Description
A rich and creamy Crab and Shrimp Seafood Bisque featuring tender crab meat and succulent shrimp simmered in a flavorful, buttery base with cream, tomato paste, and Old Bay seasoning. Perfect for a cozy meal or a special occasion, this bisque is smooth, well-seasoned, and garnished with fresh parsley.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Seafood
- 8 ounces crab meat
- 8 ounces cooked shrimp, cut in pieces
Vegetables
- 1/3 cup green onions, chopped
- 1/3 cup celery, chopped
Dairy & Fats
- 4 tbsp butter
- 2 cups milk
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
Other Ingredients
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 3 tbsp flour
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tsp Old Bay Seasoning
Instructions
- Prepare the base: Over medium-high heat, melt the butter in a saucepan. Add the chopped celery and green onions and cook until softened, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add flour: Stir in the flour and cook for another minute, allowing it to form a roux that will thicken the bisque.
- Incorporate liquids: Warm the milk separately until it is warm but not boiling. Gradually add the warm milk to the saucepan, whisking continuously to avoid lumps. Then add Old Bay seasoning, salt, pepper, heavy cream, and tomato paste, whisking until combined.
- Simmer and thicken: Lower the heat and cook the mixture until it starts to simmer gently. Continue cooking while stirring occasionally until the bisque thickens, which can take around 30-40 minutes.
- Add seafood: Stir in the crab meat and shrimp, cooking just until heated through to avoid overcooking the seafood.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley, then serve the bisque hot and enjoy.
Notes
- Be careful not to let the soup boil aggressively to prevent curdling of dairy.
- You can substitute milk with half-and-half for a richer bisque or use whole milk for a lighter version.
- Adjust seasoning with Old Bay and salt according to your preferred taste.
- For additional flavor, consider adding a splash of sherry or white wine in step three before simmering.
- If you prefer a smoother texture, blend the soup briefly before adding the seafood.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (approx. 250 ml)
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
