Shrimp Bisque
A wonderfully flavorful, rich, creamy soup that is suitable as a starter for a special meal.Adapted from a recipe from The Escoffier Cook Book, A. Escoffier, Crown Publishers, NY, 1941, p 236.
Servings: 11 cups
Ingredients
- 2 pounds shrimp shell on
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup carrot diced 1/8"
- 1/3 cup onion diced 1/8"
- 2 parsley sprigs
- 1/8 teaspoon thyme
- small bay leaf
- 2 tablespoons brandy
- 1/2 cup white wine
- 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/2 cup rice
- 3 cups no-sodium chicken broth preheated in microwave
- 5 cups low-sodium chicken broth preheated in microwave
- 3 cups whole milk preheated in microwave
GARNISH
- 1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh parsley
Instructions
- Rinse shrimp well to eliminate small pieces of loose shells. Set aside portion of shrimp to use as a garnish for serving. Use judgement, depending on size of shrimp, set aside one large shrimp or a few small shrimp per serving. Remove shells from small portion of reserved shrimp only.
- In 6-quart stock pot melt butter over medium heat. Add carrots, onions, parsley, thyme, and bay leaf; saute 8 minutes. Add shrimp still in their shells (excluding reserved portion for garnish) and cook until they are a bit underdone, about 4 minutes. Stir in brandy, wine, and pepper. Simmer until shrimp are cooked, then remove shrimp to bowl.
- To remaining mixture in stock pot add 1/2 cup of low sodium chicken broth. Bring to boil, lower heat to simmer and reduce for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, using 1½-quart saucepan bring 3 cups unsalted chicken broth to a boil. Add reserved shrimp reserved for garnish and cook until done, about 5 minutes. Remove cooked shrimp to small bowl using slotted spoon. Add rice to hot chicken broth remaining in saucepan, simmer covered, approximately 20 minutes.
- When shrimp are cool enough to handle, remove shells.
- To 6-quart stock pot with vegetable mixture, add shelled shrimp and cooked rice with broth. Using an immersion blender or ordinary blender, process until very smooth. Stir in 5 cups low-sodium chicken broth and whole milk. Heat through to serving temperature. If desired, add a tiny amount of cayenne pepper. Ladle into bowls and garnish with cooked shrimp and sprinkle with a small amount of minced fresh parsley.
Notes
11 cups should serve about 8.
Freezes well. When reheating, stir well to create an even, smooth consistency.