Here’s a rich, elegant, and utterly Sumptuous Seafood Bisque — creamy, deeply flavored, and perfect for special occasions or cozy nights in. 🦐🦀🦞
🍲 Sumptuous Seafood Bisque Recipe
🕒 Time:
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Prep: 20 minutes
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Cook: 45 minutes
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Total: ~1 hour 5 minutes
🧂 Ingredients
🐟 Seafood:
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1/2 lb shrimp (peeled & deveined – save shells for stock)
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1/2 lb lump crab meat (or imitation crab, if needed)
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1/2 lb scallops or lobster meat (optional, or use just shrimp/crab)
🥣 For the Base:
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2 tbsp butter
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1 tbsp olive oil
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1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
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1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
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1/2 cup carrots, finely chopped
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2 cloves garlic, minced
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1/4 cup tomato paste
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1/4 cup all-purpose flour (for thickening)
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4 cups seafood stock (or use shrimp shells + water to make your own)
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1 cup dry white wine (optional but recommended)
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1 tsp Old Bay seasoning
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1/2 tsp paprika
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1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (adjust to heat preference)
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Salt & pepper, to taste
🥛 Finishers:
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1 cup heavy cream
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2 tbsp sherry or brandy (optional, adds depth)
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Fresh herbs (thyme or parsley), for garnish
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Crusty bread or toasted baguette, for serving
🍳 Instructions
1. Make a Quick Seafood Stock (Optional but Adds Depth):
If using shrimp with shells:
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In a small pot, sauté shrimp shells in a bit of oil.
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Add 4 cups water, bring to a boil, simmer for 20 mins.
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Strain and set aside.
2. Sauté the Aromatics:
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In a large pot, melt butter with olive oil over medium heat.
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Add onion, celery, and carrot. Sauté 5–7 minutes until softened.
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Stir in garlic, tomato paste, paprika, and cayenne. Cook for 2–3 minutes.
3. Thicken the Base:
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Stir in flour and cook 1–2 minutes to eliminate raw taste.
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Slowly add wine (if using), scraping up bits from bottom.
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Gradually whisk in seafood stock. Bring to a simmer.
4. Simmer & Blend:
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Add Old Bay, salt, and pepper.
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Simmer for 20 minutes until vegetables are soft.
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Use an immersion blender (or carefully transfer to a regular blender) to puree until smooth.
(Optional: Strain through a fine sieve for ultra-silky bisque)
5. Add Seafood & Finish:
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Return bisque to low heat.
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Stir in cream and sherry.
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Add shrimp, scallops, and crab — simmer gently for 5–7 minutes until seafood is just cooked through.
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Adjust seasoning.
🧄 Garnish & Serve:
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Sprinkle with chopped parsley or thyme
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Drizzle with a swirl of cream or a touch of truffle oil (fancy!)
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Serve hot with crusty baguette, crackers, or in a bread bowl
🔁 Variations:
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🧄 Garlic Lovers: Add roasted garlic for depth
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🧈 Butter-Poached Lobster: Stir in at the end for luxury
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🧋 Coconut Cream Swap: Use instead of dairy for a tropical twist
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🔥 Spicy Cajun Bisque: Add andouille sausage + Cajun seasoning