Description
Creamy crab and shrimp seafood bisque delivers rich maritime flavors from coastal kitchens. Luxurious seafood blends seamlessly with velvety cream, promising a delectable ocean-inspired experience you’ll savor with each spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Seafood:
- 0.5 pound cooked crab meat, picked over for shells
- 0.5 pound cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined, cut into bite-sized pieces
Main Ingredients:
- 4 cups seafood or chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons sherry (optional)
Vegetables and Seasonings:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 0.5 cup finely chopped onion
- 0.25 cup finely chopped celery
- 0.25 cup finely chopped carrot
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 0.25 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional for heat)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh herbs (such as parsley or chives) for garnish
Instructions
- Sauté aromatic vegetables in olive oil over medium heat until they become tender and translucent, releasing their natural sweetness and creating a flavor foundation for the bisque.
- Incorporate tomato paste and spices, stirring vigorously to develop a rich, complex taste profile that will enhance the seafood’s delicate flavors.
- Dust the vegetable mixture with flour, carefully folding to create a smooth roux that will thicken the bisque and provide a velvety texture.
- Slowly stream in broth while whisking continuously, eliminating potential lumps and creating a silky smooth base for the soup.
- Transform the liquid into a uniform consistency by pureeing with an immersion blender or carefully transferring to a standard blender, ensuring a seamless texture.
- Introduce heavy cream, allowing the bisque to gently simmer and gradually thicken, creating a luxurious and indulgent mouthfeel.
- Gently fold in succulent crab meat and plump shrimp, warming them through without overcooking. For an optional touch of sophistication, splash in a hint of sherry to elevate the flavor profile.
- Taste meticulously, adjusting seasoning with salt and pepper to achieve a perfectly balanced flavor that complements the seafood’s natural sweetness.
- Present the bisque in warm bowls, garnishing with delicate fresh herbs to add a final touch of color and aromatic freshness, creating a visually stunning and delectable dish.
Notes
- Layered flavors develop through careful sautéing of aromatic vegetables, creating a deep, rich base for the seafood bisque.
- Continuous stirring prevents lumpy textures, ensuring a silky-smooth consistency throughout the cooking process.
- Gentle simmering is crucial to prevent cream from curdling and maintain the bisque’s luxurious, velvety texture.
- Fresh seafood should be added at the end of cooking to preserve its delicate flavor and prevent overcooking.
- Sherry optional but recommended, adding a subtle depth and complexity to the overall taste profile.
- Garnishing with fresh herbs provides a bright, fresh contrast to the rich and creamy bisque.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 85mg