Recipes

Homemade Fish Stock for Soups & Stews | French Culinary Basics

Cook Time

15 min

Total Time

90 min

Servings

8 cups

Homemade Fish Stock for Soups & Stews | French Culinary Basics

Learn how to make a rich, flavorful Fish Stock from scratch, a versatile base perfect for soups, stews, and seafood dishes. Using fresh fish bones, aromatic herbs, and a splash of French white wine, this fish stock is both easy to make and essential for any culinary enthusiast. Follow Chef Healthy Henry’s guide to crafting this classic stock that will elevate your dishes!

Homemade Fish Stock for Soups & Stews | French Culinary Basics

Homemade Fish Stock for Soups & Stews | French Culinary Basics

Learn how to make a rich, flavorful Fish Stock from scratch, a versatile base perfect for soups, stews, and seafood dishes. Using fresh fish bones, aromatic herbs, and a splash of French white wine, this fish stock is both easy to make and essential for any culinary enthusiast. Follow Chef Healthy Henry’s guide to crafting this classic stock that will elevate your dishes!

A black and white drawing of a plate and fork on a white background.
Servings

8 cups

A black and white icon of a bell on a white background.
Total Time

90 min

Ingredients:

Makes 8 cups 

3lb assorted fresh fish bones or trimmings from fish such as cod, Pacific rockfish, sea bass, flounder. 

1/4 cup olive oil

2 cups dry French white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc or Chablis

2 ribs celery roughly chopped

1 large onion roughly chopped

3 carrots, peeled and roughly chopped

4 large ripe tomatoes (or one 28-oz. can tomatoes, drained), peeled, seeded, and chopped

Feathery tops from 1 large bulb fennel (reserve the bulb for the bouillabaisse)

1 small bunch fresh flat-leaf parsley

I small bunch fresh thyme

3 bay leaves

8 cups water


Rinse the fish bones or small fish. Warm the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.


Add the fish bones and cook them, stirring continuously to expose all the surfaces to the heat, until the fish breaks down to a fragrant mess in the bottom of the pot, about 15 min.

Add the wine and scrape up any bits of fish sticking to the bottom of the pot. Add the vegetables, herbs, and water and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and skim off and discard the white froth as it rises to the surface. Maintain a gentle simmer for 30 min.

Remove the stock from the heat and strain, pushing as much of the solids through as you can. Strain a second time. 

Taste and simmer to reduce and concentrate the flavor.

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