Fish bones can be used to make a variety of dishes, including fish stock, fish sauce, and fish jerky. Here are a few recipes for dishes made entirely out of fish bones:
Fish Stock:
Fish stock is a flavorful and versatile base for soups, stews, and sauces. To make fish stock, simply simmer fish bones in water with vegetables and herbs until they are cooked through. You can use any type of fish bones, but white fish bones are typically preferred for their mild flavor.
Here’s a recipe for fish stock:
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds fish bones
- 2 quarts water
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 1 celery stalk, chopped
- 2 sprigs parsley
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Rinse the fish bones in cold water and pat them dry.
- In a large pot, combine the fish bones, water, vegetables, herbs, salt, and pepper.
- Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 2 hours, or until the bones are cooked through.
- Strain the stock through a fine-mesh sieve and discard the solids.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Fish Sauce:
Fish sauce is a salty and umami-rich condiment that is commonly used in Southeast Asian cuisine. To make fish sauce, simply ferment fish bones, skin, and heads in salt for several months. The longer the fish sauce ferments, the stronger its flavor will be.
Here’s a recipe for fish sauce:
Ingredients:
- 5 pounds fish bones, skin, and heads
- 4 cups salt
Instructions:
- Rinse the fish bones, skin, and heads in cold water and pat them dry.
- In a large non-reactive container, combine the fish bones, skin, and heads with the salt.
- Cover the container and let it sit at room temperature for 2 days, or until the fish has started to ferment.
- Transfer the container to a cool, dark place and let it ferment for 6-12 months, or until the fish sauce has reached the desired flavor.
- Strain the fish sauce through a fine-mesh sieve and discard the solids.
- Bottle the fish sauce and store it in the refrigerator.
Fish Jerky:
Fish jerky is a dried and cured snack that is popular in many cultures. To make fish jerky, simply marinate fish fillets in a mixture of soy sauce, fish sauce, sugar, and spices. Then, dehydrate the fish until it is crispy and chewy.
Here’s a recipe for fish jerky:
Ingredients:
- 1 pound fish fillets, such as salmon or cod
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions:
- In a large bowl, combine the soy sauce, fish sauce, sugar, garlic powder, and pepper.
- Add the fish fillets to the marinade and stir to coat evenly.
- Cover and refrigerate the fish for at least 30 minutes, or up to overnight.
- Preheat a dehydrator to 150 degrees F (65 degrees C).
- Arrange the fish fillets in a single layer on dehydrator trays.
- Dehydrate the fish for 4-6 hours, or until it is crispy and chewy.
- Break the fish into bite-sized pieces and serve.