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).

FUMET

Steps:

• Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, leek, fennel fronds, and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened, about 6 minutes. Add lobster shells and shrimp shells, parsley, and bay leaf; cook, stirring occasionally, 2 minutes. Stir in wine, clam juice, tomatoes, and 1 1/2 cups water. Reduce heat to medium low; simmer, stirring occasionally, 20 minutes.
• Pour stock through a fine sieve into a medium bowl; discard solids. Add saffron and cayenne. Season with salt.

FUMET

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion, leek, fennel fronds, and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, about 6 minutes. Add the lobster shells and shrimp shells, parsley, and bay leaf; cook, stirring occasionally, 2 minutes. Stir in the wine, clam juice, tomatoes, and 1 1/2 cups water. Reduce heat to medium low; simmer, stirring occasionally, 20 minutes.
• Pour the stock through a fine sieve into a medium bowl; discard the solids. Add the saffron and cayenne. Season with salt. The fumet can be stored in the freezer up to 3 months.

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).