No chicken stock cubes ... what can I use instead?

[BigSandyBalls2015]

I'm doing a recipe tonight which requires a chicken stock cube, just realised I don't have any and I'm isolating so can't go out. I don't have any stock cubes at all, just a pot of bisto gravy granules ... but presume that wouldn't work? Any ideas?

What is the recipe, if it's not a secret?

Salt. Or make some vegetable stock.

Make a roux with flour and butter. Add a variety of dried herbs (rosemary, thyme, sage?), and/or some chopped garlic or garlic paste/lazy garlic. Add a splash of milk, mix furiously all the whole and you’ll have a good base. Worst case then yes gravy granules could work. You need something to add flavour and something that will thicken. What’s the recipe?

Just leave it out.

I would make a weak stock with marmite in that case. The bisto gravy granules might work so long as you make it very weak so the gravy doesn't thicken? maybe 1tsp to half a pint of water instead of the usual 4 tsp.

Brown the chicken, deglaze with hot water, add a glug of wine. At a push a bit of white wine vinegar and a dash of Worcestershire sauce for a bit more flavour.

Use marmite, vegemite or bovril

Thanks. It's fajita orzo from A Pinch of Nom. Turkey or chicken mince, fajita spices, orzo, peppers, onions, cheese .... 600ml of water and one stock cube. So do I just put a bit of marmite or gravy granules into the water. I can't just put water in it as it would be tasteless.

I've never made it before. Trying out new things now I've got so much time on my hands

Sounds nice I love orzo I’d be a bit worried nothing would produce the same end taste as chicken stock would

I wouldn't bother with gravy granules. Just use water...it will be fine.

In that recipe I'd use white wine and a pinch of salt. Maybe a dash of Worcestershire sauce

No white wine either ..... my wine consumption has increased no end during this isolation!

Vegetable stock cube instead

Dash of nam pla / fish sauce? Very Salty which will be similar to chicken stock

Sorry, just seen you got no stock cubes 🙄

Oooh I do have fish sauce in the fridge .... haven't used that for a while though so hope it's not off

Just salt would be fine with all those other flavours. I'd probably use a quarter to half a teaspoon and then taste it and add more if needed.

Sherry? Few random herbs - eg thyme, bay leaf etc.

We always have a cheap (Lidl/Aldi) bottle of sherry on the go for cooking purposes as neither of us like it enough to drink it because it's there...

Vegetable water with seasoning / tin of soup or instant soup mix with water.

Ring a friend and get them to drop some round to you

I'd use bisto / marmite / lea and perrins / soy sauce or fish sauce.

Or a load of salt.

If I knew my neighbours well enough, I'd text one of them and ask if they could put one through the letterbox.

I would use a tiny bit of marmite - half a teaspoon
Taste as you go - add seasoning

Anything umami. Anchovies?

Soy sauce