Authentic shellfish stock

In a previous video I showed you how to make crab cake sliders. Now what to do with all the shells? Throw them away? Never! This is a bit of a labor of love but will give the perfect base to make Bisque or fish sauces. I learned how to make this over 40 years ago while I was an apprentice at the Four Seasons. Very old fashioned method and it will be a much darker stock then normal. The result however is spectacular. Freezes well. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do.

Authentic shellfish stock

Ingredients

  • shells from 2 crabs and two lobsters
  • 4 stalks celery
  • 4 carrots
  • 2 leeks
  • 1 whole head of garlic
  • 6 tomatoes
  • 2 large onions
  • 42 black peppercorns (lol)
  • 1 can tomato paste
  • 1/2 fennel
  • 4 liters no salt chicken stock
  • Salt to taste


Authentic shellfish stock

  1. Warm oven with center rack at 350 F. (175 C.)
  2. Place shells in oven middle rack for approx. 45 minutes or just before they turn dark.
  3. Rough chop all vegetables.
  4. Pour chicken stock into stock into stock pot with peppers along with 5 liters of water.
  5. Put all the shells into the pot along with the veggies.
  6. Heat to a simmer. Lid off. Do not stir!
  7. After 20 minutes skim foam. Skim every 20 minutes for a total of 2 hours.
  8. Strain out the shells first with a spider strainer. Then pour the liquid through a double mesh strainer. Then strain for a third time with cheese cloth.
  9. Let cool and either refrigerate (or freeze). Good in the fridge for several days.
  10. Next I use this to make my bisque… next recipe.

Directions

Authentic shellfish stock

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Authentic shellfish stock
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