Chefs Choice Shellfish Bisque Recipes

Steps:

• Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot over medium heat and melt the butter into it. Then add the shrimp shells, the leeks, celery, carrots, 3 sprigs thyme, the bay leaf, orange zest, and tomato paste. Cook, stirring every now and then, until the shells are red and the vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes.
• Take the pot off the heat and carefully pour in the brandy. Ignite the brandy with a long kitchen match and let burn until the flame subsides. Return the pot to the heat, sprinkle in the flour, give it a stir, and cook for another 2 minutes. Now add water to cover and deglaze, scraping up all the browned bits on the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon. Add the cream and bring to a boil. Immediately turn the heat down to low and gently simmer until the soup is reduced and thickened, 30 to 45 minutes. Strain into a clean pot and season with salt and pepper.
• Chop the shrimp. Return the bisque to a simmer, add the shrimp and cook 2 to 3 minutes just to cook the shrimp through. Give the bisque a final taste for seasoning, pour it into warmed soup bowls and serve garnished with the orange zest and chives.

Steps:

• In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine 3/4 cup butter and flour. Cook, stirring, until flour taste disappears, about 7 minutes. Stir in seafood stock and season with salt and pepper. Simmer 15 minutes, then remove from heat and set aside.
• In a large saucepan over medium heat, cook shrimp shells and onion in 1/4 cup butter until onion is translucent. Stir in garlic, paprika and tomato paste and cook until brown. Stir in brandy and light it on fire. Let it simmer until reduced and thickened. Stir in reserved stock, reduce heat and simmer 45 minutes. Strain through a fine mesh or cheesecloth.
• Return strained mixture to a simmer in the saucepan. Pour in cream.
• Dice shrimp and cook until opaque in a medium skillet over medium heat. Stir into soup and simmer 5 minutes. Season with pepper sauce, Worcestershire and Old Bay. Stir in sherry just before serving.

Steps:

• Heat oil in a heavy bottomed pot until smoking. Add lobster and shrimp shells, season with salt and pepper. Cook until golden brown. Add vegetables and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and add the brandy. Return to the heat and carefully flame. Then add the wine and reduce by 3/4. Add fish stock, cream, herbs, spices, and rice and simmer until rice is completely overcooked (approximately 30 to 45 minutes) stirring constantly to avoid sticking. Remove, blend with hand blender, add butter, and adjust seasonings. Press through fine sieve. Garnish with poached lobster and shrimp, serve in hot bowls, and finish with chopped chives.

Steps:

• In saucepan, cook onion in butter. Stir in flour. Cook 1 minute. Slowly stir in broth. Bring to boil. Stir in sherry.
• Add a small amount of hot mixture to yolks and mix until smooth. Slowly stir into hot mixture in saucepan.
• Add shellfish and cream. Heat through, but DO NOT BOIL. Serve immediately. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley, if desired.