Dreamy Crab and Shrimp Seafood Bisque Recipe for Cozy Nights

Warm, velvety waves of flavor wash over your palate in this delectable crab and shrimp seafood bisque that promises pure ocean-inspired comfort.

Creamy textures blend seamlessly with succulent seafood, creating a luxurious soup that feels like a coastal embrace.

Each spoonful carries the rich essence of tender crab and sweet shrimp, perfectly balanced with aromatic herbs and a smooth, silky base.

The recipe captures the delicate nuances of marine ingredients, transforming simple components into an extraordinary dining experience.

seafood lovers will appreciate the sophisticated yet approachable nature of this classic bisque.

Professional chefs and home cooks alike can master this elegant dish with a few expert techniques.

Dive into this culinary adventure and savor the depths of maritime flavor.

Quick Recipe Overview

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Calories: 380 kcal

Servings: 7

What You’ll Need for Seafood Bisque

• Olive Oil: Provides a smooth cooking foundation with a subtle Mediterranean essence.
• Onion, Celery, Carrot: Classic mirepoix blend offering depth and layered vegetable sweetness.
• Garlic: Adds robust, pungent flavor that elevates the entire seafood profile.

• Tomato Paste: Concentrates rich, tangy undertones and creates vibrant color.
• Paprika: Introduces warm, slightly smoky notes with gentle pepper complexity.
• Cayenne Pepper: Optional spice booster delivering subtle heat and excitement.
• Salt and Black Pepper: Essential seasoning agents that balance and heighten overall taste.

• Flour: Thickening agent creating silky, luxurious bisque consistency.
• Broth: Liquid base providing nuanced seafood or vegetable background flavor.
• Heavy Cream: Delivers luxurious, velvety mouthfeel and rich dairy warmth.
• Crab Meat: Delicate, sweet seafood protein adding elegant maritime character.
• Shrimp: Tender, succulent shellfish bringing oceanic freshness.
• Sherry (Optional): Introduces sophisticated, slightly nutty wine undertone.
• Fresh Herbs: Bright, aromatic garnish offering visual and flavor contrast.

Tools to Prep Crab and Shrimp Bisque

• Large pot: Essential for sautéing vegetables and cooking the bisque base.
• Cutting board: Perfect for chopping onions, celery, and carrots.
• Sharp knife: Needed for precise vegetable and herb preparation.
• Wooden spoon or spatula: Great for stirring ingredients and preventing sticking.
• Immersion blender or standard blender: Crucial for creating a smooth, creamy texture.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Helps accurately measure broth, cream, and seasonings.
• Ladle: Ideal for serving the hot, delicious bisque into bowls.

Cooking Crab and Shrimp Seafood Bisque

Coastal Comfort Seafood Stew

• Vegetable Foundation

Chop up a blend of aromatic vegetables to create a flavor-packed base for your luxurious seafood experience. Sauté onions, celery, and carrots in olive oil until they release their sweet, tender essence.

• Spice Awakening

Introduce a medley of warm spices that will transform your stew into a sensory journey. Stir in tomato paste and a hint of paprika to develop a deep, rich undertone that whispers of seaside kitchens.

• Silky Thickening

Dust the softened vegetables with a light coating of flour, stirring gently to create a smooth foundation. This magical step will give your stew its signature velvety texture.

• Liquid Symphony

Slowly pour in broth, creating a harmonious blend that will simmer and develop complex layers of flavor. Allow the mixture to dance and bubble gently, melding ingredients into a cohesive masterpiece.

• Creamy Transformation

Blend the stew into a silky smooth consistency, breaking down vegetables into a luxurious backdrop for your seafood stars. Pour in cream to add richness that feels like a warm ocean embrace.

• Seafood Finale

Gently fold in succulent crab and shrimp, letting them bathe in the creamy broth. A splash of sherry will elevate the flavors, adding a sophisticated whisper of complexity.

• Finishing Touch

Season with care, tasting and adjusting until every spoonful sings with balanced flavors. Garnish with fresh herbs that bring a bright, fresh note to your coastal creation.

Flavor Boosts for Seafood Bisque

• Replace crab and shrimp with lobster, scallops, or a mixed seafood medley for delightful flavor variations.
• Customize heat by adjusting cayenne pepper or adding diced jalapeños for an extra kick of flavor that tingles your taste buds.
• Blend only half the soup for a chunkier texture or use different seafood sizes to add interesting mouthfeel and visual appeal.
• Top with crispy bacon bits, toasted breadcrumbs, fresh chives, or a drizzle of high-quality olive oil to transform the presentation and add exciting layers of flavor.
• Substitute half-and-half or whole milk for heavy cream to reduce calories while maintaining a creamy, luxurious texture that still feels indulgent.

Serving Seafood Bisque Like a Pro

• Coastal Dinner Companion: Pair this luxurious bisque with a crisp baguette or crusty sourdough bread for perfect dipping and texture contrast.
• Elegant Appetizer Setup: Serve in smaller portions as a sophisticated starter before a main seafood course, garnished with a delicate sprinkle of fresh chives or parsley.
• Wine Pairing Perfection: Select a chilled Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc to complement the creamy seafood flavors, enhancing the overall dining experience with a refreshing white wine.
• Seasonal Side Salad Accent: Add a light mixed green salad with a citrus vinaigrette to balance the rich, creamy bisque and provide a fresh, zesty counterpoint to the dish.

How to Keep Bisque Ready

• Quick Refrigeration Strategy: Store leftover bisque in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. The delicate seafood and cream base require careful handling to maintain optimal flavor and texture.
• Freezing Wisdom: Avoid freezing this bisque due to its cream and seafood components. Cream-based soups tend to separate and lose their smooth consistency when thawed, potentially creating an unappetizing texture.
• Reheating Magic: Warm the bisque gently over low heat, stirring frequently to prevent scorching. Use a whisk to help restore the creamy consistency, adding a splash of broth if the soup seems too thick after refrigeration.
• Seafood Freshness Tip: For best results, add fresh crab and shrimp just before serving. If preparing in advance, keep the seafood separate and add it when reheating to maintain its delicate flavor and prevent overcooking.

Velvety Crab and Shrimp Seafood Bisque Recipe

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• Yield: 7 1x

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Description

Rich, creamy crab and shrimp seafood bisque delivers coastal comfort in each spoonful. Succulent seafood and velvety cream combine for an indulgent experience you’ll savor down to the last drop.

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Ingredients

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• 0.5 lb (226.8 g) shrimp, cooked, peeled, deveined, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 0.5 lb (226.8 g) crab meat, cooked, picked over for shells
• 4 cups (0.95 L) seafood or chicken broth
• 1 cup (237 mL) heavy cream
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 0.5 cup finely chopped onion
• 0.25 cup finely chopped celery
• 0.25 cup finely chopped carrot
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 0.25 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons sherry (optional)
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 0.25 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional for heat)
• Salt to taste
• Black pepper to taste
• Fresh herbs (such as parsley or chives) for garnish

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Instructions

1. Aromatic Base: Sauté vegetables in olive oil over medium heat until tender and translucent, creating a robust flavor foundation for the seafood bisque.
2. Flavor Development: Blend tomato paste and spices into the vegetable mixture, stirring vigorously to build a complex and rich taste profile that will complement the seafood.
3. Thickening Technique: Sprinkle flour over the vegetable mixture, folding carefully to construct a smooth roux that will provide a luxurious, velvety consistency to the bisque.
4. Liquid Integration: Gradually whisk broth into the roux, ensuring a seamless, lump-free liquid base with a silky smooth texture.
5. Texture Refinement: Puree the mixture using an immersion blender until achieving a uniform, creamy consistency that will serve as the bisque’s foundation.
6. Cream Infusion: Incorporate heavy cream and allow the mixture to simmer gently, developing a rich and indulgent mouthfeel while gradually thickening the soup.
7. Seafood Incorporation: Delicately fold crab meat and shrimp into the simmering bisque, warming the proteins without compromising their tender texture. Enhance with an optional splash of sherry for sophisticated depth.
8. Final Seasoning: Meticulously adjust salt and pepper to balance the bisque’s flavors, ensuring the seafood’s natural sweetness remains the star of the dish.
9. Elegant Presentation: Ladle the bisque into warmed bowls and garnish with fresh herbs, creating a visually stunning and aromatic culinary experience.

Notes

• Prevent Curdling: Temper cream slowly and maintain low heat to avoid separation, ensuring a smooth, silky texture throughout the bisque.
• Control Seafood Cooking: Add crab and shrimp at the last moment to prevent toughening, preserving their tender, delicate texture and preventing rubbery consistency.
• Enhance Flavor Depth: Select high-quality seafood stock or homemade broth to amplify the richness and complexity of the bisque’s base.
• Master Roux Technique: Stir flour mixture continuously to eliminate potential lumps, creating a perfectly smooth foundation for the creamy soup.

• Category: Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 7
• Calories: 380
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 900 mg
• Fat: 28 g
• Saturated Fat: 15 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 22 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 14 g
• Cholesterol: 95 mg