, I would like to avoid additives and preservatives in my cooking. I’m also looking for a bouillon with a flavor that’s more suitable for Asian dishes. So a homemade simple bouillon like I Heart Umami Chicken Bouillon will open so many possibilities in healthy cooking. How exciting !
Is Chicken Bouillon Healthy?
I Heart Umami Chicken Bouillon uses no preservatives, msg, sugar, corn starch, gluten, and wheat. It’s simple to make healthy chicken bouillon with oven and a grinder or food processor. Chicken bouillon is meant to be used as a flavor base to add depth and extra umami boost to soups, stews, and even stir-fries. You’ll see how I use my chicken bouillon for instant chicken noodle soup, ramen, cup noodles, and many many more to come!
You cab see how I use I Heart Umami Chicken Bouillon for Instant Asian-flavored Noodle Cups, ranged from Japanese ‘miso’-flavored zoodle cups, Korean Kimchi noodle cups, to Thai coconut curry noodle cups – just in-time before January Whole30. They are also perfect for everyday quick school/office lunch and healthy snacks. I guarantee they taste BETTER than any store-bought instant noodle soup.
So my dear friends! I highly recommend you give my homemade Chicken Bouillon a try. You can use it to replace salt to season chicken breasts or add it to soup to create flavor foundation. They stay fresh in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 1 month.
Be sure to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. If sharing on social media, be sure to tag @iheartumami.ny on Instagram. I’d love to see how you use my Chicken Bouillon!
I Heart Umami Chicken Bouillon (Paleo, Whole30, Keto, Gluten-Free)
Ingredients
- 6 oz. de-hydrated shiitake mushrooms, , grind to fine powder (optional. see notes)
- 1 cup finely chopped and cooked chicken or turkey
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- ½ tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp coarse salt
- 3 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 3.5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F (325 F for convection oven).
- Mushroom: Grind the dry shiitake mushrooms in a high speed blender until they become fine powder (about 30-40 seconds). Allow the fine mushroom powder mist to settle in the jar for 2-3 minutes before opening the container.
- Chicken: In a separate food processor, finely chop cooked chicken.
- Combine: Mix well mushroom powder, chicken, onion and garlic powder, salt, and nutritional yeast over a large sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Drizzle with olive oil and use a spoon to mix and coat the oil evenly over the ingredients.
- Bake: Spread them out in one thin layer over a large sheet pan. Bake for 10 minutes, middle rack, then remove the sheet pan from the oven. Fluff the ingredients. Lower the temperature to 325 F (300 convection oven) and bake an additional 10 minutes.
- Blend again: Out of the oven, allow them to cool and blend everything in a food processor again until they become super fine powder, about 1-2 minutes.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 weeks. For the most fragrant flavor, best finish within 2-3 weeks. Use it as soup/stock base or sprinkle it over meat, seafood, eggs, or vegetables to replace salt.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Love my homemade healthy sauces/seasonings? Also check out my Easy Whole30 Gochujang, Thai No Peanut Peanut Sauce, Paleo Cashew Parmesan Cheese, and Paleo Coconut Condensed Milk.
Hi hi! I’m loving all your recipes! Can this be stored in the freezer so it can last longer?
Hi Catherine, thank you! They stay fresh in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 1 month. Freezer should be longer but it will be less fragrant. 🙂
Made today for the first time. Had to used dried portobello as the store was out of dried shiitake. Tastes great, but next time I need to add more salt – the only ingredient I didn’t actually measure. And, I might up both onion and garlic. But, it’s good and I’ll really appreciate having this to help with quick, tasty, good-for-you meals.
It didn’t get as dry as I expected it to get.
Also, I put some in two small containers and put in the freezer. Has anyone else tried freezing?
Thanks!
HI Kim, thank you! Bouillon tends to be more salty in flavor so please feel free to season with more salt. Oven temperature varies. Maybe add 5 extra minutes bake time to see if it becomes drier. 🙂 It stays fresh in a sealed container in the freezer for up to 1 month. I haven’t tried freezing it. It should stay longer in the freezer but the fragrance might decrease though.
Hi ChihYu!
How/where do you store this and how long is it good for?
Hi Karla, store in an airtight glass container in the fridge. I like to finish it within 3 weeks for the most fragrant flavor.
Can you exchange olive oil to avocado oil?
Yes but olive oil will add extra flavor to the bouillon. 😉
Awesome recipe I would like to try! What part of the chicken that you used? Chicken breast?
Hi Susan, thank you! I use a rotisserie chicken. My husband like to buy rotisserie chicken so there’s always extra chicken in the fridge.
I use some breast and some thigh so it’s a combination. 🙂
Can you double the amount of the mushrooms to make it a vegetarian bouillon?
Hi Nina, thanks for the message. I have yet to try it without the chicken (since it’s a chicken bouillon:). My guess is you might need to add more dry herbs to make the bouillon more flavorful.
Hello, great idea, will definately try! Would it be possible to use beef intstead of chicken? Kind Regards Frida
Hi Frida! Lovely meeting you here. That’s an interesting idea. I have yet to try it. I guess it will be beef bouillon? If you do, please let me know. I’m curious to learn, too!
Hello
Can the yeast be left out? I don’t have any at home and would be good to try this. Thanks.
Hi Audrey, thank you! Nutritional yeast adds extra umami flavor to the bouillon. I highly recommend using it in the recipe :))
What a great idea to make your own bouillon!
This is great, so much healthier than all of the store bought bouillon with all of the additives! I love that you have used shiitake mushrooms too as they come with health benefits of their own 🙂
what a fantastic idea! Your genius in the kitchen never ceases to amaze me!
Although I regularly make chicken broth by cooking bones in water, I had never thought of making the bouillon powder! I don’t like to buy them either, but there are certainly times when it would be very handy to have this on hand! I’m definitely pinning this to try!
Wow! I have never made my own bouillon before. You make it look so easy, thanks for breaking down these simple steps for us. The flavor you’ve packed into your version is so perfect!
Ohhh this is SO fantastic – I am definitely make this soon! Thank you for the great idea!
Wow! What a cool recipe! Love those magical mushrooms and use of nutritional yeast.
WoW!
I make my own seasonings with wild/cultivated mushrooms and I love this version.. YES!! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, ChihYu!
I have been wanting to make my own bouillon, so now is the time!
You are so very welcome, Kathy! Let me know how it goes!
Thank you so very very much!! You are an epicurean genius! This recipe was the moment when the lightbulb went on knowing that I now have some actually healthy and delicious bouillon and that I did not even know that it was possible but I have recently been desiring then I see your recipe! Thank you again for helping us to help ourselves have a helping Of I heart umami! I would get this recipe A thousand stars if I could!
Thank you so much, Michelle. I’m so flattered. Very happy to be able to share. Much love, XO!
Have you ever tried using other types of dried mushrooms?
Hi Elani! Thank you! I haven’t. Different mushrooms will give different flavor. Shiitake will be the most close to Asian-flavored food :))
Whoa – I never knew you can make chicken boullion at home! This is so much healthier than the store bought version, and I bet tastier too.
Thank you, Jean!
How fascinating! I’ve never imagined making my own but it sure looks easy, delicious, and more healthy than store bought. I can’t wait to try this. Thank you soooo much for developing this recipe!!
You are so very welcome, Diane. Thank you and we love you!
Do you think I could use a dehydrator for this (the chicken), or does the oven baking add a “toasted” flavor?
Hi Brian! That’s a wonderful question. Unfortunately I don’t own a dehydrator so I’m not sure what food tastes like after being dehydrated. I intentionally mix-in olive oil to give the ingredients some degree of fat so the final product is not a super dry spice powder. There’s some moisture to it. Be that as it may, I say try it with a dehydrator then blend and mix in with other dry spices and see how it goes. It makes about 1 2/3 cups, using only 1 cup of cooked chicken or turkey so it’ll be quick to make! Let me know how it goes!