Lobster Bisque

A close up of bowls of lobster bisque garnished with pieces of lobster meat and tarragon.

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5 from 2 votes

Prep Time30

Cook Time1

Servings:

Calories: 771kcal

Author: Teri & Jenny

Ingredients

2 lobster tails (in-shell)
1 lemon, cut in half
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
½ pound lobster shells, broken into pieces
2 ½ tablespoons tomato paste
1 carrot, diced
2 ribs celery, diced
½ medium onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon minced tarragon
1 tablespoon minced thyme
⅓ cup brandy
⅓ cup sherry
1 ½ cups lobster tail poaching liquid*
1 ½ cups fish stock or bottled clam juice
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 tablespoon all purpose flour
⅔ cup heavy cream
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Fill a small pot with water and squeeze lemon juice and add lemon halves themselves into the pot. Bring pot to a boil. Add lobster tails lower heat to medium-low and poach tails for 9 to 12 minutes. Remove tails from liquid and reserve ½ cup of the lobster stock. Remove the lobster meat from the shells and set aside.
In a large saucepan heat oil over medium-high heat. Place lobster shells (including poached tail shells) into the pan and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes. Add tomato paste and toss together until the shells are well coated. Continue to sauté for 2 to 3 minutes.
Add the carrots, celery, onion, garlic, and herbs and continue to sauté for 4 to 5 minutes or until onions become slightly translucent. Season with salt and pepper.
Deglaze pan with brandy and sherry and stir.
Continue to cook mixture until most of the liquid has evaporated. Add poaching liquid and stock/clam juice and reduce heat to medium. Simmer for 10 to 12 minutes.
Pour entire contents into a blender and puree for 2 to 3 minutes.
Strain mixture back into the saucepan, using a fine-mesh sieve. Place pan back over medium heat and simmer.
In a small bowl mix together butter and flour. Whisk butter-flour mixture into the bisque and continue to stir until mixture slightly thickens.
Stir in the cream and adjust seasonings.
Chop reserved lobster tail meat into bite-sized pieces. Divide lobster meat into two soup bowls and top with a ladle or two of lobster bisque. Finish with minced tarragon and cracked black pepper. Serve with a crusty baguette.

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