Basic Shrimp Broth for Soups, Stews, and Sauces

The best way to extract the intense flavor carried in shrimp heads is to make a broth, which can
then be used as the base for shrimp soups and stews. The broth can be frozen for months or kept
refrigerated for up to 5 days (boiling every 5 days will allow you to keep it in the refrigerator
indefinitely).

MAKES ABOUT 2½ QUARTS

1 small onion, coarsely chopped
1 small fennel bulb or the stalks of a fennel bulb, coarsely chopped
1 small carrot, coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 quarts shrimp heads and/or shells
3 quarts water or chicken broth
3 sprigs thyme (optional)
In a heavy-bottomed pot large enough to hold the broth, cook the onion, fennel, and carrot in the
oil over medium heat, stirring regularly, for about 10 minutes, or until the vegetables are softened
but not browned. Add the shrimp heads and shells, raise the heat to high, stirring often, for about 4
minutes, or until the mixture smells fragrant and the heads and shells turn orange.
Let cool for a few minutes. Chop the whole mixture in a food processor for about 30 seconds, or
until the shells and heads are broken up but not pureed. Rinse out the pot and return the chopped
mixture to it. Add the water and thyme, bring to a gentle simmer, and simmer for 1 hour, skimming
off any froth that forms on the surface. Don’t let the broth come to a full boil, or the proteins the
shrimp release will cloud the broth. Strain the broth through a fine-mesh strainer and discard the
mixture that doesn’t go through the strainer, reserving the shells and heads to make shrimp butter.

You can see Bengali version here  স্যুপ, স্ট্যু এবং সসের জন্য চিংড়ির ঝোল