Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 30 mins
Servings: 4 servings
If you're a purist, you know that a true bisque is a seafood soup, though it is often used to describe any creamy soup. This delicious seafood bisque is made with crab and shrimp. It's super easy to prepare and cook for a weeknight meal because it's ready in just 15 minutes.
Use Caution When Blending Hot Ingredients
Steam expands quickly in a blender and can cause ingredients to splatter everywhere and/or cause burns. To prevent this, fill the blender only one-third of the way up and puree in small batches. Vent the top, and cover with a folded kitchen towel while blending.
Traditionally, a bisque is thickened with a paste made from the crustaceans' shells. This recipe takes a different approach and uses a flour-based roux. It's adaptable too; you can substitute another seafood or add a third, such as lobster, scallops, or firm, flaky fish.
Serve the seafood bisque with freshly baked biscuits or crusty bread. If it’s a lunch or main course soup, add your favorite salad.
Why Is It Called "Bisque"?
The origin of the word "bisque" is not clear. It might be derived from Biscay, as in the Bay of Biscay, a gulf that lies off Europe's west coast, bordering western France and northern Spain.
What's the Difference Between Seafood Bisque and Chowder?
Bisque and chowder are two popular styles of creamy soup that most often feature seafood or fish, though vegetables are popular alternatives for both. The primary difference is that a bisque is smooth and includes cooking wine, while chowder is chunky and incorporates hearty ingredients like potatoes.
Tips for Making Seafood Bisque Recipe
- When making roux – The goal is to heat the milk so it's about the same temperature as the flour-thickened butter mixture. If either element is too cool or hot, the roux may be lumpy or separate.
- Use sherry – Sherry is a wine fortified with brandy. Dry sherry is a good choice for this recipe. After sherry is opened, it should be stored in the refrigerator.
Ingredients
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3 tablespoons unsalted butter
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2 tablespoons chopped green onion
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2 tablespoons chopped celery
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3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
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2 1/2 cups milk
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1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
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1 tablespoon tomato paste
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1 cup heavy whipping cream
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8 ounces cooked baby shrimp
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8 ounces crabmeat
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2 tablespoons sherry wine
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3 tablespoons chopped parsley, cilantro, and/or green onion tops
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients.
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Melt 3 tablespoons unsalted butter in a Dutch oven or large saucepan over medium-low heat; add 2 tablespoons chopped green onion and 2 tablespoons chopped celery. Sauté, stirring, until tender, about 2 minutes.
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Stir 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour into the butter and vegetables until well incorporated. Continue cooking, stirring, for about 2 minutes.
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Warm 2 1/2 cup milk in another saucepan over medium heat.
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Slowly stir the warmed milk into the butter and vegetables. Continue cooking, stirring until thickened, about 3 minutes.
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Add 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 1 tablespoon tomato paste, and 1 cup heavy cream.
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If desired, puree the soup in a blender or food processor at this point and then return it to the saucepan.
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Stir in 8 ounces cooked shrimp, 8 ounces crabmeat, and 2 tablespoons sherry wine. Bring it to a simmer.
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Serve hot, garnished with 3 tablespoons parsley, cilantro, and/or chopped green onion tops.
How To Store and Freeze Seafood Bisque
The bisque will keep in the fridge, covered, for three to four days. To freeze, cool the soup and transfer to covered, freezer-safe, airtight containers. Date and label them and freeze for up to six months. Defrost the bisque in the fridge and reheat gently over low heat to prevent it from getting too grainy and/or curdling. Stir well.
Feeling Adventurous? Try This:
- No shrimp, no problem – Use small, cooked bay scallops or lobster instead of shrimp.
- No green onions, no problem – Replace the green onions with finely chopped shallots.
- Make it creamy – If desired, add a spoonful of sour cream to each bowl of bisque and swirl it in.
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 4 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 501 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 35g | 44% |
| Saturated Fat 21g | 107% |
| Cholesterol 277mg | 92% |
| Sodium 902mg | 39% |
| Total Carbohydrate 16g | 6% |
| Dietary Fiber 1g | 2% |
| Total Sugars 10g | |
| Protein 31g | |
| Vitamin C 5mg | 23% |
| Calcium 340mg | 26% |
| Iron 1mg | 6% |
| Potassium 601mg | 13% |
| *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. | |
