How To Make Incredible Lobster Bisque.
Can we just snuggle up and eat lobster bisque for the rest of the year?
My life is forever changed now that I can make lobster bisque at home. This is AMAZING.
I’m not a total lobster bisque newbie. Remember when I made those lobster bisque pot pies? Those things are darn good. And I used the base of that recipe for this soup. Lobster bisque perfection – that’s exactly what it is. I actually love this version more than lobster bisque that I’ve ordered in fancy restaurants!
Who knew?
So here’s the thing. Earlier this fall, I judged the savor Pittsburgh competition. I am lucky enough to do so every year, but this year, the food was fantastic. And the best dish was something called the “lobster cappuccino.”
Yes. Lobster cappuccino.
It was from Lidia’s (and I believe it’s on the menu?) and it either intrigued people or freaked them the heck out. But once you had a taste? You just about died. IT WAS DELICIOUS.
It’s called a lobster cappuccino because the bisque is served in a glass with a topping of foamed cream. Or at least, that’s what it seemed like, so that’s how I did it! You froth up some cream and layer it right on top. When you dip your spoon in, you get a little bit of the cream with the spoonful of the soup.
Oh my word. Insanely fantastic.
But! Since the name “lobster cappuccino” can freak people out and for a few other reasons – you might not have a milk frother, you might not want to serve it this way, etc – I also showed you how to serve the soup… regularly.
That’s a frequently used word in this house.
Like, can’t we just have something REGULAR for dinner? (um, no. we can’t!)
Here we have a lobster cappuccino version and a big old bowl of the lobster bisque (with a buttery claw for good measure). The lobster cappuccino would be SUCH a cute idea for New Year’s Eve (tuned to this playlist!), and is something that you could actually portion out in plastic (or glass!) shot glasses or small cups. The frothed cream on top adds some insulation to keep the soup warm for a bit longer than you’d expect.
However, it does start to “melt,” so you can’t make them too far in advance. It’s a cute way to serve this to friends though! And it’s really NOT that difficult. It looks super impressive too.
I mean, look at this spoon sinking in. Just want to swim in that lobster bisque!
How to Make Lobster Bisque
Lobster Bisque
Ingredients
- 4 lobster tails, shells removed
- 4 to 6 lobster claws, shells removed
- 1 cup chopped yukon gold potatoes
- 1/2 cup sliced carrots
- 3 cups seafood stock
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 sweet onion, diced
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3/4 cup dry sherry
- 1 cup cream
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 handful fresh dill, chopped
for the lobster cappuccino
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 pinch smoked paprika, for sprinkling
Instructions
- Add the potatoes, carrots and stock to a saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, just until the vegetables are tender. Strain the stock into a bowl and place the vegetables in a separate bowl.
- Heat a large stock pot over medium heat and add the butter and olive oil. Add the lobster tails and claws and cook for only 2 to 3 minutes, just until slightly opaque and red. (If desired, you can add the shells in too to get more flavor, just make sure to remove all the pieces.) Remove the lobster and place it on a plate. Chop the meat from the tails. Leave the claws intact (if you wish!) to serve on top of the soup. You might have to cut a few in half to have enough enough for topping.
- Add the onions and thyme to the butter and olive oil and stir well to coat. Throw in a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook the onions until they are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir the flour into the onions to create a roux. Cook the roux for 3 to 4 minute until it’s golden and fragrant. Add the tomato paste and stir well, cooking for another minute or so.
- Pour in the sherry and cook until it’s reduced by half. Add in the reserved stock slowly, stirring while doing so. Add in the potatoes and carrots. Bring the mixture to simmer so it thickens slightly. Add the chopped lobster tails back into the mixture.
- Turn off the heat. Very carefully pour the mixture into a blender. Cover the blender and hold a towel over top. Blend the soup on low speed until it is pureed. If you wish, you can also use an immersion blender to do this step! Pour the mixture back into the pot.
- Stir in the cream. Taste and add the salt and pepper, adding more if needed. Serve the soup in bowls and top with the lobster claw meat and fresh dill.
- To make the lobster cappuccino, use a milk frother to froth about 1/4 cup portions of the cream. Spoon the lobster bisque into a bowl, mug or cup. You can add the claw meat at this point. Spoon the frothed cream on top. Sprinkle fresh dill and smoked paprika on top. Serve immediately!
Did you make this recipe?
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I appreciate you so much!
Isn’t that the coziest!
34 Comments on “How To Make Incredible Lobster Bisque.”
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So excited about this! When you cook the lobster, do you move it around for 2 to 3 minutes or just leave it be? I’m a newbie to lobster and really want to try this!!
you can toss it a few times! :) let me know if you try it meg!!
This looks wonderful, and I love your playlist! Just wondering what type of milk frother do you use?
hi donna! i use one that came with my keurig and nespresso machines. you can also get a good one on amazon! https://www.amazon.com/PowerLix-Handheld-Cappuccino-Chocolate-Stainless/dp/B01BY9RTNQ/
Can you buy seafood stock???
Knorr makes them. If you have any european markets close (like Portuguese) they very commonly carry them.
yes you can! i get the bar harbor brand in a can!
Oh my goodness, this looks heavenly!! And I love these photographs! So cozy :) :)
thank you love!
Oh, and follow-up comment! Where do you buy your seafood stock?
Knorr makes them. If you have any european markets close (like Portuguese) they very commonly carry them.
i get mine at my local grocery store, it’s the bar harbor brand and it comes in a can. :)
Making this for either Christmas of New Year’s Eve! Looks perfect!
enjoy!! xo
honestly I loved the cappuccino version of lobster and at the first opportunity I will try to copy in my house I believe that I will not have success in this experience because I confess that I do not have the gift for cooking
I have made this before with homemade stock (very easy to do) with lobster shells and another time with shrimp shells. Both soups are fantastic! Thank you for explicit instructions. Happy Holidays to all.
love that!! thank you phyllis!
Dear Jessica, what a treat you offer us! It’s a wonderful recipe that looks easy and is yet so classy and foodie! I will make it for sure, thinking about you. Many thanks for all your wonderful ideas and fun ways of transmissing them for us. Oh and… the playlist is perfect to just enjoy the party… Merry-You-Know-What!
thank you mia! same to you!!
I AM SALIVATING!!! This lobster bisque looks amazing. So glad there is sherry in this recipe. Lobster bisque just isn’t the same without sherry!! I think this is going on the menu for the week when my husband is away for work — he hates lobster! But I can happily eat my way through the 6 servings the week he is gone, haha.
i agree, sherry makes it! xo
How much thyme? You mention it in the recipe but not in the ingredients.
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great classic dish love the claw garnish too, and yes all the classic ingredients, at least as I remember tasting them, so thank you for sharing this recipe!
Looks perfect for the Christmas. I will try this for sure. Thanks for the sharing this with all of us.
Hi,
This looks delicious. What size lobster tails do you use?
The mention dill in the list of ingredients but not thyme. How much thyme do you use?
I have made this a few times. On occasion I can find whole frozen lobsters on sale, so I buy 6. Thaw & cook- have a party. With the leftover shells I make my own stock & I pick the shells clean of all the leftover meat. (Amazing how much you can accumulate!) As for the thyme, I added approx 1/4-1/8 of a tsp- I had thyme in the stock as well. Everything else I followed.
This is Yummy!!!
Hi there. This looks deeeeelish! Can I make this ahead of time? Does it freeze okay?
Thx
Robin
Hi Robin, I was wondering the same thing. Did you have a chance to give it a try? And do you peel the potatoes? Thanks.
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Looks fantastic- the only thing I changed was adding sherry after and not miking it in, I find when you blend in the sherry it overpowers the taste of the bisque, addling it in as a drizzle you can take small or large portions to taste- hmm good stuff.
This looks amazing! I can’t wait to try it on Christmas Eve! Jess, do you have any suggestions for salad or vegetable side pairings with a holiday vibe?