Description
This rich and creamy Seafood Bisque combines succulent shrimp and lump crab meat in a flavorful blend of aromatic vegetables, seafood stock, and a touch of sherry. Perfect for a comforting meal, this bisque is easy to prepare in just 30 minutes and serves six.
Ingredients
Scale
Seafood Bisque Ingredients
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 2 stalks fresh celery, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 4 cups seafood stock
- 1 lb medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 8 oz lump crab meat (fresh or frozen)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup dry sherry
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Sauté Vegetables: In a large pot over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter. Add the diced yellow onion, celery, and minced garlic. Sauté for about 5 minutes until the vegetables are softened and fragrant.
- Add Tomato Paste: Stir in the tomato paste and cook for an additional 2 minutes to deepen the flavor, allowing it to slightly caramelize with the vegetables.
- Add Seafood Stock: Gradually pour in the seafood stock while scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer to develop the base of the bisque.
- Cook Seafood: Add the peeled and deveined shrimp, lump crab meat, dried thyme, and bay leaf to the simmering stock. Allow to cook gently until the shrimp turn pink and are cooked through, about 5 minutes.
- Finalize Bisque: Stir in the heavy cream and dry sherry just before serving. Heat through gently without bringing it to a boil to preserve the creaminess and flavor balance.
- Season and Serve: Remove the bay leaf and season the bisque with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve hot for a delicious and comforting seafood dish.
Notes
- Use fresh seafood stock if possible for the best flavor.
- Be careful not to boil the bisque after adding the cream to prevent curdling.
- Dry sherry can be substituted with white wine if preferred.
- For a smoother texture, you can blend a portion of the soup before adding seafood.
- Adjust seasoning at the end to your taste preference.
