Fishy freekeh
This topping uses up some poached salmon and fish stock from the freezer, so it’s “double fish”. I must admit, I get great satisfaction from creating toppings that use up leftovers. It’s so rewarding, making something that doesn’t take long, saves waste and that the dog will love. What’s not to like?
Fish skin stock
The fish skins in this case weren’t good enough for oven drying. But because I hate waste, I simmered them in water with some veggies to see if I could get something out of them. And hey presto! 45 minutes later, a reasonable fish stock. Perhaps not as gelatinous as a lovely broth from fish heads, skins and bones but I had nevertheless extracted some goodness from the skins.
The fish stock was made with 400 g fish skins, three medium-sized carrots (left whole) and two celery sticks, halved. Simmer for around 45 minutes. Allow to cool, remove skins and vegetables. Separate the vegetables for further use and discard skins.
And the fish stock went straight into this fishy freekeh topping. Of course, if you don’t have time to make a topping immediately, the stock can be put in the freezer for later. Freekeh is both a dry staple in the Well Dog Pantry and small portions are also kept ready-steamed in the ‘freezer pantry’. It makes days like this when I want to make a quick topping that much easier – and faster!
Fishy freekeh topping
Recipe
1.5 litres light fish stock
Vegetables from fish stock
150 g sweet potato, sliced (wash, but don’t bother to peel: the skin will just fall off after cooking)
300 g steamed freekeh
1.5 tsp turmeric or 25 mL organic turmeric juice
120g cooked salmon scraps or other leftover fish
See below for the benefits of the individual ingredients at a glance.
Method
Put the fish stock in a pan with the slices of sweet potato and a sprinkling of turmeric.
Bring to the boil, reduce to a simmer.
Meanwhile, take the vegetables removed from the fish stock and chop them finely.
Vegetables from the fish stock
Add the chopped vegetables and steamed freekeh to the stock.
Adding steamed freekeh to the fish stock
Cook until the sweet potato is soft. Add leftover fish and allow to cool.
Pull off skins from sweet potato slices and chop to about the same size as the carrot and celery.
This can be kept in the fridge for a few days or frozen in batches. Kept in the fridge, you will see (depending on your broth) that the mixture is jellified. If your dog prefers it, remove a portion from the fridge and allow to stand at room temperature until the mixture becomes more liquid before serving.
And there you have it: Fishy freekeh topping!
Ingredients: the benefits at a glance
Home-made fish broth with turmeric is liquid gold: a nutrient-rich addition to your dog’s diet, and a great source of collagen, which supports joint health and mobility, skin elasticity, and digestive lining integrity. Collagen also supports muscle recovery and repair. The turmeric adds more than colour: its natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties promote overall health and wellness. A recipe for fish broth can be found here.
Salmon is an excellent source of high-quality protein, supporting muscle maintenance and repair. It is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which promote healthy skin, a shiny coat, and reduce inflammation. The flesh of wild salmon contains astaxanthin, a powerful antioxidant that gives it its pink-orange colour and helps protect against oxidative damage. Salmon also provides essential nutrients like potassium and phosphorus for muscle and bone health, selenium to support immune function and cellular health, B vitamins to support energy metabolism, nerve function and the production of red blood cells, and vitamin D which is essential for calcium absorption, promoting bone health.
Sweet potatoes are a nutrient-dense addition to your dog’s diet. Rich in dietary fibre, vitamins C and B6, as well as antioxidants like lutein and minerals such as manganese and potassium, they provide numerous health benefits ranging from improved digestion to enhanced immune function and eye health.
Turmeric, traditionally used as a vitality booster, is a vibrant yellow spice with natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that support overall health in dogs. Studies have shown that its active compound, curcumin, may be beneficial for dogs with osteoarthritis, by helping to help reduce joint inflammation. It also supports cognitive function, and a healthy immune response. Turmeric is also believed to aid in digestion and has been associated with cardiovascular and cellular health benefits.
THE TASTING
Important Considerations:
- Always consult your veterinarian before making any significant dietary changes, particularly where there are pre-existing health conditions or dietary restrictions.
- If you are feeding commercial food, check the label for ingredients before giving more. Excessive intake of any foods can have adverse effects.
- Ensure (where possible) that you use high-quality, organic products specifically formulated for pets (or better still, human grade ingredients) to avoid any potential adverse effects.
- Introduce new foods gradually to avoid adverse effects such as gastrointestinal upset or diarrhoea.
- I provide nutritional information purely as a helpful guide. Nutritional information on ingredients is obtained from the US Department of Agriculture’s FoodData Central site (https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/index.html) and any nutritional information provided in recipes is based on an online calculator: calories and other information will vary based on brands, ingredients and other factors.
- Check nutrient levels and recommendations for your dog’s weight, age and activity. For example this nutritional guideline produced by FEDIAF.
- I am not a professional nutritionist but supporting research is cited.
- The recipes shared were created by me and tested in my kitchen – and tasted and approved by our doggy friends!