Shrimp Bisque

We enjoyed this shrimp bisque which is super-easy to make and takes about 30 minutes. It makes a great weeknight meal or starter for a more elaborate dinner.

This shrimp bisque is a nice and simple throwback recipe for the 20th century that deserves to be added to the recipe repertoire. I served it as a light lunch for a few visitors, and everyone enjoyed it. It’s a light bisque, with the clam broth lingering subtly in the dish, and the paprika comes through as well.

I only poached my shrimp bits in the broth for 5 minutes, so they were tender and juicy. Here’s a tip for trying to get as much use from the shrimp and shells as possible – I placed a cup of water and all the shrimp shells in another pot and let it simmer/reduce during step 1. I used that flavored, but unseasoned, ‘shrimp stock’ as my 1/2 cup water component. This is a recipe that can easily be doubled or tripled for larger gatherings.

I love shrimp bisque and having the opportunity to cook it, so I decided to give this recipe a try and I love it. It took less than 45 minutes to be ready and the ingredients are easy to find. It got a delicious flavor, the heavy cream mixed with the tomato paste is one of my favorite flavors and the size of the shrimp was perfect.

In my mind, I equate eating shrimp bisque with being on vacation–warm sun, tropical breezes, palm trees, white wine, and a starter of shrimp bisque. This lovely and very easy version is simply and perfectly seasoned with celery salt, paprika, a little garlic, and the hint of white wine. I substituted chicken broth for clam juice without detriment to flavor. A perfect recipe for those little shrimp that just need to be cut in half and gently simmered in the soup base. This is a “keeper” recipe!

I gave this a Testers Choice designation–with reservation–but with a few adjustments, it’s worthy. What impressed me most about this recipe is it has such a delicate yet rich flavor with so few ingredients. I didn’t feel guilty eating this at all with only 1/2 cup cream. Using clam juice adds such a great flavor without the calories. If I closed my eyes, I could have been in one of downtown Charleston’s finer restaurants savoring every drop of my starter.

I served it with a big fall salad of roasted delicata squash, feta, toasted pecans, and pomegranate arils over romaine and arugula dressed with a maple syrup balsamic vinaigrette. Warm multigrain sourdough on the side.

This shrimp bisque was quick and easy to make, and I’ll say it turned out pretty tasty. Many of the ingredients I already had on hand, and others, such as clam broth, are affordable and easy to find.

If you’re using frozen shrimp, I suggest thawing before you get started as the soup doesn’t take long to make. I added fresh parsley at the end and served it with some French bread for a nice lunch. I’d also suggest using a standing blender instead of an immersion blender as there may not be enough liquid to avoid getting splashed!

Oh, wow, this is good! It’s an easy recipe, and unbelievable that one can have a soup with this much flavor in so short a time. The broth is soft, rich, and creamy with a deeply distinct seafood flavor. The first time I made this, I couldn’t find clam juice, so I substituted chicken broth, extra white wine, and fish sauce; the bisque was okay, but notably lacking that shellfish taste.

When I did find great clam juice (Bar Harbor all-natural in a glass bottle), the broth was transformed, and I will stock clam juice in my pantry forevermore. We used smaller shrimp the first time and left them whole, and larger shrimp the second time and cut them up; we preferred the former. Sauvignon blanc was a better choice than the pinot grigio we first used, and just right with dinner.

This shrimp bisque is definitely a keeper, and I’ll be making it again, with these minor modifications.

I’d increase the time after adding the tomato paste and clam juice another 10 minutes just so the flavors could meld a bit longer, but that’s certainly not a requirement.

The soup seemed to curdle and become grainy, even though I tried to keep it at a simmer (though at one point, when I stepped away briefly, the soup bubbled momentarily, which I’m sure helped promote that graininess). Fortunately, it didn’t affect the taste, but simmering is key–not only to prevent curdling, but when adding the shrimp, you don’t want them to get tough.

Going forward, I would heat the cream slightly and gradually pour it into the blending process, which makes a better emulsion and would have given the soup a creamier mouthfeel.

I would also add a bit of flour mixed with a bit of clam juice (or pre-blended soup) to make it thicker (but that would add carbs…)

I enjoyed the shrimp bisque and found it to be filling for dinner, Served with crusty bread and salad.