Flavorful Fish Stock Food

HOMEMADE FISH STOCK

Steps:

• 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 circumstances, 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.

FLAVORFUL FISH STOCK

Steps:

• Combine 1 1/2 pounds white fish bones or cleaned heads, some roughly chopped carrot, celery and onion, 1 bay leaf, a crushed garlic clove, a few slices of lemon, 4 or 5 black peppercorns, 1/2 cup white wine and 5 1/2 cups water.
• Bring almost to a boil, simmer and strain.
• If you like, substitute crushed tomatoes or cream for some of the water.

HOMEMADE FISH STOCK

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Make a sachet d'epices by tying the thyme, peppercorns, clove, parsley sprigs, and bay leaf into a piece of cheesecloth . Set aside.
• In a heavy-bottomed stock pot or soup pot, heat the butter over medium heat.
• Lower the heat, add the celery, carrot, and onion and warm very gently, with the lid on, for about 5 minutes, or until the onion is softened and slightly translucent but not brown.
• Add the fish bones, cover the mixture with a piece of parchment paper, and re-cover the pot, letting the bones warm gently until they are slightly opaque.
• Remove the lid and the parchment; add the wine and turn up the heat until the stock starts to simmer .
• Add the sachet and the water, heat to a simmer, and let cook for 30 to 45 minutes.
• Strain (you can remove fish bones first if that makes it easier), cool, and refrigerate.

FISH STOCK

Steps:

• Make a bouquet garni by tying bay leaves, parsley, thyme, tarragon, dill, fennel seeds, and peppercorns in a piece of cheesecloth; set aside.
• Melt the butter in the stockpot over medium-high heat. Add leeks, onion, mushrooms, carrots, celery, and fennel; cook until vegetables are tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Raise heat to high, and add fish heads and bones, wine, reserved bouquet garni, and enough water to just cover the bones (about 4 1/2 quarts). Bring mixture to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 25 minutes. Skim scum from surface with a large spoon, as needed.
• Prepare an ice bath. Remove stockpot from heat, and strain stock through a fine sieve into a large heat-proof bowl set in the ice bath, and let cool slightly before using or storing.

TRADITIONAL FISH STOCK

Steps:

• 1. In a 7- to 8-quart stockpot, combine the fish bones, white wine, and just enough water to cover (you won't need the full 2 quarts of water here). Bring to a boil, skimming off the white foam from the top of the stock as it approaches boiling, then reduce the heat so the stock simmers. (Using a ladle and a circular motion, push the foam from the center to the outside of the pot, where it is easy to remove.)
• 2. Add the onions, celery, carrots, bay leaves, parsley, thyme, and peppercorns and stir them into the liquid. If the ingredients are not covered by the liquid, add a little more water. Allow the stock to simmer gently for 20 minutes.
• 3. Remove the stock from the stove, stir it again, and allow it to steep for 10 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer and season lightly with salt. If you are not going to be using the stock within the hour, chill it as quickly as possible. Cover the stock after it has completely cooled and keep refrigerated for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
• For equipment, you will need a 7- to 8-quart stockpot, a ladle, and a fine-mesh strainer.

STRONG FISH STOCK

Steps:

• 1. Melt the butter in a heavy 7- to 8-quart stockpot over medium heat. Add the onions, celery, carrots, bay leaves, parsley, thyme, and peppercorns and cook, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon, until the vegetables become very soft without browning, about 8 minutes.
• 2. Place the fish head on the vegetables and stack the fish frames evenly on top. Pour in the wine, cover the pot tightly, and let the bones sweat for 10 to 15 minutes, or until they have turned completely white.
• 3. Add enough very hot or boiling water to just barely cover the bones. Give the mixture a gentle stir and allow the brew to come to a simmer. Simmer for 10 minutes, uncovered, carefully skimming off any white foam that comes to the surface, trying not to take any herbs, spices, or vegetables with it. (Using a ladle and a circular motion, push the foam from the center to the outside of the pot, where it is easy to remove.)
• 4. Remove the pot from the stove, stir the stock again, and allow it to steep for 10 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer and season lightly with salt. If you are not going to be using the stock within the hour, chill it as quickly as possible. Cover the stock after it is thoroughly chilled (it will have a light jellied consistency) and keep refrigerated for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.

HOMEMADE FISH STOCK

Steps:

• Wash fish in cold water and drain well.
• Melt butter in a pan over low heat. Add leeks, carrot, and celery; cook until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add fish parts, wine, and water and bring to a boil, about 5 minutes. Skim and discard residue. Add bouquet garni, peppercorns, and lemon; return to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes; skim and discard residue frequently.
• Strain stock into a bowl through a colander lined with cheesecloth. Allow to cool before storing in the refrigerator for up to a week or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

AROMATIC FISH STOCK

Steps:

• Put the bones in a small saucepan and add just enough cold water to cover. Place the pan over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Lower the heat and simmer, skimming off any foam that forms on top, 10 minutes. Place the remaining ingredients in a bowl. Strain the stock through a fine-mesh sieve into the bowl. Discard the bones. Steep the stock with the vegetables 1 minute. Strain again. Discard the vegetables. Keeps, covered in the refrigerator, up to 2 days.