Description
Seafood bisque emerges as a luxurious French coastal delicacy, blending rich ocean flavors with creamy elegance. Silky smooth and packed with tender shrimp and crab, this classic soup invites you to savor maritime comfort in each spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Seafood:
- 0.5 pounds (226 grams) shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 0.5 pounds (226 grams) crab meat
- 0.5 pounds (226 grams) cooked lobster meat, chopped
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 celery stalk, diced
- 1 carrot, diced
Seasonings and Additional Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups seafood broth or fish stock
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 0.5 cup dry white wine (optional)
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- 0.25 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- Lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
- Sauté shrimp in butter over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until they turn vibrant pink, then transfer to a separate plate.
- In the same pan, melt remaining butter and sauté chopped onion, minced garlic, diced celery, and carrots for 4-5 minutes until vegetables become tender and aromatic.
- Dust vegetables with flour, stirring continuously to create a smooth, golden roux, cooking for 1-2 minutes to eliminate raw flour taste.
- Gradually incorporate seafood broth, whisking steadily to ensure a silky, lump-free liquid base.
- Introduce cream, white wine, Old Bay seasoning, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper, allowing the mixture to simmer for 10-15 minutes until it reaches a luxurious, velvety consistency.
- Gently fold in succulent chunks of crab, tender lobster meat, and previously cooked shrimp, simmering for an additional 5 minutes to meld flavors and heat seafood thoroughly.
- Ladle bisque into warm bowls, garnishing with fresh chopped parsley and serving alongside bright lemon wedges for a zesty finishing touch.
Notes
- Use fresh, high-quality seafood for the most vibrant flavor and best texture in your bisque.
- Consider toasting flour slightly before adding to roux for a deeper, nuttier undertone that enhances overall richness.
- Gluten-free adaptation works perfectly by swapping regular flour with cornstarch or gluten-free flour blend to maintain creamy consistency.
- Control spice levels by gradually adding cayenne, tasting as you go to customize heat to personal preference without overwhelming delicate seafood notes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 270 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 170 mg