Our Easy Shrimp Bisque (+video) is a rich, thick soup loaded with Argentine red shrimp and vegetables.  It’s made in 16 minutes and pureed into a silky soup. A comforting and delicious soup for a simple yet scrumptious meal.  Perfect for an easy seafood dinner.

 

Classic Shrimp Bisque

A southern classic, this easy shrimp bisque is DIVINE! We love a good shrimp bisque every once in a while.  And, in Charleston, the shrimp bisque is a staple dish.  

This delicious-tasting soup is sure to satisfy your Southern craving! Shrimp bisque is often featured in the Lowcountry restaurants, but with this recipe, you can make it in your kitchen, and in a quick 16 minutes!

Serve it with our mini grilled pimento cheese sandwiches or with our savory grilled cheese and pear sandwich for an easy dinner. 

Also, pair this bisque with a simple green salad and maybe an easy homemade cornbread recipe for dipping. It is the best!

What is a Shrimp Bisque?

A bisque is a thick, creamy French soup made with shellfish like shrimp, lobster, or a combination of crustaceans, and it is pureed.  It also includes some brandy and spices, heavy cream, butter, and seafood stock.   

But our shrimp bisque is different! 

• First, we enhanced the flavor by using fresh vegetables in this recipe.
• Plus, instead of enriching this soup with heavy cream, we decided to use only half and half.
• In addition, we added some chicken broth to give it an additional savory flavor. 
• Best of all? We are cutting the calories and fat in our bisque and doing it with a few staple ingredients. A win-win!  And it is DE-LI-CIOUS!!

 

What kind of shrimp do we buy for this shrimp bisque?

• To make this easy shrimp bisque “practically effortless,” it’s best to buy a package of frozen “raw” shrimp, and ones that are “already cleaned, deveined” and with tails off.
• We found this package of Argentine Red Shrimp at our local Costco in the freezer section.  You may find them at Trader Joe’s as well. 
• We used about one pound of raw shrimp (at least 20 pieces).  And reserved the remaining frozen raw shrimp for another recipe, like our shrimp cocktail with jalapeno peppers.

How to thaw frozen shrimp for this bisque?

1. TO THAW: Allow the shrimp to defrost and drain in a bowl and on your counter. Or place the bag of frozen shrimp in the refrigerator overnight to thaw.

2. THEN DRAIN: Allow the shrimp to drain in a colander. Do not force or speed up the thawing by placing the shrimp under running water, or the shrimp will lose its flavor.

Ingredients Overview:

For this recipe, you will need the following ingredients. Please take note that below you will find frequently asked questions, plus directions on how to make it, our video, tips, and our printable recipe card at the bottom.

• Frozen Shrimp: Choose a package of “already cleaned and deveined” frozen ‘raw’ shrimp for this recipe, and 1 pound will suffice.
• Olive Oil: Choose a good-quality olive oil or extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor.
• Vegetables: With this recipe, you will need 1 onion, 1 carrot, and a few garlic cloves.
• Herbs: You will need 1 bay leaf, some sprigs of fresh thyme, and some fresh Italian parsley.
• Liquid: You will need some brandy, Cognac, and dry white wine. Also, you will need some organic chicken broth as well.
• Light Cream: You will need some half-and-half (or light cream) to give it the right amount of richness.
• Flour: Some flour is used to thicken the sauce.
• Seasonings: You will need sea salt, fresh cracked black pepper, and some cayenne pepper.

How To Make Easy Shrimp Bisque?

Let’s go through our simple instructions below so you’ll understand what’s involved before you start. Here are the 4 easy-to-follow steps to making our easy shrimp bisque:

Step 1:  First, Sauté the Vegetables and Puree Them:

1. In a non-stick skillet or a medium-sized saucepan, on moderate heat, sauté the vegetables with 3 tablespoons of good-quality olive oil.  Add the fresh thyme, bay leaf, and some parsley and cook until the vegetables are softened and the onions are golden, about 3 to 5 minutes.   
2. Pour in the wine, brandy, and 1/2 cup of chicken broth and simmer for 5 minutes. 
3. REMEMBER to remove and discard the bay leaf!
4. Next, transfer the mixture to a blender (allow the mixture to cool down a little) and blend (on low speed) to puree. 

Step 2: Next, Make the Cream Sauce:

1. In a medium-sized saucepan, melt 3 tablespoons of butter over moderate heat. 
2. Add salt, the flour, and a dash of cayenne pepper and whisk until well blended. 
3. Slowly whisk in the half and half and the remaining 1/2 cup chicken broth, and continue to simmer on low heat, stirring until it thickens. Then turn off the heat.

Step 3: Cook the Shrimp:

1. Using the same skillet you sauteed the vegetables (saves clean-up).  Sauté the shrimp in 1 tablespoon of olive oil for about 2 to 3 minutes, until they turn light pink. Do not overcook. 
2. Remove from the stove, and toss 1/2 of the shrimp (about 10 pieces) into the blender, along with an additional 1/4 cup of chicken broth, and blend at high speed to puree the mixture. 
3. Reserve the remaining shrimp to add on top of each bisque when serving.  

Step 4: Combine to Complete the Bisque:

1. Transfer the shrimp mixture to the saucepan with the cream sauce and stir to combine.
2. Turn on the heat, and heat the shrimp bisque thoroughly. 
3. Then ladle into soup bowls and serve with a couple of sautéed shrimp on top. Sprinkle with some freshly chopped parsley and some fresh cracked pepper, and serve immediately.

WATCH VIDEO! How to Make Easy Shrimp Bisque? (1-minute)

More Shrimp Recipes You’ll Love…

• Easy Shrimp Dinner
• Mixed Seafood Stew
• BEST Shrimp Mac and Cheese
• Easy Baked Shrimp Scampi Dinner

Your comments help us!  If you make our delicious Easy Shrimp Bisque, please tell us and leave a comment and a star rating below. Happy Cooking! 🙂

Happy Cooking! 🙂

Thanks for stopping by!

xo anna and liz