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Fish head

A fish head is the head portion of a fish, commonly used to make stocks, soups, sauces, or curries.

Fish head — illustrative ingredient image

About Fish head

A fish head is the **head portion of a fish**, including the skull, skin, eyes, gill structures, and attached meat or connective tissue. The edible flesh around the cheeks and collar can remain attached. It may be sold whole, split, trimmed, fresh, chilled, frozen, or salted.

Fish heads contribute a concentrated fish flavour and gelatinous texture when simmered, although the result varies with species and preparation. Their recognisable shape remains in dishes where the head is served rather than strained.

They are commonly used for stocks, broths, soups, sauces, and curries, and may also be roasted, fried, or braised. Bones and other hard structures are typically removed during eating or straining, while cooking softens attached flesh and connective tissue.

Ingredient type
whole food

Forms & related ingredients

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Where fish head appears

4 linked foods

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Main dishes

Soups

Ingredient connections awaiting review · Coverage is still growing, including packaged snacks.

Name examples awaiting language review. Confirm the specific food or product.

Local names for fish head

Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.

English

Fish head

Available names only. Languages may be spoken in other countries; a name alone does not identify every ingredient in a dish.

Fish head nutrition & diet

Fish head nutritional value

Representative benchmark: Fish, not further specified

Representative nutrition benchmarkOfficial table values for a comparable food category, not a laboratory measurement of this exact ingredient.

Per 100 g of 100 g edible portion in the named official reference form.

Calories
129kcal
Protein
20.3g
Carbs
0.3g
Fat
5.2g

Representative benchmark from a comparable official food-composition category; it is not a laboratory measurement of this exact ingredient. The displayed reference form must be considered, and species, cultivar, recipe, brand, processing and preparation can change values.

Portions & preparation

Establish the species and whether the reference covers the whole head, cheek meat, skin, cartilage, or stock made from it. A cooked head dish may include edible solids and sauce, while strained stock represents a different portion from the original head.

Compare the right form: Match the identified species and use—whole cooked head, selected edible tissues, or strained stock—with bones and added ingredients specified.

Diet considerations

Fish head is animal-derived, but edible portions vary by species, preparation, and local practice. Compatibility changes when the head is curried, battered, fried, or cooked with dairy, meat, grains, noodles, or starchy vegetables. Stock and whole-head dishes should not be treated interchangeably.

AI-authored reading notes · Awaiting editorial review. Measured values, where available, have a separate source above.

Dietary compatibility

  • Vegan
    Typically incompatible
  • Vegetarian
    Typically incompatible
  • Pescatarian
    Typically compatible
  • Keto
    May be compatible
  • Paleo
    May be compatible
  • Low-carb
    May be compatible
  • Halal
    Not established
  • Kosher
    Not established
What these diet assessments mean
Vegan · Typically incompatible
The ingredient profile identifies an animal-derived food or derivative.
Vegetarian · Typically incompatible
The profile identifies animal flesh, seafood or a derivative excluded by a vegetarian diet.
Pescatarian · Typically compatible
Seafood fits this pescatarian definition. Added meat-based stock or other ingredients would need checking separately.
Keto · May be compatible
The plain form may fit a carbohydrate-restricted diet. Check the portion, added sugar, coatings and sauces against the nutrition values above.
Paleo · May be compatible
May fit a paleo pattern, depending on the cut or form, processing and added ingredients.
Low-carb · May be compatible
The plain form may fit a carbohydrate-restricted diet. Check the portion, added sugar, coatings and sauces against the nutrition values above.
Halal · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish halal status.
Kosher · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish kosher status.

For the plain ingredient · Awaiting review. Diet compatibility is not allergy suitability or halal/kosher certification. Keto and low-carb depend on the portion.

Reviewed ingredient entryIngredient reference · Preparations vary

AI-generated illustration for visual context. It does not identify a particular product or establish allergen content.

Sources & review

Nutrition reference: Pacific Nutrient Database 2020 — 01.1.3.1.9_99 ↗. Values are scaled from 100 g of the recorded edible form. Individual portions have no assumed fixed weight.

Expanded overview, name examples and nutrition notes are database drafts awaiting editorial review. Numeric nutrition values, where shown, have their own source and food-form reference.

The ingredient description and dish connections come from the draft catalogue and may change after review.

Last recorded verification: .