what to do with fish heads

what to do with fish heads

518 posts

markt says:

I was wondering what you guys normally do with all your fish heads.

I know lots of people just throw them away and only keep the fillets.

But I always feel rather sorry to throw them away and either grill them or make fish stock out of them. The cheek meat is the best tasting meat for me and fish stock is full with omega 3.

Only problem - it's quite a bit of extra work to process the fish heads as well.

Anyway I just watched a pretty good and funny youtube video on that topic.

Thought I'd share it here

Likes: 0 Login to reply 11 years ago

Nanna Pearl 17 posts

cool, thanks for sharing

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Korexican 8 posts

crab bait 😊 or chum. Fish heads with some chicken necks in a crab pot

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Rex Ursus 15 posts

Crab bait. Shrimp bait. Prawn bait. And thaw them out so the kids can feed the seals.

Likes: 0 Login to reply 10 years ago

val 3 posts

fish head tamarind soup

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markt 518 posts

sounds good - got a recipe for that?

Likes: 0 Login to reply 10 years ago

val 3 posts

fish head 2-3 pcs. (about a kilo)
tamarind broth or powder (about 20grams)
tomato - 3 pcs (cut in quarters)
onion - 2 pcs (cut in quarters)
string bean - 1/4 kilo
green long pepper - 2 pcs
a bit of salt - for taste

boil tomato and onion and add a bit of salt for two to three minutes
then put the fish head until cooked (about 5 mins)
then the veggies - you can add more veggies if you want (like radish, chinese cabbage)

i'm not a good cook but i always make this recipe after fishing

Likes: 3 Login to reply 10 years ago

markt 518 posts

thanks mate.
I never cooked with tamarind before - will give it a try.
Will check my local indian supermarket for the powder.
Always keen on new tastes :-)

My main problem with fish heads in a soup are the scales.
I find it really difficult to get all scales of snapper heads and once they end up in the soup, its not nice to eat anymore.

Likes: 0 Login to reply 10 years ago

val 3 posts

try to unscale the whole fish first with a spoon before cutting the head off.

also try this dish.
2-3 fish head
3 ripe tomatoes (don't cut)
5 gms ginger (sliced in thin strips)
2 onions (cut in half)
a pinch of salt
black powdered pepper to taste.

boil the onion, ginger, tomatoes in two cups of water until tomato skin is peeled or about to peel.
put the fish heads, cook for 10 mins or until you think it is already cooked.
add salt and pepper to taste.

Likes: 1 Login to reply 10 years ago

itsaboat 1446 posts

Tamarind is like a large bean pod. It has a citric flavour. Any Asian grocer will have it and these days most supermarkets will have it.

It is better to use the semi dried "paste" than the powder. The difference is like fresh ground coffee to instant coffee!

The paste (not really a paste) is the whole pod semi dried. It comes with or without the seeds. It is very sticky.

Simply put the desired amount of paste in a bowl or mug and cover with boiling water. Wait 15 minutes and strain out the pulp. You then have fresh tamarind juice ready for your soup or curry.

To remove scales and bones etc from the stock, line a colander with a clean tea towel or cheese cloth and strain...You will still be able to recover any meaty bits from the heads and add them back to the stock. But the stock itself will be bone and scale free.

Bonupyatuna 😊

Likes: 1 Login to reply 10 years ago

JCNZ 2 posts

I dip the head in flour after I've scaled it - any random scales are easily seen and removed.
Great-sounding recipe, btw.

Likes: 0 Login to reply 1 year ago

CaptainRubberfist 4 posts

Fish heads are perfect for placing inside the lining of a mates car door panel.

Likes: 1 Login to reply 10 years ago

markt 518 posts

haha - great way to solve the problem 😊

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askFM 15 posts

If you want to scale a fish head with ease........use a water blaster! It works mint. Just do it on your lawn, you dont have to be real close, and hold the fish down with your foot. Scales will disappear next time you mow the lawn 😉

Likes: 1 Login to reply 10 years ago

Hillblazer 1 posts

Good Catfish bait.

Likes: 0 Login to reply 11 months ago

skankrabbit 1 posts

Clean and gut your fish where you catch them then feed the heads to a hungry pelican, they will be most grateful…!

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LloydnLela Hodges 8 posts

We can,t do that where I live. If you are caught, you will receive a monetary fine.

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Jenry 11 posts

Surprise no one has mentioned giving to soup kitchens or the needy. Don't ever throw away fish head. It can at least be made a meal for someone who needs food.

Likes: 0 Login to reply 11 months ago

Robert Stearns 2 posts

I put out fish heads and guys on the garden and till then in once a year.

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LloydnLela Hodges 8 posts

Fish heads and intrals are great garden fertilizers. As you collect the intrals and heads just dig a hole in the garden area and bury them.

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Jeanette Prince 1 1 posts

I would use it for bait next time, bc I got 1 4 times as big as this one by using a fish head. Worth a shot... forum image

Likes: 0 Login to reply 1 month ago

what to do with fish heads

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