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Simple Crab Bisque Recipe

This luxurious crab bisque recipe delivers restaurant-quality flavor at home. Velvety, rich, and deeply aromatic, it transforms simple ingredients into a decadent seafood soup ready in under an hour.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Soup
Cuisine: American
Calories: 320
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups lump crab meat
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 shallots finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 celery stalks finely diced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 cup dry sherry
  • 3 cups seafood or chicken stock
  • 1 1/4 cups heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons chives or parsley chopped
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Method
 

  1. Melt butter in a soup pot over medium heat. Add shallots, garlic, and celery. Sauté 4–5 minutes until softened.
  2. Stir in tomato paste and cayenne. Cook 2 minutes to develop flavor.
  3. Pour in sherry and deglaze the pot, scraping up brown bits. Simmer 2 minutes.
  4. Add stock and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat, add cream, and simmer 10–15 minutes.
  5. Blend with an immersion blender for a smoother texture if desired, then strain for extra silkiness.
  6. Fold in crab meat and cook 2–3 minutes until heated through.
  7. Season with salt and pepper. Serve hot with chives or parsley.

Notes

For richer depth, add smoked paprika or saffron. Never boil after adding cream. Add crab only at the end to keep pieces tender and intact.