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Fish head soup

Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: The Briny Bar
Forum Description: The place for general chat on saltwater fishing!
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=67
Printed Date: 01 Jun 2026 at 7:01am


Topic: Fish head soup
Posted By: CEEBEE
Subject: Fish head soup
Date Posted: 06 Aug 2002 at 4:34pm

Has anyone out there got a simple recipe for fish head soup (Gurnard / snapper)??

Cheers CeeBee




Replies:
Posted By: v8-coupe
Date Posted: 10 Aug 2002 at 6:03pm
Hi CEEBEE,  I usually throw the whole carcass (less gut and gills) into a pot and boil them untill the bones are soft.  Strain the mixture and let it cool down, scrape of the fat residue and you are left with a tasty base for soup, chowder etc.  I usually add boiled spuds, corn and chopped cooked mussels.  Cheers, Graham. 


Posted By: CEEBEE
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2002 at 11:47am

Cheers for that Graham ....will give it a go!!

 

Cheers CeeBee



Posted By: Godders
Date Posted: 02 Sep 2014 at 6:40pm
I havent had fish head soup.


Posted By: Catchelot
Date Posted: 02 Sep 2014 at 7:27pm
CB as an extra, use your fish heads and backbones and make a stock, simmer for 2-3hrs add a tablespoon or two of white vinegar to soften bones, Worcestershire if you like...

Ok once you have your stock as follows;

Heat a swig of olive oil in a large pan on med heat, add roughly chopped onions x 2 and celery sticks x 4, cook for 5 mins, stirring until soft not coloured.

Add roughly chopped beef tomatoes x 3, half a kilo of peeled and roughly chopped potatoes into 3-4cm chunks and 3 bay leaves.

Pour in fish stock at least 1 litre, season with salt and pepper, bring up to boil and then immediately simmer for 15 mins, now is the time to add about 700-1kg of fresh fish fillets of your choice and bring back up to the boil, then reduce to med-low and simmer for another 15 mins, until potatoes tender and the fish cooked with flakes falling apart. 

Stir in juice of a lemon combined with some chopped parsley and pinch of dill roughly chopped.

Drizzle a little more olive oil and taste to sense a good round balance of acidity, freshness and seasoning, now serve with big slabs of your favourite bread!

Bon ApetiteClap


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"The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever." - Jacques Cousteau


Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 02 Sep 2014 at 8:27pm
At all times simmer rather than boil as boiling is what will cause the stink to overpower the flavour.

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When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT
fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!!


Posted By: Jaapie
Date Posted: 03 Sep 2014 at 10:49am
Hey Ceebee,

I know you specifically asked about soup, but have you considered a fish head curry?

Living in Asia opened my eyes to amazing fish head curries.
The big snapper heads would be ideal.

@Al - Catchelot.
That sounds primo mate.
Add a few pipis and mussels to that broth and finish with a splash of cream.
Served with hunks fresh brown bread as you say -


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"Only when the last tree has died, the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught,will we realize that we cannot eat money" - 19th Century Indian Creed


Posted By: AlexFyssher
Date Posted: 03 Sep 2014 at 3:27pm
We just boil/simmer the heads with a couple of whole onions for a few hours. Strain into another pot, add rice, bring to boil then simmer till rice is cooked. Can't beat it and very simple.


Posted By: Catchelot
Date Posted: 03 Sep 2014 at 5:48pm
Originally posted by Jaapie Jaapie wrote:

Hey Ceebee,

I know you specifically asked about soup, but have you considered a fish head curry?

Living in Asia opened my eyes to amazing fish head curries.
The big snapper heads would be ideal.

@Al - Catchelot.
That sounds primo mate.
Add a few pipis and mussels to that broth and finish with a splash of cream.
Served with hunks fresh brown bread as you say -
 

Yeah Kev add any seafood to jazz it up like prawns and crayfish also.

This recipe is a Greek dish known as Aegean Kakavia meaning Beautiful Fish Stew and this has been made traditionally on Greek fishing boats in a one pot method with saltwater (zero seasoning) for centuries and they used several and many fish from the catches of their day.


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"The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever." - Jacques Cousteau



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