Seafood Bisque with Crab, Shrimp & Lobster

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🦞🦀🍤 Seafood Bisque with Crab, Shrimp & Lobster

Serves: 4–6
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25–30 minutes

⭐ Ingredients

Seafood

  • ½ lb shrimp, peeled & deveined, chopped or whole
  • ½ lb lump crab meat
  • ½ lb cooked lobster meat, chopped

Base

  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 celery stalk, diced (optional but recommended)
  • 1 small carrot, diced (optional; adds sweetness)
  • 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning
  • ½ tsp paprika
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)

Liquids

  • 3 cups seafood stock (or chicken stock)
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup white wine (optional but adds depth)

Finish

  • Salt & black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
  • A splash of lemon juice (optional but excellent)

🧑‍🍳 Instructions

1. Sauté the Aromatics

In a large pot:

  1. Melt butter over medium heat.
  2. Add onion, celery, and carrot (if using).
  3. Cook 5–7 minutes until softened.
  4. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more.

2. Create the Roux

  1. Stir in flour and cook 1–2 minutes (it should look pasty).
  2. Add tomato paste, paprika, Old Bay, and cayenne.
  3. Stir until everything is combined and fragrant.

3. Add Liquids

Slowly pour in:

  • white wine (optional) — stir and let simmer 2 minutes
  • seafood stock

Stir continuously so no lumps remain.
Simmer 10 minutes until slightly thickened.

4. Blend for Classic Bisque Texture

Optional but highly recommended:
Use an immersion blender (or blend half the soup and return it).
This gives the bisque its traditional silky finish.

5. Add Cream & Seafood

Reduce heat to low and stir in:

  • heavy cream
  • shrimp, cook 3 minutes
  • lobster + crab, warm through 2–3 minutes
    (They’re already cooked, so don’t overcook.)

6. Season & Serve

Taste and adjust:

  • salt
  • pepper
  • lemon juice
  • extra Old Bay

Top with fresh parsley and a drizzle of cream.

Serve with:

  • crusty bread
  • garlic toast
  • oyster crackers

🌟 Tips for Perfect Bisque

  • Add the seafood at the end so it stays tender.
  • Seafood stock gives the best flavor, but chicken stock works too.
  • For extra richness, add 1 tbsp butter right before serving.
  • Don’t boil after adding cream — keep heat low.

🍽️ Variations

Creamier Bisque

Add 2 oz cream cheese or ¼ cup additional heavy cream.

Spicy Cajun Bisque

Add 1–2 tsp Cajun seasoning + extra cayenne.

Extra Seafood

Add scallops or clams.

No Wine Version

Skip wine and add ½ tbsp lemon juice at the end.

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