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+ servings
5 from 3 votes
Lobster Bisque
Lobster Bisque
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 10 mins
Total Time
1 hr 30 mins
 

This lobster bisque is so luscious and deeply flavored for a perfect start to the meal or a meal in itself! It's so comforting on cold nights.

Course: Appetizer
Keyword: Lobster, Lobster Bisque, Soup
Servings: 4
Calories: 346 kcal
Author: Jeanie and Lulu's Kitchen
Ingredients
  • 4 cups water
  • salt as needed
  • 4 whole lobster tails about 4 ounces each to make a pound
  • 1 dash olive oil
  • 1 small fennel bulb chopped small to yield a cup
  • 1 whole onion diced small
  • 3 cloves roasted garlic smashed *see note to make ahead
  • 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 can tomato sauce 8 ounces
  • 2 cups red wine
  • 1/2 cup cognac
  • 2 1/2 cups chicken stock
  • 1 sprig fresh thyme
  • 1 sprig fresh tarragon plus additional chopped for garnish
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream plus additional to swirl on top
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
Instructions
  1. First, add the water to a large pot and salt it generously. Bring it to a boil, then boil the lobster tails in it until they turn a vivid red for about 5-6 minutes. Remove the tails and let them cool enough to handle. Turn off the heat temporarily. Pour the salty lobster cooking water into a heat proof bowl or container to reserve it. Then crack the tails open and remove the meat, trying not to break the tails too much into little pieces. Chop up the meat into tiny pieces and store it in the refrigerator while the soup cooks. 

  2. Put the pot back onto medium high heat and heat up the olive oil in it. Add the tail shells, fennel, onion and roasted garlic and let them get fragrant for a few minutes. Season the mixture with the paprika and cayenne. Then stir in the tomato paste and tomato sauce and let them cook for a minutes. Pour in the wine and cognac and scrape up the bottom of the pan as they help deglaze it. Finally add the chicken stock, reserved cooking water, thyme sprig and tarragon sprig. Bring the soup to a low boil, then reduce it to a simmer on medium low for an hour.

  3. When the hour is up, remove the tail shells and herb sprigs with a slotted spoon. Add in the lobster meat and let it just warm up in the liquid for a minute. Then use an immersion blender to completely blend the soup until it is smooth. Stir in the heavy cream and lemon juice and blend it a little more. Then just ladle it into bowls and drizzle a little more heavy cream into it for a pretty pattern and sprinkle additional chopped tarragon on top. Serve immediately and enjoy! 

Recipe Notes

*To roast garlic, cut the top off to reveal the tops of the cloves. Drizzle the top with olive oil and a sprinkle of salt, then wrap it in foil. Roast it in a 350 oven for an hour, then refrigerate it and use it as needed! It keeps for a long time.

Nutrition Facts
Lobster Bisque
Amount Per Serving (1 bowl)
Calories 346 Calories from Fat 91
% Daily Value*
Fat 10.1g16%
Saturated Fat 5.6g35%
Cholesterol 196mg65%
Sodium 1555mg68%
Potassium 953mg27%
Carbohydrates 16.3g5%
Fiber 3.8g16%
Sugar 5.8g6%
Protein 24.8g50%
Calcium 150mg15%
Iron 2.3mg13%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.