Not everyone likes seafood because its distinctive flavor. However, people who do like it are passionate about the unique flavor and highly particular about the way they eat it.
Seafood is rich in essential nutrients that benefit your body, which means you’ll look good and feel energetic. If you can’t get your hands on a seafood stock replacement though, one thing you should know is that seafood stock substitutes are available! While these substitutes aren’t as flavorful as a homemade seafood stock, they’ll still make preparing your favorite dishes easy with their help.
Seafood Stock Substitutes
Seafood is an enjoyable and filling meal option, but that quality comes with a cost. Fortunately, there are many appealing substitutes for seafood stock available on the market.
1. Fumet
The best part about fish stock is that it can be used to replace seafood stock in various recipes, even ones made with broth like bouillabaisse. Fish stocks and soups tend to have a lighter consistency and sweet flavor.
It’s made by simmering fish heads and bones, adding white fish or halibut heads (or any other non-fatty meat), fresh parsley, salt, and water. But the downside is that if oil is added, it will turn into gelatin. If you want to make your own at home without an oil-based solution, simply cook some olive oil in a pot and add fish heads, prawn heads, carrot chunks, parsley, and then prepared water and salt.
2. Clam Juice
Many people use clam juice which can be another option for seafood stock. It’s used in several recipes and the flavor is pretty similar to that of seafood stock. However, if you’re not able to find seafood stock at a store or want to make it yourself, clam juice is easily accessible as well. All you need is clean and sanitized clams, a brush, and fresh water.
For this recipe, however, it’s recommended to use a seafood brush because there is sand on the top of the clam that can settle in when it isn’t scrubbed off properly.
3. Vegetable Stock
If you cannot find seafood stock, vegetable stock is the perfect option. It can be easily added to the recipe, making it easy to blend. However, if you want that true fishy taste, we recommend using mushroom stock instead of vegetable stock.
4. Takumi Stock Powder
Even though this Takumi stock powder is not one of the most widely used seafood substitutes available, it makes a great substitute and available at most Asian supermarkets. This Japanese-made powder has the umami-salty flavor that every foodie loves! The best thing about this baked seafood substitute is that you can use it to prepare a liquid for the meat or fish that you’re preparing, making sure the flavor is diluted.
5. Shrimp Or Prawn Stock
Generally, shrimp stock is made up of mostly similar ingredients. However, the major difference is that shrimp stock isn’t just made from sea-sourced ingredients. Expectedly then, it has a fishy flavor. Shrimp or prawn stocks can be made by boiling them in water and salt. As well, you can add other ingredients to add specific flavor profiles that work for your needs.
6.Chicken Stock
When substituting liquid chicken stock for beef or lamb, keep in mind that they will all have different flavor profiles. The chicken stock has a white color and doesn’t create an overwhelming flavor either. Liquid chicken stock is available in various forms, such as concentrated or dried. You can choose the type that works best for your recipe.
7. Dashi
Dashi is actually a fish stock that is made from seaweed and fish flakes. Dashi often has both umami and salty flavors. The best part about this substitute is that it’s readily available in the market. Apart from that, it also has the vegan version, which can be made from shitake mushrooms and kelp. It can also be made at home and used to create various dishes.
