French-Style Lobster Bisque

By
Rebecca Franklin
Rebecca Franklin
Rebecca Franklin is a freelance lifestyle writer and recipe developer. Her expertise is in French cuisine, which she writes about and teaches.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 02/24/22
Lobster Bisque

LauriPatterson/ E+/ Getty Images

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 25 mins
Servings: 8 servings

A classic French Lobster Bisque recipe has to be the epitome of the meaning of the word bisque; best described as a thick, creamy soup. A bisque is more often, though not exclusively, made from shellfish be it crab, lobster, crayfish and the like. Here, the delicious briny lobster meat swims in a thick, well-seasoned cream.

Do not, however, be fooled by the simplicity of this recipe. This is a highly sophisticated dish yet is versatile enough to be both a dinner party special or even a simple light lunch. 

Pair the bisque with baguette slices, perhaps an Avocado and Romaine Salad, and a glass of chilled chardonnay for the ultimate sublime soup experience. For a dinner party or special supper, serve the bisque as a starter with thin slices of baguette for a truly French feel.

Ingredients

  • 6 tablespoons (3 ounces) unsalted butter

  • 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  • 3/4 teaspoon salt

  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 teaspoon paprika

  • 4 1/2 cups milk

  • 1 1/4 cups chicken stock

  • 1/4 cup white wine

  • 3 tablespoons minced onion

  • 3 tablespoons finely shredded carrot

  • 3 cups cooked lobster meat, shredded lightly

  • 1 tablespoon cognac

  • 1/2 cup heavy cream

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Melt the butter in a large pan, once melted add the flour, a pinch of salt and pepper and the paprika. Stir well. 

  3. Slowly whisk in the milk, followed by the chicken stock, the white wine, and continue stirring until a smooth and slightly thickened to a cream-like consistency. (This stirring can take several minutes but spending the time at this stage of the bisque is critical to the success of the dish. Be careful not to let the mixture boil as this may cause the bisque to curdle.)

  4. Add the onion, the carrots and simmer (again, do not boil) for 10 minutes. Add the cooked lobster meat and stir. Taste the bisque and adjust the seasoning to your liking. 

  5. Stir in the cognac and finally, the cream. Heat through until piping hot. 

  6. Serve in hot bowls with a crusty baguette on the side. 

  7. Enjoy!

Tip

The bisque can be made in advance of serving, in which case prepare until just before the lobster meat is added. Chill the soup and store in the refrigerator until needed, but not longer than one day. Proceed with the recipe as described above. 

Recipe Variations

Alternative Lobster Bisques

The bisque above is a chunky textured version of the classic soup. You can puree or blend the soup before adding the lobster meat and proceeding with the recipe. This blending will create a silky textured bisque, considered by some to be the right texture. Both methods are excellent. 

As a last resort, and not highly recommended, add favorite herbs but tread carefully. A bisque is a delicate blend of flavors, but sometimes it 's nice to ring the changes with a few herbs but use those from the subtle end of the spectrum, such as tarragon, parsley or chervil. All work well but use sparingly. ​

Updated by Elaine Lemm

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
366 Calories
19g Fat
17g Carbs
29g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 366
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g 24%
Saturated Fat 11g 55%
Cholesterol 128mg 43%
Sodium 518mg 23%
Total Carbohydrate 17g 6%
Dietary Fiber 0g 2%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 29g
Vitamin C 3mg 13%
Calcium 236mg 18%
Iron 2mg 9%
Potassium 461mg 10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags: