Seafood Stock Recipe (2024)

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Have you ever wondered what to do with your shrimp shells? Instead of throwing them away, make our seafood stock recipe.

If you are looking for recipes to use seafood stock, try our chicken, sausage, and shrimp gumbo and our chicken and sausage jambalaya.

Seafood Stock Recipe (1)
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  • Ingredients
  • How to Make
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Serve
  • Store
  • Expert Tips
  • More Southern Recipes You'll Love
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Ingredients

Seafood Stock Recipe (2)

The ingredients for our seafood stock recipe are pantry staples that are easy to find at your local grocery store. Let's talk about some of the key ingredients.

  • Seafood shells: We used shrimp shells for this photo shoot but you can use crab or lobster shells too.
  • Aromatics: We used yellow onion and garlic.
  • Vegetables: We used celery and carrots. The carrots will boost the sweet flavor.
  • Liquid: We used white wine to deglaze the pan, but sherry or brandy are good substitutes.
  • Spices: We used fresh parsley and thyme sprigs, bay leaf and kosher salt and black peppercorns.

See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How to Make

Seafood Stock Recipe (3)
  1. Over medium high heat, heat up the oil in a large Dutch oven and cooked the shrimp shells, onions, celery, and carrots for 5 minutes then add the garlic and cook for a minute.

Reduce the heat to medium, and cook for another 10 minutes then deglaze the pan with some white wine, by scraping the brown bits off with a wooden turner.

2. Next, pour in the water and add the fresh and dried spices. Bring to a boil, then simmer for an hour.

Seafood Stock Recipe (4)

3. Line a colander with cheesecloth and place it over a pot or bowl. Use a ladle to put the shells and veggies in the colander.

4. Strain the liquid from the vegetables and shrimp shells by pouring it through the colander.

Seafood Stock Recipe (5)

5. Pour the seafood stock into airtight containers and refrigerate until needed.

6. Use in a recipe, or freeze in plastic bags until ready to use.

Seafood stock is not only simple to make at home, it's low cost, freezer friendly, and healthy. Try making our recipe the next time you have shrimp shells. You won't be disappointed!

Recipe FAQs

What is seafood stock made of?

Start with leftover shrimp, lobster or crab shells, then add some aromatics. Use white wine, brandy or sherry to deglaze the pan and throw in your vegetables, fresh and dried spices and pour in the water.

What does seafood stock taste like?

It has the essence of shrimp (if you used shrimp shells), the the flavor is balanced out with the other flavors that are used in the stock - the vegetables, herbs and the white wine.

Is seafood stock the same as fish broth?

Fish broth is made from pieces of fish (cod and pollock) and not fish bones. It is simmered longer than stock so it tends to be thicker. Seafood stock is made from shells of shrimp, lobster or crab. It is simmered for an hour then strained.

Serve

Seafood stock is most commonly used in soups and stews like crab soup, gumbo, and seafood chowder, but it would also taste delicious in jambalaya, shrimp and grits, risotto, and paella.

If you're looking for other tasty seafood recipes, make sure to try our recipes for New England clam chowder, cream of crab soup, and New Orleans gumbo.

Store

Make Ahead: This recipe can be made the day before you need it.

Leftovers: Store any leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Freeze: Make sure the container is airtight and has room for expansion when it freezes. To use in sauces, flash freeze in ice cube trays then transfer to a zip top bag. It should keep for up to two months.

Expert Tips

  • Don't toss leftover shrimp. Rinse under cool water and store in a zip top bag in the freezer.
  • Peels from the onion deepen the color.
  • Cook the shrimp shells with the aromatics.
  • Simmer for one hour.
  • To use in sauces, flash freeze in ice cube trays then transfer to a zip top bag.

More Southern Recipes You'll Love

  • Mardi Gras King Cake Recipe
  • Georgia Brunswick Stew
  • Southern Collard Greens
  • Cracker Barrel Fried Apples

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Recipe

Seafood Stock Recipe (10)

Seafood Stock Recipe

Are you curious how to make seafood stock? This homemade recipe is healthy, low carb, and simple, and makes any gumbo or soup something delicious. All you need are shrimp shells, carrots, onions, celery, and some spices to make this freezer friendly stock.

5 from 1 vote

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Course: Soup

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 5 cups

Calories: 107kcal

Author:

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cup yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 cup celery, chopped
  • 1 cup unpeeled carrots, chopped
  • 2 large garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
  • shrimp shells and tails from 2 pounds fresh shrimp, rinsed
  • cup white wine
  • 2 quarts filtered water
  • 10 fresh thyme sprigs, rinsed
  • 3 fresh parsley sprigs, rinsed
  • 15 black peppercorns
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt

Instructions

  • Rinse the shrimp shells in a colander under cold water, then drain.

  • Pour the olive oil into a large pot and set over medium high heat. Stir in the onions, carrots, celery, and shrimp. After 5 minutes, add the garlic, turn down the heat to medium, and cook for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  • Deglaze the pan by pouring white wine onto the bottom of the pot. Scrape off the flavorful cooked bits of food, called a fond, with a wooden turner.

  • Stir in the water and spices, then increase the heat to medium high and cover with a lid. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for one hour.

  • Line a large colander with cheesecloth or paper towels and place it over a pot or bowl to catch the strained stock.

  • Pour or ladle the liquid into the colander, discarding the shrimp shells, veggies, and spices. Transfer the reserved seafood stock into glass jars. Let cool on the counter, then refrigerate for up to 3 days. Freeze for long-term storage in freezer friendly containers.

Notes

  • Don't toss leftover shrimp. Rinse under cool water and store in a zip top bag in the freezer.
  • Peels from the onion deepen the color.
  • Cook the shrimp shells with the aromatics.
  • Simmer for one hour.
  • To use in sauces, flash freeze in ice cube trays then transfer to a zip top bag.

Nutrition

Calories: 107kcal (5%)Carbohydrates: 11g (4%)Protein: 1g (2%)Fat: 6g (9%)Saturated Fat: 1g (6%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gSodium: 1472mg (64%)Potassium: 264mg (8%)Fiber: 3g (13%)Sugar: 4g (4%)Vitamin A: 4517IU (90%)Vitamin C: 11mg (13%)Calcium: 58mg (6%)Iron: 1mg (6%)

Serving sizes and nutritional information are only an estimate and may vary from your results.

Tried this Recipe? Tag us Today!Mention @savortheflavourblog or tag #savortheflavour!

Seafood Stock Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is seafood stock made of? ›

Seafood stock is made from a mixture of water and/or broth infused with seafood shells or bones (carcasses), vegetables, and aromatics. Here, I toast the shells in a pan to bring out their flavors. The shells then simmer in a liquid with vegetables until the stock turns a deep golden-brown color.

What to use if you can t find seafood stock? ›

Chicken broth is a versatile and suitable substitute for fish broth. It won't have the flavor of the sea like fish broth, but it adds a background umami flavor that won't overpower other flavors in your soup. It's a common substitute in many seafood soup recipes.

What fish makes the best stock? ›

The best fish bones to use for making fish stock are ones from mild, lean, white fish like halibut, cod, or flounder. As a general rule, you'll want to avoid salmon, trout, mackerel, or other oily, fatty fish since their strong flavor will likely overpower your finished dish.

How do I substitute clam juice for seafood stock? ›

You can always substitute bottled clam juice for concentrated seafood stock; use an equal amount of clam juice for the amount of reconstituted seafood stock that is needed. Concentrated seafood stock is available at many fish markets, supermarkets, and specialty food stores.

What are the 4 ingredients in stock? ›

Stocks are prepared with a few basic ingredients including bones, mirepoix, herbs and spices, and sometimes tomatoes or wine.

How long does homemade seafood stock last? ›

Remove the stock from the heat and strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean container; let cool completely. Refrigerate the stock for up to 3 days or freeze in airtight containers for up to 2 months.

How can you tell if seafood stock is bad? ›

How do you tell if seafood stock is bad? The foremost indicator is a change in smell; fresh seafood stock should smell clean and lightly oceanic. If it starts to emit an off-putting or sour odor, it's likely spoiled. Other signs of spoilage include mold or a formation of a slimy layer on the surface.

What's the difference between stock and broth? ›

Stock is generally made from bones, and broth is generally made from flesh. In both cases, they are often supported with aromatic vegetables, but in the case of stock, left unseasoned for maximum flexibility in recipes, whereas broth will usually contain at least salt and pepper.

Is seafood stock the same as shrimp stock? ›

Seafood stock is a generic term for any stock made from seafood. A variety of fish, mollusks and crustaceans, such as lobster, crab, shrimp, clams, and fish can be combined to create a flavor-packed seafood stock.

Can you overcook fish stock? ›

And, if the fish stock cooks too long the fish bones/cartilage and meat will break down more.

What is the biggest threat to fish stocks? ›

Overfishing – when more fish are caught than can be replaced through natural reproduction – is one of the biggest issues marine ecosystems face today. This can happen either directly, or indirectly through bycatch - the capture of unwanted sea life while fishing for a different species.

Can I use fish sauce for fish stock? ›

For lighter stock, that means just salt, a touch of sugar, and some mushroom powder for umami flavor. For a darker stock, he often uses fish sauce or soy sauce.

How do you thicken seafood stock? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool. Add a few tablespoons of flour or cornstarch to the bowl and whisk until it's blended smooth. Next, bring the soup to a simmer and add the mixture back to the pot. Pro tip: Don't dump in the entire mixture at once.

What happens if you mix clam juice and soy sauce? ›

Soy sauce adds an umami roundness to the dish, providing glutamates that complement the inosinate inherent in clams and clam juice, making the dish much more savory.

Can you use mussel shells for seafood stock? ›

* Both raw and cooked shells are a wonderful addition to the seafood stock pot. Stock made of shrimp, crab and crawfish shells is one of the secrets of Cajun cookery. Lobster, clam and mussel shells make wonderful stock as well.

Does seafood stock contain shellfish? ›

Seafood stock is a versatile and flavorful liquid base, primarily used in cooking to enhance the taste of a variety of seafood dishes. It is made by simmering fish or shellfish, such as shrimp, crab, or lobster, in water with aromatic ingredients like vegetables, herbs, and spices.

What's the difference between seafood stock and broth? ›

Generally speaking, a seafood broth is the same thing as a seafood stock, especially when we're referring to store-bought versions. In the culinary world, the word stock is more common when referring to fish, lobster, crab, and shrimp stock.

Is dashi the same as seafood stock? ›

Dashi differs from other kinds of stock in that rather than using simple ingredients boiled over a long period, as is the case with Western bouillon, it uses carefully prepared ingredients, patiently matured, which are only soaked in water or heated briefly so as to extract nothing but the very essence of the ...

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