Homemade Seafood Stock Recipe (2024)

by Erin

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Fresh vegetables and herbs make this a truly tasty seafood stock recipe. Make this easy stock using shellfish shells from crab, shrimp, or lobster.

Homemade Seafood Stock Recipe (1)

Interested in more stock and broth recipes? Try out my, Parmesan Broth, Instant Pot Bone Broth or Slow Cooker Bone Broth recipe.

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🛒 What is homemade seafood stock made of?

🐟 Is seafood stock the same as fish stock?

🍷 What kind of wine is best to use?

🕕 How long does it last?

🥄 How to use it

More seafood recipes

Seafood Stock Recipe

Ingredients

Instructions

Nutrition

Boiled seafood shells may not sound appetizing when you first hear it. However, a truly tasty seafood stock should have the essence of the main ingredients. Crab, shrimp, and/or lobster are recommended to really create a flavorful stock in this recipe.

This shellfish stock can be used to make soups and recipes like Seafood Paella, Gumbo, Fideuà and Cioppino (Italian Seafood Stew). And it’s definitely a crucial ingredient since it adds so much flavor.

Making seafood or shrimp stock is similar to making chicken stock: it takes time and attention. But, the final result is definitely worth the effort because it adds so much flavor to recipes!

🛒 What is homemade seafood stock made of?

  • Shellfish Shells – From crab, shrimp, and/or lobster
  • Dry White Wine – I prefer pinot gris, chardonnay, or sauvignon blanc
  • Yellow Onion
  • Carrots + Celery Stalks
  • Garlic Cloves
  • Tomato Paste
  • Fresh Thyme + Parsley Sprigs
  • Bay Leaf
  • Peppercorns
  • Salt
  • Water

🐟 Is seafood stock the same as fish stock?

  • Fish stock is most often made using solely the bones of fish. However, seafood stock can be made with a combination of fish bones and/or shellfish shells. When I’m making boiled shrimp, I always save my shrimp shells so that I can make this stock.
Homemade Seafood Stock Recipe (2)

📋 How do you make it?

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Spread seafood shells on a large baking sheet and roast for 10 minutes. (This step is optional, but it increases the flavor.)

Add the seafood shells to a large stockpot along with the wine, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, tomato paste, thyme, parsley, bay leaf and peppercorns. Fill the pot with enough water to cover the shells by 1-inch.

Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 1 hour, occasionally skimming off the foam as it floats on the top of the stock. Strain through a fine mesh strainer or sieve and discard the solids. In conclusion, you should have approximately 4 quarts of stock.

Add salt and taste. Season with additional salt and pepper, if needed.Use immediately or store in the refrigerator or freezer.

How to make instant pot seafood stock

  • Add the seafood shells to a large pot along with the wine, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, tomato paste, thyme, parsley, bay leaf and peppercorns.
  • Fill the Instant Pot with water to 1-inch below the MAX fill line.
  • Make sure your sealing ring is in place on the lid. Lock the lid onto the Instant Pot and set the steam release knob to the “sealing” position.
  • Press the “manual” button and set your Instant Pot for high pressure for 30 minutes. It will take about 15-30 minutes for the Instant Pot to come to full pressure, then the display will show a countdown timer.
  • Once the time is up, allow the pressure to release naturally. It will take about 15-30 minutes, then the float valve will drop.
  • Strain through a fine mesh strainer and discard the solids.Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Use immediately or store in the refrigerator or freezer.
Homemade Seafood Stock Recipe (3)
Homemade Seafood Stock Recipe (4)
Homemade Seafood Stock Recipe (5)
Homemade Seafood Stock Recipe (6)

🍷 What kind of wine is best to use?

  • Pinot Grigio
  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Unoaked Chardonnay

🕕 How long does it last?

  • The cooked stock can be stored in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. To extend the shelf life of cooked seafood stock, freeze it in airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Frozen stock can last up to 2 months.

🥄 How to use it

This shellfish stock can be used to make so many recipes like:

  • Seafood Paella
  • Fideuà
  • Seafood Boil Sauce
  • Cioppino (Italian Seafood Stew)
Homemade Seafood Stock Recipe (7)

More seafood recipes

  • Quick Mussels Marinara
  • Easy Seafood Paella
  • Fideuà (Pasta Paella)
  • How to Boil Shrimp
  • Cioppino (Italian Seafood Stew)

Did you try this seafood stock recipe?

If you loved this shellfish stock I would appreciate it so much if you would give this recipe a star review! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me onInstagramusing the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

For more great Platings and Pairings recipes, be sure to follow me onInstagram,TikTok,PinterestandFacebook.

Homemade Seafood Stock Recipe (8)

Seafood Stock Recipe

This tasty seafood stock recipe is made with fresh vegetables and herbs. Shellfish shells, from crab, shrimp, and/or lobster, are recommended.

5 from 3 votes

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Servings: 4 quarts

Created by Platings and Pairings

Ingredients

  • 6-8 cups shellfish shells, from crab, shrimp, and/or lobster
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 1 large yellow onion, quartered
  • 2 carrots, rough chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, rough chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 5 fresh thyme sprigs
  • 3 fresh parsley sprigs
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tbsp peppercorns
  • 2 tsp salt

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 400 degrees. Spread seafood shells on a large baking sheet and roast for 10 minutes. (This step is optional, but it increases the flavor.)

  • Add the seafood shells to a large pot along with the wine, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, tomato paste, thyme, parsley, bay leaf and peppercorns. Fill the pot with enough water to cover the shells by 1-inch.

  • Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 1 hour, occasionally skimming off the foam as it floats on the top of the stock. Strain through a fine mesh strainer and discard the solids. You should have approximately 4 quarts of stock.

  • Add salt and taste. Season with additional salt and pepper, if needed.

  • Use immediately or store in the refrigerator or freezer.

Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!

Nutrition

Calories: 38kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1228mg | Potassium: 136mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 137IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg

Homemade 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.

Can I use clam juice for seafood stock? ›

*To make your own quick fish stock, simmer 16 oz. bottled clam juice, 1 quart low-sodium chicken stock, and the shrimp shells in a small sauce pan for 15-20 minutes.

Can crab shells be used for stock? ›

You can use shrimp shells, crab shells, lobster shells, even fish bones. Once you've made the stock, you can use it in any recipe that calls for any kind of seafood stock.

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.

What is the difference between seafood 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.

How long does homemade seafood stock last? ›

Once made, seafood stock will keep in the fridge about a week, tops, and it freezes well for about 6 months.

What is the difference between stock and broth? ›

Stock has a richer, deeper flavor and mouthfeel, making it better at adding body to a dish, whereas broth might be a better choice when you want to let other flavors to shine.

Are seafood stock and shrimp stock the same? ›

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.

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 is another name for clam juice? ›

It is also referred to colloquially as "clamato juice". It is consumed in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, to a lesser extent. It is very often mixed with alcohol to make a Caesar, a drink similar to a Bloody Mary.

Can you use frozen shrimp shells for stock? ›

If you don't have time to make the stock when you are using the shrimp, don't discard the shells. Put them in a heavy-duty freezer bag or container and freeze them for later use.

What to do with left over crab shells? ›

Making Shellfish Stock for Crab Bisque

To make this creamy, flavorful crab bisque, you will need to make some homemade shellfish stock, so it pays to keep your leftover shells and freeze them until you have the occasion to make the stock. Making stock isn't hard, like making chicken stock, it just takes time.

Are clam shells good for 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.

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 ...

What is in seafood stock concentrate? ›

Its ingredients include halibut, wine, onions, mushrooms, celery, carrots, lemon juice, and parsley. To reconstitute concentrated seafood stock, follow the instructions on the package or in the specific recipe; some recipes may call for keeping the stock more concentrated than others, for more seafood flavor.

What are the ingredients in Swanson seafood stock? ›

Seafood Stock (water, Pollock, Extracts Of Shrimp, Cod, Clam), Contains Less Than 2% Of: Yeast Extract, Salt, Natural Flavoring, Dehydrated Garlic.

Is fish stock healthy? ›

The Fish bone broth is packed full of thyroid balancing nutrients and iodine which can regulate hypothyroidism, act as a brain food for mental function and help treat goiters and brain health.

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