Description
Creamy seafood bisque reveals rich French coastal flavors with tender shrimp and delicate crab meat. Culinary enthusiasts will savor complex aromatics and silky texture that transport diners directly to Brittany’s shoreline.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs (680g) raw seafood of choice (such as shrimp, crab, or lobster)
- 1 cup (226g) butter
- 1 quart (945ml) heavy cream
- 1 quart (945ml) whole milk
- 0.5 cup (65g) all-purpose flour
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsps tomato paste
- 2 tsps Cajun seasoning
- 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning
Instructions
- Flavor Foundation: Melt butter in a large pot, sauté onions and garlic until translucent, developing a fragrant base that sets the stage for the seafood bisque.
- Roux Creation: Whisk in flour, tomato paste, Cajun seasoning, and Old Bay, creating a rich, flavor-packed foundation that will thicken and intensify the bisque’s character.
- Liquid Harmony: Gradually incorporate heavy cream and whole milk, whisking continuously to produce a smooth, velvety liquid that will cradle the seafood in luxurious comfort.
- Seafood Infusion: Delicately introduce shrimp, crab, or lobster into the simmering broth, allowing the proteins to cook gently and absorb the complex, layered seasonings.
- Flavor Refinement: Simmer the bisque on low heat, letting the seafood cook thoroughly while the seasonings meld and intensify, creating a harmonious maritime experience.
- Final Touch: Adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and additional spices to achieve a perfectly balanced flavor profile that showcases the oceanic ingredients.
- Presentation: Serve the steaming bisque in warm bowls, garnishing with fresh herbs like parsley or chives, and optionally dust with extra Cajun seasoning for a vibrant finish.
Notes
- Bloom Spices Carefully: Toast Cajun and Old Bay seasonings briefly in butter to unlock their deepest, most complex flavor compounds before adding liquid ingredients.
- Prevent Cream Curdling: Whisk cream and milk gradually at low-medium heat, ensuring smooth texture by maintaining consistent temperature and avoiding rapid boiling.
- Seafood Timing Matters: Add delicate seafood like shrimp and crab in the final 3-5 minutes of cooking to preserve tenderness and prevent rubbery, overcooked texture.
- Herb Freshness Boost: Sprinkle fresh herbs immediately before serving to maintain vibrant color, retain maximum aromatic oils, and enhance the bisque’s visual and flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 750
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 60g
- Saturated Fat: 36g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 200mg