Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil 🫒
1/2 cup finely chopped onion 🧅
1/4 cup finely chopped celery 🌿
1/4 cup finely chopped carrot 🥕
2 garlic cloves, minced 🧄
2 tablespoons tomato paste 🍅
1 teaspoon paprika 🌶️
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional for heat) 🌶️
Salt and black pepper to taste 🧂
1/4 cup all-purpose flour 🌾
4 cups seafood or chicken broth 🍲
1 cup heavy cream 🥛
1/2 pound cooked crab meat, picked over for shells 🦀
1/2 pound cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined, cut into bite-sized pieces 🍤
2 tablespoons sherry (optional) 🍷
Fresh herbs (such as parsley or chives) for garnish 🌿
Instructions
1️⃣ In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, and carrot, and cook until they are softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant. 🥘
2️⃣ Mix in the tomato paste, paprika, cayenne pepper (if using), and a pinch of salt and black pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, for about 2 minutes to deepen the flavors. 🍅🌶️
3️⃣ Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir until the flour is fully incorporated. Cook for another minute to remove the raw flour taste. 🌾
4️⃣ Gradually pour in the broth while continuously stirring to avoid lumps. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. 🍲
5️⃣ With an immersion blender or in batches with a standard blender, puree the soup until smooth. Return to the pot if using a standard blender. 🥄
6️⃣ Stir in the heavy cream and continue to simmer the bisque for another 10 minutes, until it starts to thicken slightly. 🥛
7️⃣ Add the cooked crab meat and shrimp to the bisque. If using sherry, add it at this time. Cook for 5 minutes or until the seafood is heated through. Be sure to maintain a gentle simmer to prevent the cream from curdling. 🦀🍤
8️⃣ Taste and adjust the seasoning with additional salt and black pepper if needed. 🧂
9️⃣ Ladle the bisque into bowls, garnish with fresh herbs, and serve immediately. 🍲🌿
Enjoy this rich and creamy Crab and Shrimp Seafood Bisque as a treat to warm you up on chilly days or to make an ordinary day feel extraordinary! 😊