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You are here: Home / Special Diets / Pescatarian / Lobster Bisque

Lobster Bisque

27th January 2020 - By Michelle Minnaar
This post may contain affiliate links.

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Lobster Bisque in a bowl with fresh lobsdter

One of my favourite French recipes is a lobster bisque. A simple recipe, yet packed with complex flavours, a lobster bisque is a fine choice when you are looking to cook to impress.

Although cooking with lobster might sound expensive, you don’t necessarily have to have such a large budget for completing this recipe. You can easily use a frozen lobster. Better yet, you can also substitute the lobster with shrimp or prawns. Both ingredients work very well.

Nevertheless, this lobster bisque is divine. Serve it with some cooked lobster meat, a baguette and a beautiful glass of mature white wine or rose wine. So, what are you waiting for?

Come and learn how to make this easy lobster bisque recipe. Have fun.

products you need for this recipe

Here is a list of the top things you will need to complete this lobster bisque recipe. Take a look below and see which items you are still missing:
  • bisque deep pot – use a trusted French signature brand for this bisque recipe
  • seafood cracker set – this seafood set will enable you to prepare the lobster properly for this lobster bisque recipe
  • tomato paste – you can never have enough tomato paste in your kitchen cupboard (I run out all the time and I find out too late)
  • fresh lobster meat – if you are not so keen on preparing the lobster for this lobster bisque, you can order some cleaned lobster flesh for convenience
  • lobster tails – similarly, you can also order lobster tails (especially if you can’t find any lobster in your nearby supermarket)

lobster bisque recipe

In total, this lobster bisque recipe will take you one hour and fifteen minutes to prepare and cook. This is indeed a quick and easy bisque recipe, bearing in mind that in France, sometimes, bisques are known to cook for hours to extract the maximum amount of flavour possible.

In any event, this elegant and refined recipe will only take a little over an hour to complete.

For those of you who are trying to cut down on your meat consumption, cooking pescatarian recipes like this one is a great way to start your journey towards a healthier lifestyle.

That being said, lobster is a nutritious and delicious ingredient with which you can cook up some excellent recipes.

For instance, check out these incredible recipes I’ve made with lobster:

  • lobster gratin – a creamy gratin recipe with chunks of cooked lobster
  • lobster rolls – a beautiful starter recipe with a creamy lobster salad filling
  • and lastly lobster benedict – for a five-star gourmet-style breakfast to impress the likes of anyone

As you can see, lobster isn’t just about its meat. It brings a certain richness and enhances a dish with complex flavours. Do you have a favourite lobster dish in mind?

If you haven’t tried lobster, then this lobster bisque is the prefect dish to turn you into a lobster lover.

lobster bisque from shells

There are quite a few ingredients which you will need to complete this lobster bisque recipe. However, the main ingredient from which you will need to extract the most flavour is the lobster shells.

This lobster bisque recipe calls for the shells of two lobsters. The shells of one lobster wouldn’t complete this recipe. You will need to procure two for this reason.

That being said, as mentioned above, you can use one lobster to make another delicious lobster recipe. Just don’t throw away the shells as they can be used in a sustainable way in a bisque or a seafood broth.

Once you’ve prepared your lobsters and taken out all the flesh, you will need to pan fry the shells. The caramelisation of the shells will release an intense seafood flavour as well as all those irresistible aromas.

Handy tip: Don’t crowd the lobster shells when you are frying them. If you crowd them, they will not caramelise and brown properly. If you spear them out, they will start releasing their flavours.

Again, please don’t forget to store the shells for this step. Don’t throw them away as it would be an incredible waste.

lobster bisque with sherry

One ingredient that ties everything together in this lobster bisque recipe is the addition of sherry. Don’t worry about the alcohol, it will cook off eventually.

Sherry is a fortified wine, which originates from Jerez de la Frontera, in Spain. Mostly, it is consumed as a digestive or an aperitif. However, chefs have discovered its multiple benefits as regards culinary applications.

As a result, sherry has been a component of many sauces. In short, it intensifies the flavours in a sauce by fusing all the flavours together, which is why I often prefer to add sherry when I’m making sauce. For instance, sherry can be added into these recipes:

  • pork fillet with orange and sherry sauce
  • creamy mushroom and sherry sauce
  • mussels with leeks, sherry and cream

You can also add sherry to intensify the flavour of a dessert.

Handy tip: There are multiple types of sherry. As sherry matures, the flavour and colour changes. Hence, it is essential that you select the right type of sherry for this lobster bisque.

I recommend going for the Fino sherry or the Manzanilla sherry. These two pair exceptionally well with seafood (especially white fish).

how to cook bisque?

There is one pivotal step in cooking bisques like this lobster bisque recipe. If you do this step wrong, all your preparation efforts will have gone to waste.

This involves the addition of cream. Make sure to add the cream on really low heat. Otherwise, you risk that the lobster bisque will split.

My recommendation would be to take the bisque off for 3-5 minutes and allow it to cool down. Only then add the cream in slowly and stir.

best bisque toppings

The best toppings for this lobster bisque are:

  • cream or creme fraiche
  • cooked lobster meat (crab also works)
  • you can also pan sear some scallops and toss them into the lobster bisque
  • fresh herbs like parsley, watercress or valeriana salad

Remember to serve the bisque with a piece of fresh bread or baguette.

For a posh smoked salmon starter, check out salmon terrine.

How would you serve your lobster bisque? Would you add some cooked lobster inside? Let me know in the comments below.

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Bowl of lobster bisque and a loaf of brown bread

Lobster Bisque


★★★★★

4.9 from 8 reviews

  • Author: Michelle Minnaar
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Yield: 4 portions 1x
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Description

Learn how to make this classic French lobster bisque recipe from scratch. A perfect starter. Find out how to make the most of lobster shells!


Scale

Ingredients

  • 60ml (4 tbsp) butter
  • 1 onion, peeled and chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
  • 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, washed and chopped
  • lobster shells from 2 lobsters 
  • 30ml (2 tbsp) tomato paste
  • 3 thyme sprigs
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 400ml (1½ cup) white wine
  • 1ℓ (4 cups) seafood or fish stock
  • 125ml (½ cup) double cream
  • 450g (1lb) cooked lobster meat
  • 60ml (4 tbsp) parsley, washed and finely chopped

Instructions

  1. Melt the butter in a large saucepan.
  2. Gently fry the onion, garlic, celery and carrot and cook until softened, which takes about 5 minutes.
  3. Turn up the heat, tip in the lobster shells and stir vigorously for 2 minutes.
  4. Pour in the wine, giving it a stir then let it bubble until the liquid has halved.  
  5. Stir in tomato paste, thyme and bay leaf, then pour in the stock.  
  6. Let the soup simmer slowly for 30 minutes, allowing the flavours to infuse. 
  7. Tip the contents into a powerful food processor and blend until the shell pieces are tiny. 
  8. Cover a big bowl with a large piece of muslin. 
  9. Pour the contents into the muslin, then squeeze out every last drop out of the shell mixture and discard the leftovers. You will now be left with a smooth soup.
  10. Return the soup to a saucepan and add the cream and lobster meat. Let the soup heat through, then divide it between 4 bowls. 
  11. Sprinkle parsley on top and serve immediately with fresh, crusty bread. Enjoy!

  • Category: Soup
  • Method: Boil
  • Cuisine: French

Keywords: lobster bisque recipe, lobster bisque from shells, french lobster recipe, french soup recipe

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kim Neville says

    28th January 2020 at 7:41 pm

    I like to have with potato salad

    Reply
  2. melanie stirling says

    28th January 2020 at 8:55 pm

    Lobster Thermidor, I didn’t try it until recently but it was my dad’s favourite so I decided to and it was delicious.

    Reply
  3. Solange says

    28th January 2020 at 9:19 pm

    I enjoy steamed lobster with a side of clarified butter for dipping.

    Reply
  4. cheryl hadfield says

    29th January 2020 at 10:35 pm

    I enjoy Lobster with salad and cous cous

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  5. Andrea Upton says

    2nd February 2020 at 8:51 pm

    Lobster isn’t something I eat very often, but I once had this amazing lobster dish in a restaurant in Hong Kong which had cheese sauce in it, really delicious

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  6. Jane Willis says

    3rd February 2020 at 3:26 pm

    I love a lobster salad, especially if there are a few slices of fresh mango on it.

    ★★★★

    Reply
  7. Elaine Fitzpatrick says

    3rd February 2020 at 7:19 pm

    This makes a posh succulent dish so easy to make

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  8. Laura banks says

    20th February 2020 at 11:22 am

    my hubby made a sweetcorn and lobster soup that was very nice

    Reply
  9. Victoria Prince says

    20th February 2020 at 4:28 pm

    Lobster Thermidor – though I’d love to try more ways. Not something I am lucky enough to get to eat often!

    Reply
  10. Sheena Batey says

    22nd February 2020 at 9:48 pm

    Lobster Thermidor absolutely delicious

    Reply
  11. Sheri Darby says

    22nd February 2020 at 10:52 pm

    I have never had lobster

    Reply
  12. Kristie Metcalfe says

    23rd February 2020 at 7:54 am

    I love enjoying lobster with a 6oz fillet steak. Bit of garlic butter on both and mwah, delicious!

    Reply
  13. claire woods says

    23rd February 2020 at 8:39 am

    I’ve never tried lobster.

    Reply
  14. cat says

    23rd February 2020 at 12:32 pm

    Just plain served with a salad and some great mayonnaise

    Reply
  15. Adrian Bold says

    23rd February 2020 at 12:42 pm

    I enjoy grilled lobster tails with lemon & herb butter.

    Reply
  16. Iain maciver says

    23rd February 2020 at 12:43 pm

    Lobster Thermidor

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  17. Nixxy says

    23rd February 2020 at 1:03 pm

    Straight out of the sea after a dive, lightly BBQ in the shell and a bit of lemon juice.

    Reply
  18. Elizm says

    23rd February 2020 at 1:13 pm

    in a restaurant! I love it but I can’t cook it. Whichever the very buttery garlicky recipe is…that one!

    Reply
  19. Mel Pennie says

    23rd February 2020 at 2:11 pm

    Never eaten lobster 🦞 but would love to try some eventually

    Reply
  20. Mark R says

    23rd February 2020 at 4:12 pm

    Lobster is something I’ve not tried as yet.

    Reply
  21. Emily Hutchinson says

    23rd February 2020 at 4:15 pm

    Cold in a roll with mayonnaise

    Reply
  22. Graham Ross says

    23rd February 2020 at 4:17 pm

    Lobster Thermidor

    Reply
  23. Carole Nott says

    23rd February 2020 at 4:23 pm

    Sounds good for a snack with dressed salad and crusty bread

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  24. Steve Dickinson says

    23rd February 2020 at 4:35 pm

    With melted butter butter and a side salad

    Reply
  25. Suzanne says

    23rd February 2020 at 5:03 pm

    Lobster bisque

    Reply
  26. pete c says

    23rd February 2020 at 5:09 pm

    I’ve never tried it fresh or frozen as always been put off by seeing them in tanks in restaurants!

    Reply
  27. Mandy Betts says

    23rd February 2020 at 5:35 pm

    As part of surf n turf

    Reply
  28. Heather Haigh says

    23rd February 2020 at 7:31 pm

    I’ve never eaten Lobster, but I would like to.

    Reply
  29. Mark Mccaffery says

    23rd February 2020 at 8:15 pm

    My favourite way is in a Lobster Scampi With Linguini.

    Reply
  30. fiona waterworth says

    23rd February 2020 at 9:19 pm

    I have never tried lobster, because I dont know how to cook it, and being expensive did not want to waste it

    Reply
  31. Sarah Mccaffery. says

    23rd February 2020 at 10:14 pm

    My favourite dish is a spicy lobster pasta

    Reply
  32. Margaret Mccaffery says

    23rd February 2020 at 11:33 pm

    I enjoy lobster in a Lobster, green bean & radicchio salad Lobster, green bean & radicchio salad

    Reply
  33. ROBERT MCINTOSH says

    24th February 2020 at 10:01 am

    with avocado, walnutsin a mayo salad

    Reply
  34. debbie miller says

    24th February 2020 at 11:46 am

    Great selection of dishes and can’t wait to try this one

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  35. Alexandra Armstrong says

    24th February 2020 at 11:48 am

    Cooked by someone else haha

    Reply
  36. Julie Ward says

    24th February 2020 at 2:02 pm

    I’ve never tried lobster

    Reply
  37. Kiran Parry says

    24th February 2020 at 2:44 pm

    I enjoy it with potatoes, cous cous and salad

    Reply
  38. Avs says

    24th February 2020 at 6:10 pm

    Lobster Thermidor

    Reply
  39. caroline doyle says

    24th February 2020 at 8:02 pm

    With a pot of melted butter to dip in and a pile of salad and chips – Maine lobsters are delish!

    Reply
  40. sallie burrows says

    24th February 2020 at 8:31 pm

    on holiday somewhere hot

    Reply
  41. Summer Rowley says

    24th February 2020 at 10:59 pm

    On a harbour (cornwall potentially!) with a lot of other seafood!

    Reply
  42. Desiree DeYoung says

    25th February 2020 at 5:39 am

    A lobster po boy or boiled and served with butter, salad, and fresh bread!!!^_^

    Reply
  43. Sarah Francis says

    25th February 2020 at 6:30 am

    I like my lobster from the local Chinese restaurant. They steam it with spring onions, ginger and a little soy sauce. It’s divine

    Reply
  44. Emma England says

    25th February 2020 at 9:35 am

    I’ve only tried lobster once at a restaurant and I had it with garlic butter.

    Reply
  45. JAMES HOLYLAND says

    25th February 2020 at 11:11 am

    A classic lobster bisque is my favourite

    Reply
  46. William Critchlow says

    25th February 2020 at 12:29 pm

    Lobster Thermidor

    Reply
  47. clair downham says

    25th February 2020 at 1:03 pm

    i have never tried it but probably with a salad

    Reply
  48. Maurice Haigh says

    25th February 2020 at 7:11 pm

    lobster thermiodore

    Reply
  49. Troy Easton says

    25th February 2020 at 11:36 pm

    With some Salad and Red Wine.

    Reply
  50. lynn neal says

    26th February 2020 at 9:14 am

    I have never eaten or prepared Lobster!

    Reply
  51. Sarah Heath says

    26th February 2020 at 2:51 pm

    I don’t often have lobster, but the grilled lobster in Jamaica was soooo tasty.

    Reply
  52. Angela Kelly says

    26th February 2020 at 4:19 pm

    I’ve never tried lobster!

    Reply
  53. Karen R says

    26th February 2020 at 5:23 pm

    I do love lobster thermidor xx

    Reply
  54. Caroline Shepherd says

    26th February 2020 at 6:31 pm

    A nice fresh lobster salad.

    Reply
  55. Donna W says

    27th February 2020 at 6:53 am

    The first time I tried lobster was on honeymoon in Thailand. It was simply barbequed and served with a variety of fresh salads and spicy green mango. Delicious!

    Reply
  56. Terry Becker says

    27th February 2020 at 8:49 am

    With a tomato sauce

    Reply
  57. Ruth lee says

    27th February 2020 at 10:36 am

    a lobster salad

    Reply
  58. Roxanne Warner says

    27th February 2020 at 11:26 am

    In a sandwich

    Reply
  59. Jo Nichol says

    27th February 2020 at 6:38 pm

    I have actually never tried lobster!

    Reply
  60. Ioana Cristina Popescu says

    27th February 2020 at 9:11 pm

    With a lot of lemon

    Reply
  61. Jennifer Toal says

    28th February 2020 at 7:46 am

    I’ve never tried it as always too afraid to spend lots of money then may not like it

    Reply
  62. Carolyn E says

    28th February 2020 at 10:07 am

    I like is cold with some homemade mayo.

    Reply
  63. Carolyn E says

    28th February 2020 at 10:08 am

    Poached and served cold – lovely with homemade Mayo

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  64. sharon martin says

    28th February 2020 at 11:56 am

    being totally honest, i’ve never tried lobster

    Reply
  65. Paul Meulen says

    28th February 2020 at 4:06 pm

    Strip the meat out and serve it in a salad

    Reply
  66. Herbert Appleby says

    28th February 2020 at 4:53 pm

    steamed with butter, ginger and garlic

    Reply
  67. Tracy Barber says

    28th February 2020 at 6:15 pm

    With fresh lemon and a plain salad, delicious

    Reply
  68. laura stewart says

    28th February 2020 at 6:52 pm

    never tried it before i wouldnt know

    Reply
  69. Meryl Thomas says

    28th February 2020 at 6:54 pm

    We don’t eat them as we are veggies

    Reply
  70. Angela Macdonald says

    28th February 2020 at 7:56 pm

    I love a lobster roll with garlic lemon mayonnaise

    Reply
  71. Emma Davison says

    28th February 2020 at 9:16 pm

    I have only had it once and I wasn’t keen on it.

    Reply
  72. Tammy Neal says

    28th February 2020 at 9:32 pm

    Never tried it x

    Reply
  73. Caroline Buckley says

    28th February 2020 at 9:57 pm

    I’ve never tried lobster but it’s on my bucket list!

    Reply
  74. Sue says

    28th February 2020 at 10:37 pm

    Thermidor 😋

    Reply
  75. ellie spider says

    28th February 2020 at 10:43 pm

    I’ve never actually eaten lobster so I have no idea

    Reply

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