Fish Stock Recipe - How to Make Fish Stock (2024)

Home | How-To (DIY stuff) | How to Make Fish Stock

4.86 from 42 votes

By Hank Shaw

July 16, 2015 | Updated June 17, 2020

Comment

Jump to Recipe

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Fish Stock Recipe - How to Make Fish Stock (2)

I catch a lot of striped bass, and while I love to eat the fillets, I am always more excited about the heads and bones because they make a surpassing fish stock. And to me, fish stock is one of those zephyrs of the food world, a mystical wonderment that lasts only as long as it takes to make and eat it.

Yes, you can store fish stock, and it’s OK, but never as amazing as when it has been freshly made.

So that means I normally find myself making fish risotto or chowder right off the bat when I have a good haul of stripers, Pacific rockfish or lingcod. The fillets get eaten later. Yes, I am aware this is opposite to what most people do. Pretty typical for me.

Fish stock isn’t like normal stock. It’s a fairly quick affair. My venison stock takes all day, or even overnight. All my fish stock asks of you is 45 minutes or so. Strain and enjoy. A long-simmered fish stock gets cloudy and bitter and fishy. I don’t recommend it.

Fish Stock Recipe - How to Make Fish Stock (3)

What fish? Really almost anything. I’ve made fish stock with bass, walleye, perch, black seabass, white seabass, lingcod, Pacific rock cod, stripers, tilefish, porgies, redfish, sea trout, spotted bass, bluegills… you get the point.

Be sure to rinse the heads and bones well to remove slime, and be absolutely certain to snip our the gills. Gills in your stock will ruin it, as the blood in them will cloud your stock and give it an “off” flavor very quickly.

4.86 from 42 votes

Homemade Fish Stock

You can make fish stock out of any fish or shellfish, although my fish stock recipe is considerably different from the stock I make with crabs and lobsters. For the most part, you want white, lean fish here. While I've made stock with trout and salmon, it's oily and strongly flavored and really only good as a base for salmon chowder or somesuch. I've never heard of anyone making stock with mackerel, tuna or bluefish, so I'd avoid it.

Save RecipePin RecipePrint Recipe

Course: Soup

Cuisine: American

Servings: 32 1 cup servings

Author: Hank Shaw

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 1 large carrot, chopped
  • 1 fennel bulb, chopped (optional)
  • 3 celery stalks, chopped
  • Salt
  • 2 cups white wine or vermouth
  • 2 to 5 pounds of fish bones and heads
  • A handful of dried mushrooms (optional)
  • 2 to 4 bay leaves
  • 1 star anise pod (optional)
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons dried or fresh thyme
  • 3 or 4 pieces of dried kombu kelp (optional)
  • Chopped fronds from the fennel bulb

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the chopped vegetables and cook, stirring often, until they are all soft, but not browned. This should take about 10 minutes or so.

  • Add the white wine and all the remaining ingredients, plus enough water to cover everything by about an inch or two. Bring to a simmer, then drop the heat to a bare shimmy, about 175°F if you want to be precise. It should not boil under any circ*mstances, and keep an eye on things to ensure that it doesn't. Simmer like this for 45 minutes to 1 hour, no more.

  • Turn the heat as low as it will go. Set a fine mesh strainer over a big bowl, then put a piece of paper towel or cheesecloth in the strainer. Ladle the stock through this set-up into the bowl. When you get to the bottom, skip the dregs down there, as they will be filled with sediment. The stock will never be as good as it is right now, but it can be refrigerated for up to a week and frozen for up to 6 months.

Video

Notes

NOTE: You'll notice that my stock differs from others in that I use mushrooms and dried kombu kelp, which is a sort of seaweed. Dried mushrooms are easily available in most supermarkets, but you'll need to go to an Asian market for the kelp. You can skip it if you want.

Nutrition

Calories: 29kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 9mg | Potassium: 62mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 345IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Tried this recipe? Tag me today!Mention @huntgathercook or tag #hankshaw!

Categorized as:
Featured, Fish, How-To (DIY stuff)

You May Also Like

American Recipes

Cranberry Sausage Stuffing

A simple recipe for cranberry sausage stuffing with lots of variations depending on what you have on hand. Sausage, stale bread, nuts and dried berries are the stars.

Eastern European

Golumpki, Polish Cabbage Rolls

Polish cabbage rolls, also known as golumpki, are, like many “thing wrapped in other things,” comforting, easy, versatile and delicious.

Charcuterie

Cumberland Sausage

Cumberland sausage is a classic English fresh sausage flavored simply with mace, sage and pepper. Normally pork, you can use other meats, too.

Recipe

Lingonberry Sauce

Making lingonberry sauce is easy: It’s just lingonberries and sugar – and time. Sugared lingonberries are a versatile Scandinavian condiment.

About Hank Shaw

Hey there. Welcome to Hunter Angler Gardener Cook, the internet’s largest source of recipes and know-how for wild foods. I am a chef, author, and yes, hunter, angler, gardener, forager and cook. Follow me on Instagram and on Facebook.

Read More About Me

Fish Stock Recipe - How to Make Fish Stock (2024)

FAQs

Which fish would be the best for a fish stock? ›

The best fish bones to use for making fish stock are ones from mild, lean, white fish like halibut, cod, or flounder. As a general rule, you'll want to avoid salmon, trout, mackerel, or other oily, fatty fish since their strong flavor will likely overpower your finished dish.

Can you cook fish stock too long? ›

Bring pan to boil over a low heat, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. It help to skim the stock a few times during cooking. (Do not cook the stock for longer than 30 minutes at this stage, as I have noticed the stock becomes a little bitter).

What is fish stock made of? ›

Like all animal-based stocks, fish stock is made by gently simmering bones and scraps of meat, along with aromatic vegetables and herbs. In the case of fish stock, the bones typically include the heads, spines, ribs, and tails of mild, non-oily, white-fleshed fish.

What type of fish gives the best stock? ›

I've made fish stock with bass, walleye, perch, black seabass, white seabass, lingcod, Pacific rock cod, stripers, tilefish, porgies, redfish, sea trout, spotted bass, bluegills… you get the point. Be sure to rinse the heads and bones well to remove slime, and be absolutely certain to snip our the gills.

What is the biggest threat to fish stocks? ›

Overfishing – when more fish are caught than can be replaced through natural reproduction – is one of the biggest issues marine ecosystems face today. This can happen either directly, or indirectly through bycatch - the capture of unwanted sea life while fishing for a different species.

How long should I boil my stock? ›

Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer: Bring to a boil on high heat and reduce to a low simmer. If scum rises to the surface of the pot (this usually happens in the first half hour of cooking), skim off with a large metal spoon. Let simmer uncovered at a low simmer for 4 to 6 hours.

What must you not do when cooking stock? ›

To avoid a cloudy stock do not stir while it is cooking because the impurities will get trapped in the liquid. Replenish liquid as needed if it evaporates but avoid diluting the flavor and body of the stock. Simmer the stock gently – never allow it to boil.

Why is fish stock cooked for only 20 minutes? ›

I eventually learned where the ''don't overcook stock'' rule came from. French restaurant chefs use flat fish -- flounder and sole -- for their stocks, because they cook these fish in quantity and have the bones and heads readily available. However, these fish do make a bitter stock if cooked longer than 20 minutes.

What is the easiest stock to prepare? ›

Vegetable stock is a relatively easy stock to make. No bones or carcasses to contend with, just crisper staples like carrots, onions, and celery.

What is the flavor of fish stock? ›

There is nothing quite like fish stock—it has a delicate fish flavor that provides the backbone to our favorite seafood dishes like creamy cod chowder, seafood paella, and fish stew. And just like all seafood, the best fish stock comes from the freshest catch at the fish market.

What vegetable cut is used in making fish stock? ›

I begin by sautéing a very thinly sliced mirepoix (onions, celery, and carrots) with herbs and peppercorns. I then layer fish heads and frames (bones) on top of these vegetables, add a little white wine, and cover the pot. As the heads and bones "sweat" (and steam), the proteins are drawn out.

What's the difference between fish stock and broth? ›

Stock, typically thick and gelatinous, is made from animal bones (like chicken, beef, and even fish) and left unseasoned (that means no salt). Broth, generally thinner in texture, is made with animal meat (and sometimes bones) and is always seasoned.

What is fish stock called? ›

Fish stock is also called fish fumet and it is a basic cooking skill. The idea is to extract the fish flavors by cooking fish bones in water with an aromatic garnish originally made to extend or to enhance flavors or to make sauces.

Why do flat fish make better stock? ›

French restaurant chefs use flatfish _ flounder and sole _ for their stocks, because they cook these fish in quantity and have the bones and heads readily available. However, these fish do make a bitter stock if cooked longer than 20 minutes.

What is the most popular fish in fish farming? ›

Worldwide, the most important fish species produced in fish farming are carp, catfish, salmon and tilapia.

What is the name of stock fish? ›

It is most often cod, although pollock, haddock, ling and tusk can be used.

Which is a highly favored type of stock made with fish bones? ›

Answer. fumet (foo-MAY): A highly flavored stock made with fish bones; fish stock is very similar to fumet.

What fish is best to stuff? ›

I normally use a whitefish of some sort. Tilapia or Flounder are my favorites. I usually serve with rice and steamed vegetable. It's filled with flavor and is pretty easy to make.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Prof. An Powlowski

Last Updated:

Views: 6374

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (44 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Prof. An Powlowski

Birthday: 1992-09-29

Address: Apt. 994 8891 Orval Hill, Brittnyburgh, AZ 41023-0398

Phone: +26417467956738

Job: District Marketing Strategist

Hobby: Embroidery, Bodybuilding, Motor sports, Amateur radio, Wood carving, Whittling, Air sports

Introduction: My name is Prof. An Powlowski, I am a charming, helpful, attractive, good, graceful, thoughtful, vast person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.