Description
Seafood lovers rejoice with this luxurious Crab and Shrimp Seafood Bisque, a coastal culinary dream blending rich maritime flavors. Silky cream, tender seafood, and delicate herbs create an indulgent experience that transports palates straight to seaside comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
Seafood and Main Ingredients:
- ½ pounds (225g) cooked crab meat, picked over for shells
- ½ pounds (225g) shrimp, peeled, deveined, and cut into bite-sized pieces
Dairy and Liquid Ingredients:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup whole milk
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ¼ cup dry sherry or white wine
- 2 cups seafood or chicken stock
Vegetables, Herbs, and Seasonings:
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
- ½ teaspoon salt (to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Heat butter in a spacious pot over medium flame, gently sautéing diced onions and minced garlic until they become translucent and release their aromatic essence, approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Dust flour evenly over the softened aromatics, continuously stirring to form a smooth, golden roux that will thicken the bisque and develop a rich, nutty undertone.
- Slowly incorporate seafood stock, whisking diligently to prevent any unwelcome lumps from forming, ensuring a silky smooth base for the bisque.
- Stream in heavy cream, milk, and sherry, allowing the liquid to merge harmoniously while maintaining a gentle, barely bubbling simmer.
- Enhance the flavor profile by introducing paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, black pepper, and tomato paste, stirring to distribute the seasonings evenly throughout the liquid.
- Let the bisque simmer quietly, permitting the spices to intermingle and develop a complex, layered taste for approximately 10 minutes.
- Delicately introduce crab meat and shrimp into the simmering liquid, cooking just until the shrimp transform to a vibrant pink hue and reach perfect tenderness.
- Evaluate the seasoning, adjusting with additional salt or pepper as needed to balance the maritime flavors.
- Ladle the creamy bisque into serving vessels, garnishing with freshly chopped parsley for a touch of verdant brightness, and serve immediately while piping hot.
Notes
- Prevent Seafood Toughness: Carefully monitor cooking time for shrimp and crab to avoid rubbery texture, removing from heat the moment seafood turns opaque and pink.
- Enhance Flavor Depth: Toast flour slightly in butter before adding liquids to develop a richer, nuttier undertone in the bisque base.
- Dietary Adaptations: Substitute heavy cream with coconut milk for a dairy-free version, or use gluten-free flour blend to make the recipe celiac-friendly.
- Texture Optimization: Strain the bisque through a fine-mesh sieve for an ultra-smooth consistency, removing any potential lumps or uneven particles.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 150mg