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Rich and flavorful Lobster Bisque is an easy recipe to make at home. Succulent tender pieces of lobster meat are cooked in a flavorful lobster stock and then transformed this delicious puréed cream based soup.
If you love lobster and other seafood recipes, you may want to also check out my broiled lobster tails, surf & turf, as well as my lobster mac and cheese!
This recipe was originally published in January 2021 but has been updated with more helpful information. Don’t worry – the recipe hasn’t changed!
Why I Love to Make This Soup
If you want to feel like you’re eating in a fancy restaurant while enjoying all the perks of a homemade meal, this Lobster Bisque will blow your mind.
- Flavorful lobster stock: The broth in this delicious soup is a combination of seafood stock with a rich broth made from the lobster shells and herbs.
- Fantastic texture: The combination of small tender pieces of lobster with the pureed bisque that is finished with cream creates the most wonderful combination.
- Easy to make: You will be shocked at how quick and easy this fancy soup is to make! It’s the kind of recipe that will impress and delight all who enjoy it.
Ingredients Used to Make This Recipe
Aside from the lobster tails, it’s possible you have everything you need on hand.
- Lobster: I used wild caught lobster tails, but you can also use langostino or shrimp to make this bisque with some additional steps in order to create the stock.
- Seafood stock: I use one can in addition to water, Herbes de Provence, and salt (not pictured) to make the flavorful lobster stock.
- Mirepoix: Equal parts of carrot, onion, and celery are cooked in butter. Garlic and tomato paste are then added, thickened with some flour, and deglazed with white wine.
- Heavy cream: This is what really turns the blended lobster bisque into a rich and creamy meal.
How to Make Lobster Bisque
The full recipe with ingredient measurements can be found below. Here is a step-by-step summary.
First, Make the Lobster Stock
This recipe has two main components: the lobster stock and the bisque. We’ll start by making the stock.
Step 1: Remove the meat
The first step is to remove the lobster meat from the shells. The shells are then added to a pot with the seafood stock, water, herbs and salt.
Step 2: Simmer the stock
The stock is cooked over low heat, uncovered, for about 15 minutes.
Step 3: Cook the lobster meat
Once the flavors of the stock develop, the lobster meat is added and cooked just until it starts to firm and is no longer opaque.
Step 4: Chop the lobster meat
The lobster is removed from the stock and chopped into bite sized pieces. It will be added to the soup just before serving.
Next, Make the Lobster Bisque
The bisque can be made while the stock is cooking, thus decreasing the overall time it takes to make this recipe.
Step 1: Mirepoix
The mirepoix is cooked in butter until the vegetables are tender and slightly browned. The garlic is then added followed by the tomato paste.
Step 2: Add flour
All-purpose flour is added to this mixture and allowed to cook for a bit. This is what will help thicken the lobster bisque.
Step 3: Deglaze
Once the flour is mixed in, the ingredients will really begin to stick to the bottom of the pan. The white wine is added for flavor but also to deglaze the pan. It will immediately thicken.
Step 4: Add lobster stock
Using a fine mesh strainer, add all of the lobster stock to the bisque while straining the shells.
Step 6: Add cream
At the very end, stir in the heavy cream along with the cooked lobster meat and cook just until heated through.
Recipe Tips
I highly recommend using real lobster for this recipe in order to get a true lobster bisque, however there are some seafood variations available. You can use langostino, shrimp, Dungeness crab legs, or a seafood mixture.
Pro tip: you can sometimes find lobster on sale the week after Valentine’s Day.
Fancy Dinner Recipes
Homemade lobster bisque is amazing as a main entrée, but it is a fantastic first or second course if you are making an elegant dinner. If you’re planning on making this bisque as a starter, I highly recommend serving it before these favorites.
- Roasted Prime Rib Roast
- Smoked Prime Rib
- Learn the best way to cook Filet Mignon
- Pan Seared Ribeye Steak with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
FAQs
Due to the popularity of this recipe, I get a lot of comments and questions. Here are a few that have been asked in the past.
Yes, you can make the bisque ahead and reheat it gently before serving. The flavors often deepen with time.
Due to the tender delicate nature of the lobster meat as well as the cream in this soup, I feel like it is best enjoyed immediately or within a few days, if refrigerated. However, you can freeze leftover bisque in airtight containers for up to 2-3 months. Thaw and reheat gently before serving.
Due to the cream and succulent chunks of lobster, you will want to reheat the bisque slowly over very low heat. A saucepan on the stove is recommended but the microwave will work if it is done at a reduced power in one minute increments.
Yes, you can omit the wine, but it contributes to the complexity of flavors. Use additional seafood stock or vegetable broth as a substitute.
No, the bisque contains flour as a thickening agent. However, you can explore gluten-free alternatives if needed.
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Equipment
Ingredients
LOBSTER STOCK:
- 16 ounces lobster tails I used four 4-oz sized tails
- 15 ounces seafood stock okay to use water instead
- 4 cups water (I just filled the 15-oz can twice)
- 1 teaspoon Herbes de Provence (aromatic blend of dried herbs including rosemary, oregano, thyme, basil, savory, sage and lavender)
- 1 teaspoon salt
BISQUE:
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup yellow onion finely chopped (1 medium sized onion)
- 1 cup carrots peeled and finely chopped (3 medium sized)
- 1 cup celery finely chopped (4 medium sized stalks)
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups dry white wine
- lobster stock strain and use all of it
- 1 cup heavy cream
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
LOBSTER STOCK:
- Split 16 ounces lobster tails lengthwise with sharp kitchen shears. Remove meat and set aside. Add empty shells to stockpot or 4qt sauce pan. Cover with 15 ounces seafood stock and 4 cups water. Add 1 teaspoon Herbes de Provence and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat as low as you can while still maintaining a simmer. Allow to simmer, uncovered, for about 15 minutes.
- Add the lobster meat, cover with lid, and let simmer for 5 minutes. Remove when meat is bright red and white. If any part is still translucent, continue to simmer until cooked. Remove meat from pot and transfer to a cutting board. Cut into small pieces and refrigerate until ready to add to bisque.
BISQUE:
- While the lobster stock is cooking, you can begin to make the bisque at the same time.
- Heat 4 tablespoons butter over medium high heat in a large pot. Add 1 cup yellow onion, 1 cup carrots, and 1 cup celery. Stir to coat in butter and cook until soft, about 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
- When vegetables are just about done and begin to stick to the bottom of the pan, add 4 cloves garlic, stir to combine, and allow to cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Add 2 tablespoons tomato paste, stir well to coat vegetables, and cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Reduce heat to medium. Sprinkle 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour over mixture, stir well to combine, and cook while stirring frequently to prevent burning for an additional 2 minutes. The mixture should really start sticking to the bottom of the pan and turning brown. Do not allow it to burn.
- Add 1 1/2 cups dry white wine to deglaze pan. Stir well with a flat bottom wooden spoon, scraping the bottom of the pan. Allow in wine to simmer for several minutes. The liquid will reduce and the mixture will become thick.
- Set a fine mesh sieve or strainer over your pot and pour the lobster stock through the strainer into your pot. Discard shells. Stir broth into bisque base until well combined. Reduce heat to lowest setting to maintain a gentle simmer and allow to cook for about 30 minutes to allow flavors to develop. Stir occasionally during this time.
- Remove bisque from heat. Use an immersion blender to purée the soup right in the pot. Alternatively, transfer to a blender to purée and then return bisque to pot.
- Add 1 cup heavy cream and chopped cooked lobster pieces to bisque and stir well. Heat over medium-low heat until bisque is heated through. Season with salt and pepper, as desired. Serve hot with crusty bread on the side.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Been looking for a great lobster bisque recipe forever. BEST hands down! I can’t keep my spoon out if the pot !
Excellent recipe, I quadrupled the base to create enough for 8 guys going on a fly in fishing trip at the end of September this year. I ended up with 6 large mason jars full. I held out the cream and lobster as it took a day to get to the lake. On the second evening of the trip, I gently warmed the bisque added the cream then added freshly cooked walleye. It was enjoyed by all. Thank you so much for the detailed directions.
Oh man, that sounds like heaven! I hope your fishing trip was a success! I sure bet they loved having you there. 🙂
Can this recipe be made without the alcohol?
Yep! You can always replace wine with broth.
Made for a Quarantine Valentine’s Day for my family – everyone LOVED IT!
Thanks for an easy, delicious, and impressive recipe 🙂
Absolutely delicious! The step by step instructions were perfect and very easy to follow. I did have to change some things due to state of the world and what was in my freezer. I had no onions, used diced shallots which gave a lighter sweeter flavor than onions. I didn’t have lobster but I did have Alaskan king crab, so I picked all the meat from the body and claws and saved it in the fridge as the recipe stated. Due to using crab meat and boiling those shells which tend to become into smaller shards than lobster I did strain it with coffee filters. The end result was fabulous and devoured. Thank you! Loved it.
Sounds fabulous! Thanks for letting me know how it turned out!
A true classic! So rich and creamy and flavorful…nobody ever turns down lobster bisque. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Love how creamy and delicious this is. Great recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Everyone at my house really loved it! It is full of flavors! Yum!
Wow! This lobster bisque looks incredibly delicious. I love all the hearty meat you use and the flavor is just spot on.
This lobster bisque looks dreamy! Thanks for the step by step instructions so I can make it at home!