Creamy Lobster Bisque for Date Night

A smooth and rich lobster bisque that brings restaurant quality to your home, perfect for any special occasion or intimate dinner.

Recipe Details

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 50 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
  • Servings: 4

Full Ingredient List

  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter, divided
  • 1 large shallot, chopped
  • 1 carrot, peeled and diced
  • 1 rib celery, diced
  • 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 1/2 tsp dried tarragon
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 tbsp tomato paste
  • 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup brandy
  • 1 cup white wine
  • 2 cups seafood stock
  • 1 1/2 tsp tabasco sauce
  • 1 lb lobster tails, divided
  • 1 cup half and half
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper

Lobster Bisque Base

Tools and Equipment

  • soup pot
  • sauté pan
  • immersion blender or regular blender

Ingredients

Quantity Name Preparation Notes Substitutions
2 tbsp unsalted butter
1 large, chopped shallot
1, peeled and diced carrot
1 rib, diced celery
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp dried tarragon
1 tsp smoked paprika
2 bay leaves
3 cloves, minced garlic
3 tbsp tomato paste
3 tbsp all-purpose flour
1/4 cup brandy bourbon
1 cup white wine
2 cups seafood stock chicken stock, vegetable stock
1 1/2 tsp tabasco sauce pinch of cayenne pepper
1 lb, divided lobster tails Remove meat from shells and chop into bite-sized pieces
1 cup half and half

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Melt 2 tbsp butter in a soup pot over medium heat.
  2. Step 2: Add shallot, carrot, and celery; sauté for about three minutes.
  3. Step 3: Stir in thyme, tarragon, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and bay leaves; sauté for another two minutes.
  4. Step 4: Add garlic; sauté for one minute.
  5. Step 5: Stir in tomato paste and cook until it coats the vegetables.
  6. Step 6: Stir in flour until mixture is well coated.
  7. Step 7: Remove pot from heat; add brandy and stir until evaporated.
  8. Step 8: Stir in wine and cook for 1 minute.
  9. Step 9: Add seafood stock and tabasco sauce; bring to a boil.
  10. Step 10: Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.
  11. Step 11: While simmering, remove lobster meat from the shells and chop into bite-sized pieces.
  12. Step 12: Add half of the lobster to the bisque, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes.
  13. Step 13: Puree mixture with an immersion blender until very smooth. (Tips: Remove bay leaves before pureeing.)
  14. Step 14: Stir in half and half and bring to a simmer.
  15. Step 15: Melt remaining butter in a sauté pan and cook the rest of the lobster.
  16. Step 16: Divide cooked lobster between bowls and ladle bisque over the top.

Additional Information

Notes: This lobster bisque is surprisingly easy to make and can be prepped ahead of time. Reheat and sauté remaining lobster just before serving for best results.

Tags

Lobster Soup Seafood Date Night