Michael Whites Fish Stock Recipes

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.

WHITE WINE FISH STOCK

Steps:

• In a stockpot or large saucepan, combine the fish heads and bones, onion, celery, garlic, and vermouth or wine; over high heat, bring to a boil and reduce liquid by half.
• Add enough cold water to cover by about a 1/2-inch, then add the remaining ingredients and simmer for 30 minutes.
• Strain the stock through a fine sieve or through cheesecloth, discard solids, and refrigerate or freeze until you're ready to use the stock.
• Makes 3 to 4 cups stock.

WHITE FISH STOCK

Steps:

• Spread butter over bottom of a 2- to 3-quart heavy saucepan, then add fish bones and heads, onion, parsley stems, lemon juice, and salt. Steam mixture, covered, over moderately high heat, 5 minutes.
• Add wine and water and bring to a boil. Skim froth, then reduce heat to moderate and simmer, uncovered, 25 minutes.
• Pour stock through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl, pressing hard on solids and then discarding them.

TRADITIONAL FISH STOCK

Steps:

• In a 3 to 4-quart stockpot, combine the fish bones, white wine, and just enough water to cover (you won't need the full quart 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).
• Add the onions, celery, carrots, bay leaves, parsley, thyme, and peppercorns and stir them into the liquid. If the ingredients are not covered by liquid, add a little more water. Allow the stock to simmer gently for 20 minutes.
• 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.

WHITE FISH STOCK

Steps:

• Spread butter in bottom of a 6- to 8-quart heavy pot. Add fish bones and heads, onions, parsley stems, lemon juice, and salt and cook, covered, over moderately high heat, without stirring, 5 minutes. (Mixture will steam in its own juices.) Add water and wine and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, skimming any foam, 25 minutes.
• Pour stock through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, pressing on and then discarding solids. If not using stock immediately, cool, uncovered, then chill, covered.

WHITE FISH STOCK

Steps:

• Cook fish bones and trimmings, onion, fennel, parsley sprigs, lemon juice, and salt in a well-buttered 4- to 6-quart heavy pot, covered, over moderate heat 5 minutes.
• Add water and wine and bring to a boil, skimming froth. Simmer, uncovered, 20 minutes, then pour through a very fine sieve into a large bowl, discarding solids.

MICHAEL WHITE'S FISH STOCK

Steps:

• Stick 3 cloves in each onion and transfer to a large pot along with 1 1/2 quarts water, wine, vinegar, carrots, celery, parsley, thyme, bay leaf, and salt. Bring to a boil over high heat.
• Add fish trimming and bones and reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for 1 hour. Strain stock through a fine mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth into a large pan. Place pan over medium-high heat and reduce to about 8 cups; season with salt.
• Cool completely before storing.