How To Make Delicious Lobster Bisque From Scratch

Lobster bisque is a creamy, smooth and delicious soup made from lobster stock and meat It’s an elegant starter or main course that looks impressive but is surprisingly easy to make at home In this detailed guide, I’ll walk you through the entire process of making lobster bisque step-by-step.

Overview Of The Recipe

Here’s a quick rundown of what’s involved:

• Make a quick lobster stock by boiling lobster shells
• Prepare aromatics like onions, carrots, celery
• Make a roux with butter and flour
• Simmer the broth with tomatoes, herbs and spices
• Add cream or cream substitute
• Blend until smooth and velvety
• Finish with lobster meat

The result is a rich, intensely flavored bisque that highlights the sweetness of the lobster. Follow the steps below and you’ll learn how to make restaurant-quality lobster bisque at home.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Lobster tails and shells
• Butter
• Olive oil
• Onion
• Carrots
• Celery
• Fresh or dried herbs like thyme, tarragon, parsley
• Spices like white or cayenne pepper, paprika
• Tomato paste
• All-purpose flour
• Dry white wine or cooking wine
• Seafood stock or broth
• Heavy cream or half-and-half
• Salt and pepper
• Fresh lemon juice

Step-By-Step Method

Step 1: Make The Lobster Stock

This is the foundation of flavor for the bisque. Reserve the lobster shells after removing the meat and simmer them in water to extract flavor.

• Fill a pot with 5 cups water and bring to a boil
• Add 4 lobster tails to the pot, cover and cook for 5 minutes until shells are bright red.
• Remove lobster tails and let cool slightly. Take the meat out of the shells.
• Return the emptied shells back to the pot and simmer for 10-15 minutes.
• Strain the stock through a sieve, pressing down on the shells. Discard shells.

Step 2: Cook The Aromatic Vegetables

• In a large pot, melt 2 tbsp butter and 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat.
• Add 1 onion, 2 carrots and 2 celery stalks, all finely chopped. Cook for 3-5 minutes until softened.
• Stir in 2-3 minced garlic cloves and cook until fragrant, 1 minute.

Step 3: Make The Roux

A roux helps thicken the bisque.

• Sprinkle 3 tbsp all-purpose flour over the cooked vegetables.
• Cook the flour while stirring for 2 minutes to prevent lumps.

Step 4: Deglaze With Wine

• Pour in 1 1⁄4 cups white wine or sherry. Simmer until reduced by half.

Step 5: Add Lobster Stock And Simmer

• Pour in 4 cups lobster stock.
• Add tomato paste, fresh or dried herbs, spices, salt and pepper.
• Let simmer for 20-30 minutes to blend the flavors.

Step 6: Finish And Blend The Bisque

• Take the pot off heat and use an immersion blender to puree until very smooth.
• Return to low heat. Stir in 3⁄4 – 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half.

Step 7: Prepare The Lobster Meat

• In a skillet, melt butter and briefly cook minced garlic until fragrant.
• Add chopped lobster meat. Season with salt, pepper and herbs.
• Cook for 1 minute just until warmed through.

Step 8: Finish And Serve

• Add most of the lobster meat to the blended soup.
• Ladle bisque into bowls and garnish with remaining lobster pieces.
• Sprinkle on fresh herbs like tarragon or chives. Enjoy!

Tips For Making The Best Lobster Bisque

• Use good quality, fresh ingredients. Frozen lobster works too but fresh is ideal.
• Cook the roux sufficiently to avoid a raw flour taste.
• Simmer the broth long enough to develop complex flavors.
• Blend well until completely smooth.
• Go easy on heavy cream or use half-and-half to prevent the bisque tasting too rich.
• Finish with lemon juice and herbs to brighten the flavors.
• Use shells from 4 lobster tails to make enough stock for 4 servings. Adjust quantities as needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to make lobster bisque?

From start to finish, expect the bisque to take about 1 hour 15 minutes with 30 minutes being hands-off simmering time.

Can I use frozen lobster tails?

Yes, frozen tails work well too. Thaw them first before cooking.

What can I use if I don’t have wine?

Replace white wine with an equal amount of seafood stock or broth.

What herbs go well with lobster bisque?

Tarragon, chives, parsley, thyme and oregano provide wonderful herbal flavors. Avoid stronger herbs like rosemary.

Can I make it dairy-free?

Absolutely. Omit the heavy cream and use coconut milk beverage instead

Can I prepare the stock ahead?

Yes, make the lobster stock up to 2 days in advance and refrigerate until needed.

Satisfy Your Bisque Cravings At Home