Description
This Creamy Lobster Bisque recipe delivers luxurious restaurant-quality flavor at home. Succulent lobster meat, aromatic vegetables, and herbs combine with rich cream for a silky, indulgent soup that’s both elegant and surprisingly simple to prepare.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1½ cups fresh lobster meat, chopped (or 12 oz frozen lobster tails, thawed)
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 1 medium onion or 2 shallots, finely diced
- 3–4 celery stalks, chopped
- 2 large carrots, peeled and chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1½ cups dry white wine
- 3 cups seafood stock or chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika
- Fresh thyme and tarragon sprigs
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and white pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley or chives for garnish
- Crusty baguette or artisanal bread for serving
- Smart substitutions:
- Use half-and-half for lighter texture
- Replace stock with vegetable broth
- Swap wine for brandy for richer depth
Instructions
- Gather ingredients and equipment including a Dutch oven, immersion blender, and fine-mesh strainer. Prepare vegetables and lobster meat.
- Melt butter in Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, celery, and carrots; sauté 8–10 minutes until softened and lightly caramelized.
- Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Stir in tomato paste and cook 2–3 minutes until darkened and aromatic.
- Sprinkle flour over vegetables, stirring constantly for 2 minutes to form a roux.
- Slowly pour in white wine, scraping browned bits from pot bottom. Simmer 3–5 minutes to reduce.
- Add seafood stock, thyme, tarragon, bay leaf, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Bring to boil, then reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes.
- Remove herbs and bay leaf. Blend mixture until smooth using immersion blender. Strain through a fine sieve for ultra-smooth texture.
- Return to low heat, stir in heavy cream. Add lobster meat and simmer 3–5 minutes until heated through. Avoid boiling.
- Garnish with parsley or chives and serve with crusty bread.
Notes
For dairy-free version, use coconut milk or cashew cream. Always add cream off-heat to prevent curdling. Bisque can be made ahead and reheated gently before serving for perfect texture.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 1000mg
- Fat: 33g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 145mg
Keywords: lobster bisque, creamy bisque, seafood soup, lobster recipe, elegant dinner