Fish Stock

Compared to the other stocks, fish stock is easier to make because there is no roasting or long cooking times required. The DHA and EPA make this stock more beneficial than other meat stock. These Omega-3 fatty acids are the most important nutrients for brain function. Fish stock will produce it’s own gelatin and other […]

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Fish Stock
*This fish stock recipe is appropriate for the GAPS Introduction Diet Stage One - onward Things you may need: Wide Mouthed Mason Stock Storage Jars, 6-8L Stainless Steel Cooking Pot, Stainless Steel colander, straining spoon and Cheesecloth.
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Prep Time 30 Minutes
Cook Time 2-4 Hours
Passive Time 30 Minutes
Servings
3 litre pot
Ingredients
Basic Ingredients
Fish Meat and Bone
Prep Time 30 Minutes
Cook Time 2-4 Hours
Passive Time 30 Minutes
Servings
3 litre pot
Ingredients
Basic Ingredients
Fish Meat and Bone
Votes: 0
Rating: 0
You:
Rate this recipe!
Instructions
  1. Place the fish bones, heads and fins into a large pot and fill it up with 3 litres of filtered water.
  2. Add the onion and garlic to the pot, along with the bay leaf, black pepper corns and salt.
  3. Add the fennel, parsley and juice from the lemon.
  4. Add the apple cider vinegar and bring to a boil. Skim off any scum that rises to the top. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for at least 2 - 4 hours.
  5. After cooking for the recommended time above, remove the bones and any meat by straining the stock ingredients through a sieve and discard all the vegetables and bones caught in the sieve.
  6. Strain the remaining stock with a cheesecloth to remove all remaining small bones, pepper corns and any vegetables that were added. Discard any tiny bones, fins, heads and vegetables added.
  7. Store the stock in wide mouthed freezer safe mason jars in the fridge or freezer. The meat stock will keep well in the fridge for at least 7 days or it can be frozen for several months.
Recipe Notes

For Best Storage

Storing your stock properly will be key!  In the fridge it lasts up to 7 days so it is best to purchase freezer safe storage containers to keep you stock on hand.  I recommend purchasing a dozen or more Wide Mouthed Freezer Safe Mason Jars. These will allow you to have stock on hand within minutes because the wide opening allows the stock to slide straight out after running the bottom of the jar under hot tap water for a few minutes to loosen it up.   This can be added directly to the cook pot for use.  If you freeze in other glass jars, the stock will not slide out and you will have to wait for it to defrost.  Other glass jars are not freezer safe and you can easily destroy an entire batch with glass cracking in the freezer or from the change in temperature when running them under hot water to loosen them.  These jars are supplied at our Online GAPS Shop

Fish Stock Selections & Preparation

Fish frames with fish heads intact, including skin and fins (no fish meat required).

The fish flesh contained in the heads of the fish will produce the necessary gelatin and essential minerals for this recipe.  If you use the whole fish including the fish flesh to make the stock, the fish will fall apart and begin to disintegrate into the stock, clouding the stock and making it messy.  The meat is better saved for an enjoyable meal separately.  And of course this is very resourceful, sustainable and satisfying to get use out of every part of the animal you’re eating.

If you are aiming to make a tasty fish stock, select bones from white fish such as bass, cod and flat fish. Bones from oily fish such as salmon, mackerel or tuna are very fatty (which is ideal for GAPS) but they can impart a greasy and unpleasant taste for people who are getting used to fish stock.  Having said this, fatty fish are preferred sources for the GAPS diet.

The fish bones must be cleaned of any blood and gills as these will impart a nasty, bitter taste and cloud up your stock. Fish heads add a lot of flavour and contain a lot of gelatine which will give body to your stock, but make sure they are thoroughly cleaned (and always remove the gills). A good way of cleaning the bones is to run them under a cold tap and leave them to soak in the water to allow impurities to float the surface (which you can then skim and discard).

Hints & Facts:

  • Add 1/4 a cup of apple cider vinegar to help draw out minerals from the bones and into the stock such as calcium potassium and magnesium. Some people may not be ready to add this during intro.
  • If you choose fatty fish like mackerel or salmon, make sure they are not farmed or preserved in any way.
  • Gelatin is the substance extracted by boiling bones, fins and heads.

Contrary to popular belief meat, fish and organ meats like liver and kidney have the highest contents of vitamins, amino acids nourishing fats, many minerals and other nutrients which we need in order to be adequately nourished.

Clinical Notes:

Low fibre is the aim initially (especially for people who have profuse watery diarhoea), however if you are more prone to constipation, you can add onion, celery and cabbage to the stock for more flavour.

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