Basic Shellfish Stock Recipe - Chef John Besh

Makes: 6 cups

Ingredients:
1/4 cup canola oil
1 onion, coarsely chopped
1 stalk celery, coarsely chopped
1 carrot, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 leek, white part, coarsely chopped
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 pound shells from shrimp, blue crab, crawfish, or lobster
1 bay leaf
1 sprig fresh thyme
1 teaspoon black peppercorns

Procedure:
1. 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.

2. Add the shells, 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.

3. 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.




Recipe Type: Authentic
Book: My New Orleans: The Cookbook
Book Author: John Besh
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
Recipe Author: Chef John Besh
Source: http://enviornmentamericagulfstates.blogspot.com/2010_06_01_archive.html