Pats Easy Seafood Stock Recipes

SEAFOOD STOCK

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed stock pot over medium heat. Add onions, leeks, celery, fennel, and garlic. Cook, stirring, until softened but not browned, about 8 minutes.
• Add herbes d'Provence, lavender, tarragon, orange zest, chiles, saffron, bay leaves, tomato paste, tomatoes, shrimp, and fish. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes.
• Stir in wine and let simmer until wine is reduced by half, about 8 minutes. Add stock and let simmer until flavorful, about 1 1/2 hours. Strain mixture through a fine-mesh sieve set over a large bowl, pressing down on solids to extract liquid. Season with salt.

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.

SEAFOOD STOCK

Steps:

• Warm the oil in a stockpot over medium heat. Add the shrimp shells, onions, carrots, and celery and saute for 15 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add the garlic and cook 2 more minutes. Add 1 1/2 quarts of water, the white wine, tomato paste, salt, pepper, and thyme. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 1 hour. Strain through a sieve, pressing the solids. You should have approximately 1 quart of stock. You can make up the difference with water or wine if you need to.

SHRIMP STOCK

Steps:

• Combine shrimp shells, onion, lemon, chopped celery, celery leaves, garlic, peppercorns, thyme, and bay leaves in a saucepan. Cover with water. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low. Simmer until reduced by 1/2, skimming off foam as necessary, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Strain and use or freeze for later use.

CRAB BISQUE

Steps:

• If the shells are not already cooked, you will want to break them up into smaller pieces, drizzle a little olive oil on them and roast them in a 350-degree oven until they become fragrant and just begin to brown. This may take about 30 minutes.
• In a large stockpot, place shells, coarsely chopped onion, celery stalks, leek, and carrot. Cover all ingredients with enough water so the shells are completely submerged by 1 to 2 inches. Cook the stock on low for 3 to 4 hours. Strain stock, discard all solids. Return stock to a pan, and reduce by half by turning up the heat until the stock just begins to boil.
• Place 2 tablespoons of butter in a 2-quart pot with the shallots, and celery. Saute until the shallots and celery become soft. Add 2 tablespoons of flour and cook until the roux becomes fragrant. Add seafood stock and sherry. Stir until the soup becomes thick. Add cream and heat through. If you desire a bisque that is smooth, process the soup with a food processor or a stick blender, then strain the soup with a fine sieve. Return soup to the pot. Add cooked crab if desired. Serve immediately.

PAT'S EASY SEAFOOD STOCK

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a large cooking pot and bring to a boil, covered.
• Reduce heat and maintain a low boil, covered, until the carrots are mushy, about 45 minutes.
• Strain the solids from the stock using a colander in a large bowl. Discard the solids.
• After the stock cools, store it as you wish in your freezer until it is needed.