Ingredients
Seafood
- Fresh Crab Meat – 8 ounces
- Shrimp (peeled and deveined) – 8 ounces
Vegetables & Aromatics
- Butter – 3 tablespoons
- Onions (diced) – 1 medium
- Garlic (minced) – 3 cloves
- Carrots (diced) – 1 medium
- Celery (diced) – 2 stalks
- Tomato Paste – 2 tablespoons
Liquids & Stock
- Dry White Wine – 1/2 cup
- Seafood Stock – 4 cups
- Heavy Cream – 1 cup
Herbs & Seasonings
- Fresh Thyme – 2 sprigs
- Bay Leaves – 2 leaves
- Salt – to taste
- Black Pepper – to taste
- Cayenne Pepper – a pinch
Instructions
- Sauté the Aromatics: Begin by melting butter over medium heat in a large pot. Add diced onions, garlic, carrots, and celery, cooking until they soften and turn fragrant, about 5 to 7 minutes.
- Build the Base: Stir in tomato paste and cook for an additional 2 minutes to allow slight caramelization. Pour in the white wine to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits to build flavor.
- Simmer the Stock: Add the seafood stock, fresh thyme, and bay leaves, bringing the mixture to a gentle simmer. Let it simmer for about 20 minutes to meld flavors.
- Add the Seafood: Pour in the shrimp and crab meat, simmer gently until just cooked through to maintain tender seafood.
- Blend and Cream: Remove the herbs and use an immersion blender to puree the bisque until velvety smooth. Stir in heavy cream and season with salt, pepper, and cayenne for a warm finish.
Notes
- Use Fresh Seafood: Fresh crab and shrimp provide the best flavor and texture.
- Don’t Overcook Seafood: Add seafood near the end to avoid rubbery texture.
- Slow Simmer: Allow gentle simmering to develop rich flavors without harsh smells.
- Adjust Seasoning Gradually: Taste frequently to avoid over-salting.
- Serve Warm: Best enjoyed warm but not boiling hot to appreciate creaminess.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American Seafood
- Diet: Gluten Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
Keywords: crab bisque, shrimp bisque, seafood soup, creamy seafood bisque, gluten free seafood soup