When creating a delicious and flavorful seafood dish, a rich and savory crab stock is an essential ingredient. Made by simmering crab shells and other aromatics in water, crab stock imparts a deep seafood flavor to soups, stews, sauces, and risottos. Whether you're using fresh or frozen crab shells, creating a flavorful crab stock at home is a simple process that will elevate your seafood dishes to the next level.
Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!
WHITE CRAB STOCK
Steps:
- Pour water in a large stockpot and place over low-medium flame. Add the vegetables and bouquet garni; cook for 5 minutes until the vegetables begin to become tender. Add the lemon juice, crab boil seasoning, peppercorns, wine and salt. Simmer gently for 15 minutes, stirring to mingle flavors. Carefully put the crabs in the pot and continue to cook for another 15 minutes. The crab shells will be bright orange when done. Remove and shell the crabs. Strain the stock to discard the vegetable solids. Reserve the crab meat and stock for She-Crab soup.
CRAB STOCK
Provided by Jasper White
Yield Makes about 1 quart
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- 1. Place the crab bodies, shells, and tomalley (and optional shrimp shells or lobster carcasses) in a 6- to 8-quart stockpot and cover with the water. Bring to a boil, skimming the white foam from the surface of the stock. (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.) Reduce the heat so the stock cooks at a fast, steady simmer.
- 2. Add the onion, celery, tomatoes, garlic, bay leaves, peppercorns, and thyme, and let the stock simmer and cook down for about 1 hour. The liquid should just cover the crab shells as the stock cooks; if it doesn't, just add a little water.
- 3. Season the stock lightly with salt. Taste for a rich flavor; if it seems light, simmer for about 20 minutes longer.
- 4. Strain the stock through a fine-mesh strainer. If you are not going to be using it within the hour, chill it as quickly as possible. Cover the broth after it has completely cooled and keep refrigerated for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
WHITE CRAB STOCK
Provided by Tyler Florence
Time 1h5m
Yield 8 cups
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Pour water in a large stockpot and place over low-medium flame. Add the vegetables and bouquet garni; cook for 5 minutes until the vegetables begin to become tender. Add the lemon juice, crab boil seasoning, peppercorns, wine and salt. Simmer gently for 15 minutes, stirring to mingle flavors. Carefully put the crabs in the pot and continue to cook for another 15 minutes. The crab shells will be bright orange when done. Remove and shell the crabs. Strain the stock to discard the vegetable solids. Reserve the crab meat and stock for She-Crab soup.;
BASIC CRAB STOCK
_**Editor's note:** Use this crab stock to make Chef John Besh's Basic Crab Pan Sauce for his Busters and Grits recipe._
Provided by John Besh
Yield Makes 6 cups
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Heat the canola oil in a large pot over moderate heat. Cook the onions, celery, carrots, leeks, and garlic, stirring often, until they are soft but not brown, about 3 minutes.
- Add the chicken bones and carcass, the bay leaf, thyme, peppercorns, and 3 quarts water. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil. Immediately reduce the heat to low and gently simmer, skimming any foam that rises to the surface, until the stock has reduced by half, about 2 hours.
- Strain through a fine sieve into a container with a cover. Allow the stock to cool, cover and refrigerate, then skim off the fat. Freeze the stock in small batches to use later.
SEAFOOD GUMBO STOCK
This stock will give your Seafood Gumbo the richest flavor possible. The addition of fish bones and skins or any leftover seafood will further improve the flavor.
Provided by Sara
Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Stews Gumbo Recipes
Time 7h50m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Bake shrimp shells at 375 degrees F (195 degrees C) until dried and starting to brown on edges.
- In an 8-quart pot, combine water, carrots, onions, celery, bay leaves, garlic, parsley, cloves, pepper, basil, thyme and shrimp shells. Bring slowly to a boil.
- Reduce heat, and cook 5 to 7 hours. Replace water as needed, 2 or 3 times, by pouring more water down the inside of the pot.
- Remove stock from heat, and strain. Press all liquid from the shells and vegetables, then discard them. Return liquid to heat, and reduce to 2 to 3 quarts, or to taste.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 111.7 calories, Carbohydrate 12.1 g, Cholesterol 86.3 mg, Fat 1.3 g, Fiber 3.3 g, Protein 13.2 g, SaturatedFat 0.3 g, Sodium 162.3 mg, Sugar 4.7 g
Tips:
- Use fresh crab shells: Fresh crab shells impart a more intense flavor to the stock compared to frozen or store-bought shells.
- Roast the crab shells: Roasting the shells before simmering them in water adds a deeper, more complex flavor to the stock.
- Use a variety of vegetables: Adding a variety of vegetables such as onions, carrots, celery, and garlic provides a well-rounded flavor profile to the stock.
- Use a good quality white wine: A good quality white wine adds a subtle acidity and depth of flavor to the stock.
- Season the stock well: Season the stock with salt, pepper, and other herbs and spices to taste. This will enhance the flavor and make the stock more versatile.
- Simmer the stock for at least 1 hour: Simmering the stock for a longer period extracts more flavor from the crab shells and vegetables.
- Strain the stock thoroughly: Strain the stock through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any solids, resulting in a clear and flavorful broth.
Conclusion:
Crab stock is a flavorful and versatile ingredient that can enhance various dishes. By following these tips, you can create a delicious and aromatic crab stock that will elevate your culinary creations. Whether you're making a classic seafood stew, a creamy crab bisque, or a simple seafood pasta, a well-made crab stock will add depth and richness to your dish. So, next time you have leftover crab shells, don't throw them away - use them to make a delicious crab stock that will take your cooking to the next level.
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