Fish Fumet Food

FISH FUMET

Steps:

• Soak fish bones in a bowl of lightly salted cold water for 1 hour, changing water twice as you soak. Drain bones and pat dry.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Transfer bones to a rimmed baking sheet and roast for 2 minutes. Carefully remove bones from pan and wipe away any blood.
• Transfer bones to a stockpot and add 2 cups water; bring to a boil over high heat. Add shallots and wine; reduce heat to low and let simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand for 1 minute.
• Strain liquid through a fine mesh sieve; discard solids. Let cool completely. Keep refrigerated up to 2 days or frozen up to 2 months.

FISH FUMET FOR CLASSIC FISH CHOWDER

Steps:

• Heat a 12-quart stockpot over low heat. Add oil, shallot, leeks, fennel, and celery, and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, about 30 minutes. (Do not let vegetables brown.)
• Add fish heads, tails, and bones, and cook until just starting to release their juices, 10 to 15 minutes. Add peppercorns, bay leaf, coriander, and water to cover bones by 1 inch. Raise heat to high, and simmer, then immediately reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer gently for 30 minutes, skimming any foam that rises to the surface; discard foam. (A hard boil will break the fish apart and make your fumet cloudy and bitter.)
• Turn off heat, and add tarragon, parsley, chervil, and chives. Cover, and let steep for 20 minutes.
• Strain fumet through a fine sieve lined with cheesecloth set over a large container. Cover, and refrigerate for up to 1 day (or freeze for up to 3 months; thaw before using).

FISH FUMET

Steps:

• Sweat the bones and vegetables Heat the oil in a medium stockpot over medium heat until hot but not smoking. Add fish parts, celery, and leek. Cover and cook, stirring once or twice, until vegetables are soft and translucent and flesh on the bones has turned opaque but not brown, about 3 minutes.
• Make stock Add wine and reduce by half, 3 to 5 minutes, then add enough water to cover by 1/2 inch (about 2 quarts) along with the bay leaf and peppercorns. Bring to just under a boil over medium-high heat, skimming foam with a ladle as it rises to the surface, then reduce heat and gently simmer (bubbles should just gently break the surface) for 35 minutes, skimming frequently.
• Strain stock Pass mixture through a fine sieve into a heatproof bowl or another pot (do not press on solids), discarding solids. Skim off fat. If not using immediately, let cool completely (in an ice-water bath, if desired) before transferring to airtight containers. Fish fumet can be refrigerated in airtight containers for up to 2 days or frozen for up to 3 months; thaw completely in the refrigerator before using.
• Ask your fishmonger to save the bones and heads from the fish in advance; firm-fleshed white fish, such as snapper, bass, and halibut, work best. Avoid oily fish (such as mackerel and tuna).

CIOPPINO

Steps:

• Heat 2 cups fumet, clam juice or water in a small saucepan. Add saffron, simmer about 5 minutes, remove from heat and set aside.
• Heat 1/4 cup olive oil oil in an 8-quart pot over medium-high heat. Add garlic, allowing it to brown for about 20 seconds, then add onions, fennel, and a pinch of salt. Cook until vegetables are softened, about 4 minutes. Add fennel seed, bay leaf and oregano. Stir and cook for 30 seconds. Add tomato paste. Cook, stirring, until paste darkens a bit, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add chopped tomatoes (squeeze them slightly through your fingers to soften first), white wine, pernod and the saffron flavored fish fumet, clam juice or water. Add remaining fish fumet, clam juice or water, whole jalapenos and bring to a boil. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until liquid has reduced by half. Cover pan and simmer for 30 minutes.
• Skim the fat from the soup, and add parsley, basil and tarragon. Add clams and simmer until clams open, about 3 minutes (discard any unopened clams). Add crab pieces and heat through. With a pair of tongs, remove crab legs to warmed serving bowls. Place a colander with shrimp in it, into the pot without submerging it completely. When shrimp are just cooked and pink and add to serving bowls. Use tongs to fish out the clams, add to serving bowls. Melt the butter in the broth, stirring as it melts.
• Meanwhile, season halibut and scallops with salt and pepper. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat, add 2 tablespoons oil. Cook the haibut and scallops, without stirring, until browned, about 2 minutes. Turn and cook another 30 seconds. Fish will be slightly underdone. Cover scallops and sautéed fish with ladles of broth, bring to a simmer, then transfer scallops and fish to the serving bowls.
• Remove bay leaf and the jalapeno peppers from pot. Season broth with salt and pepper. Pour broth over fish in bowls.
• Mash the softened jalapeno peppers into a paste, and serve as a garnish for guests who like their Cioppino spicy.
• Place all ingredients in a large stockpot. Bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Strain fumet and allow to cool before storing.

FUMET FOR LE BERNARDIN FISH SOUP

Steps:

• If you are preparing the fish yourself, remove the gills and the eyes. Cut the heads and bones across into 4-inch pieces. In a shallow pan filled with cold water, add the heads and bones. Cover, and let stand for 1 hour, changing the water twice.
• In a large stockpot set over medium heat, add corn oil, onions, fennel, leeks, peppercorns, salt, parsley, and bay leaves. Reduce the heat to medium low, and cook until the vegetables are soft but not browned, about 4 minutes.
• Transfer heads and bones from water to the stockpot; discard water. Stir periodically until bones and flesh around bones turn from translucent to white, about 12 minutes.
• Add the wine and 6 cups of water; bring to a boil over high heat. Boil fumet 10 minutes, skimming off the foam as it rises to the top. Remove from heat; let rest for 10 minutes.
• Strain the fumet through a fine-mesh sieve or chinois, pressing firmly on the solids to extract as much of the flavorful liquid as possible. If you have more than 6 cups of fumet, place the liquid in a clean saucepan over high heat, and boil until it reduces to 6 cups. Store, tightly covered, in the refrigerator up to 3 days, or in the freezer up to 2 months.

FISH STOCK (FUMET DE POISSON)

Steps:

• Heat the butter in a heavy saucepan and add the carrots, leeks and onion. Cook briefly, stirring, until wilted.
• Tie the parsley, bay leaf and thyme into a small bundle (bouquet garni). Add it to the saucepan. Add the garlic and fish bones and stir. Add the champagne and bring to a boil. Let simmer about a minute and add the water.
• Bring to a boil and let simmer 20 minutes.
• Strain through a very fine sieve, preferably of the sort known in French kitchens as a chinois. Press the solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids.

FISH FUMET (FANCY FISH STOCK)

Steps:

• Wash the fish parts in cool water, removing and discarding any blood or bits of innards.
• Put the fish and 2 Tbs salt in a large bowl, cover with tap water, and let soak for 30 minute.
• Drain off salty water.
• Break the fish frames into large pieces and put them in a heavy stock pot.
• Add the onion, leek, celery, peppercorns, bay leaf and fresh herbs.
• Pour the wine and 8 cups of water into the pot and bring it to a boil over medium high heat.
• Skim off any fat that forms on top.
• Reduce the heat to low and simmer gently for 25-30 min -- NO LONGER THAN 30 MIN! Do not overcook.
• Strain the mixture and discard the fish, vegetables, and herbs.
• Cool to room temperature and refrigerate, covered, overnight.
• Skim off any fat that has formed on top of the fumet.
• Store in the refrigerator for up to two days and use as directed in specific recipes. Fumet can be frozen for as long as two months.
• For a stronger fumet, transfer the hot fumet to a clean saucepan over medium heat and simmer until reduced by half, about 15 minute.