Did you know even fish bones are great to make a mineral and gelatin packed bone broth. Learn how to acquire and prepare a super healthy Fish Bone Broth.
Here we are with the final post of four articles that I wrote following my challenge to have a cup of bone broth a day for 1 month to see if it would help with my acid reflux condition, know as GERD. Actually I should say it is the final broth recipe post because I have shared with you all the various treatments I have tried. Did I manage to cure my gut issue in the end? Was the broth all that it lived up too? Keep on reading to find out!
As I mentioned in my last post, I was a little anxious about posting my last two recipes. These last two broths could be a challenge for many to make because I am using more graphic carcass parts! First off, I want to give thanks for all the amazing support I got from my readers for the lamb’s head broth. It certainly was not a recipe many of you would run out to the store and try but I loved all your encouraging comments. Thank you! This time we are going down the fish bone broth route with fish skeletons, whole with head, fins and tail.
This article is part of my Follow your Gut series where I will tell you what actually worked out of all the things I tried! To learn more about the goodness of bone broth please read my other posts: the Chicken and Beef Bone Broth recipe is where I discuss how I learned that bone broth could help acid reflux, the Pork Bone Bone covers the GERD condition plus what foods to avoid, and for the Lamb Bone Broth I give tips and share my tried treatments.
Onwards with the wrap up of this series as I will share with you what worked and how I now manage my acid reflux condition. Let me tell you, it will be a bit anti-climactic but I am glad to have traveled this recovery road the way I did as I learned a lot. But first let’s talk about this particular fish broth.
First question you may ask is where does one get fish bones? Go visit your friendly fish monger (fish and seafood store) and ask them if they can give you some fish carcasses. Be really friendly because they will raise an eye. I was told to come back the next day and they would keep some for me. I asked for 2 pounds. I went back the following afternoon and I was given several lovely sea bream bones. Offer money politely but chances are you will leave with your fish bones for free. I must admit this was my least favorite broth. I love fish stews but this broth was really ‘fishy’ in taste. So I added a lot of ginger, soy, chili pepper sauce and the like to be able to drink it.
Do not forget the most IMPORTANT STEP in making bone broth: let the bones sit for 30-60 minutes in cool water and a bit of apple cider vinegar without turning on the heat. Leaving the mixture sit while cool will permit the vinegar to extract the minerals from the bones. When is your bone broth ready? The broth is ready when the bones crumbles or when you can break them easily. This broth took about 12 hours.
And the moment of truth? Have I found relief? The answer is YES, but not because of the broths. I think you have to drink it on the long term to really benefit and feel a difference. A month was not enough. Perhaps I will pick up the broth habit again when fall arrives. It is definitely a good thing for your health in any case. So what worked?
Cure: First and for most it was a change to healthier eating habits. I did this when I wanted to loose weight, not because of GERD. But it practically cured the daily discomfort all on it’s own. Up your protein intake too as it helps to rebuild the stomach lining. Lesson learned: excess fat and refined sugar wreaks havoc on your system.
Prevent: Second I have found that half a squeezed lemon or lime in 2 cups of warm water helps maintain the acidity in the stomach. But lemons are acidic? yep! One theory is that the citrus has a lower acid level than your stomach so it helps to balance the PH level. Some say apple cider vinegar works the same way but I found lemon to be more effective. And it is excellent for your digestion.
Natural relief: Finally I have found that the occasional licorice tea, when you do feel acid reflux, to be really soothing and calming for the tummy.
I really hope you have enjoyed this series, that you are curious about making your own bone broths, and that you have picked up a few ideas to find relief as well if you suffer from acid reflux and/or GERD. Please share your experiences in the comments below, I would love to get your feedback.
Fish Bone Broth
Ingredients
- 2 pounds fish bones
- 1 onion chopped
- 2-3 carrots I used parsnips
- 3-4 celery ribs
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Place fish bones, onion, carrots, celery and bay leaves in a slow cooker.
- Add apple cider vinegar and enough water to cover the bones by about an inch.
- Let the mixture sit for 30-60 minutes without turning on the heat.
- Simmer in the slow cooker on low for 12 hours. Top with water if too much evaporates.
- Strain the broth and salt to taste (I only used 1/2 tsp). Let it cool in the fridge. Your broth is ready.
I love homemade broth! This broth looks rich and delicious, Evelyne!
Very useful when you have to cook pasta or risotto. I can see you are into broth mood lately haha! I love this!
Okay the fish head kinda grossed me out a little Evelyne lol. But you are so right, broths definitely have something that makes us all feel better. I wish I could make something like this, I’m a little afraid of it if I’m honest. But one of these days I will pick up this recipe.
Ha ha Kia I love to challenge people.
I love to travel with you on the road to new culinary adventures. As I live in a country of fish and seafood lovers I’mfamiliar with fish bone broth but did’nt know the trick about soaking the bones in cold water and vinegar. That’s great and very useful, thanks so much for sharing.
So glad you learned this trick, hope you use it next time Daniela!
I’m so glad you found some relief! I get the occasional bouts of gastritis, so will file away your tips just in case 🙂
I do hope some work for you Liz!
Interesting post that’s healthy too! I like your blog and will be looking at your other posts shortly.
Thank you Pam and I will visit yours shortly 🙂
Glad to hear that your gut health is back on the road to recovery. Looks like very rich and delicious fish broth.
Thank you Bam, yes much better tummy now!
I think more than any of these bone broths, I would make the fish one the most often 🙂
Glad you liked this one best and thanks for following the series.
Bonjour Evelyne! You really have this gut broth thing going on! This sounds like it would be so flavorful after all of those hours of cooking! Very healthy indeed and well done for your dedication!
Thank you Joanne!
Girl, you are on a broth roll! I’m loving your unique, rich broths and this fish bone broth looks awesome. I can already taste it i Thai dishes and my shrimp jambalaya.
Thanks MJ, oh yeah awesome with jambalaya for sure.
I haven’t really heard of fish bone broth before (you hear a lot of beef bone broth) but I really want to give them all a go. Fish is so good for you so I can imagine that it would be very healthy! And good job adding the spices to it too! I did wonder when I first saw the title how fishy it would be.
Hope you try and experiment, maybe it was the fish I used.
12-hour-slow-cooking..the stock must be extremely flavourful!
A little too much lol
I’ve really enjoyed this series! I’ve made fish stock, but cooked for a much shorter time than your fish bone broth. So I’m sure the flavor (and probably health effects) was less, too. Such an interesting post! And you rock for having tried all of those unusual bone broths!
So glad you enjoyed the series John