Description
This Crab and Shrimp Seafood Bisque is rich, silky, and deeply flavored with shellfish, aromatics, butter, cream, and a hint of sherry. It’s elegant yet comforting—perfect for holidays, romantic dinners, or special celebrations. Serve as a starter or main dish with crusty bread for dipping.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Seafood
- ½ lb shrimp, peeled & deveined (reserve shells if possible)
- ½ lb lump crab meat (pick through for shells)
For the Stock Base
- Shrimp shells (optional but recommended)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 celery stalk, diced
- 1 carrot, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 3 cups seafood or chicken broth
For the Bisque
- 3 tbsp butter
- 3 tbsp flour
- ½ cup dry sherry (or white wine)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup milk (or extra cream)
- ½ tsp paprika
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
1. Make the Stock
- Melt butter in a pot over medium heat.
- Add onion, celery, carrot, and garlic; sauté 5–7 minutes.
- Add shrimp shells and tomato paste; cook 2–3 minutes.
- Add broth and simmer 15 minutes.
- Strain and discard solids.
2. Sauté the Shrimp
- In a skillet, melt 1 tbsp butter over medium.
- Add shrimp and cook 2–3 minutes, until just pink.
- Chop roughly and set aside.
3. Make the Roux + Bisque Base
- Melt 3 tbsp butter in a large pot.
- Add flour, whisking 2 minutes to form a roux.
- Add sherry, whisking until smooth.
- Slowly add warm stock, stirring constantly.
- Add cream, milk, paprika, cayenne, salt, and black pepper.
- Simmer 10–12 minutes until thickened and silky.
4. Add the Seafood
- Stir in chopped shrimp and crab.
- Add lemon juice and adjust seasoning to taste.
- Heat gently 2–3 minutes (do not boil after cream).
5. Serve
- Ladle into warm bowls and garnish with crab, herbs, or cream.
Notes
- Shrimp shells make a dramatically better bisque—don’t skip if available.
- Add extra sherry for French-style depth.
- For ultra-smooth bisque, blend the base before adding seafood.
- Prep Time: PT15M
- Cook Time: PT35M
- Category: Seafood
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 640mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 17g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 170mg